About this hotel
General information
The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara spreads across 32 hectares on a coastal bluff between the Pacific and the Santa Ynez Mountains. Recently renovated, the resort pairs hacienda-style architecture with an easy Californian spirit, with gardens, beach and coastal trails close at hand.
Rooms and suites face the ocean, the coastline, the pools or the gardens; many have a fireplace or balcony, and the two large two-bedroom suites — Channel Island and Ritz-Carlton — add kitchenettes and generous terraces. The estate has three heated zero-edge pools, a spa of about 3,900 m², five restaurants and bars, a Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge, a tennis centre and the Ritz Kids programme, while ballrooms and ocean-view terraces host meetings and weddings.
Location
The resort lies at 8301 Hollister Avenue on the Santa Barbara coast, next to Sandpiper Golf Course and within easy reach of the Santa Ynez wineries, Stearns Wharf and the Santa Barbara Bowl. Santa Barbara Municipal Airport is about 11 km away.
Spa
The Ritz-Carlton Spa Bacara covers about 3,900 m², with an adults-only pool, redwood sauna, eucalyptus steam room, cold plunge, separate men’s and women’s lounges, fireside lounges, a rooftop terrace and a fitness studio. Treatments cover massage, Elemis facials, body scrubs, hair and nails; signatures include the Golden Hour Collagen Massage, the Cryo-Sculpt Facial and a Citrus Avocado Body Scrub, and the lounge adds LED masks, recovery boots and virtual-reality meditation.
Sports & leisure
Beyond the pools there is a tennis centre, electric bikes, a guided beach walk and a fitness centre with cardio and strength equipment, classes and personal training. Sandpiper Golf Course is next door, horse rides follow Haskell’s Beach, and the Santa Barbara Adventure Company and Santa Barbara Sailing Center run kayaking along the Gaviota Coast, surfing, paddle boarding and sailing in the Santa Barbara Channel. Eco-hikes, birdwatching and a Winemaker for a Day experience with McKinney Family Vineyards round out the programme.
For children
Ritz Kids runs supervised outdoor and creative activities built around nature for children aged 5–12, Friday to Sunday from 9:00 to 16:00, with half-day sessions available. The main pools have children’s pools, SunBar caters to children as well as adults, and the two-bedroom suites suit families.
Restaurants & bars
Menus draw on the produce and seafood of the Santa Barbara coast.
- Marisella — Amalfi Coast cooking with Californian ingredients: handmade pasta, wood-grilled seafood and martinis, served at dinner with ocean views
- Lulio — Mediterranean dishes built on local produce and sustainable seafood, with panoramic ocean views; breakfast, lunch and dinner
- ‘O’ Bar & Terrace — modern Latin cuisine, cocktails and agave spirits on an open-air loggia beside the lobby; the name is the Chumash word for water
- SunBar — ocean-view bar for shareable bites, sandwiches, local wines, beer and cocktails
- Mission Market — café and market in the upper village for coffee, pastries, sandwiches, salads and artisanal goods
- In-room dining
Swimming
Haskell’s Beach, a natural stretch of Pacific shoreline, is a few steps from the resort, and the Santa Barbara Adventure Company offers surfing, kayaking and paddle boarding there. On the estate are three heated outdoor pools — the Main Pool and Oval Pool, each with a children’s pool, and the adults-only Spa Pool — plus private cabanas for up to six with attendant service, including Oceano Cabanas with TV, fridge and dining table.
Pets
Dogs weighing up to 23 kg (50 lb) are welcome in the one- and two-bedroom suites, with no more than two per room.
Rooms
The renovated rooms and suites are styled in a hacienda manner with premium furnishings and locally inspired art, and look over the ocean, coastline, pools or gardens. Club-level guests use The Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge, with a personal concierge and five food and drink presentations a day.
Air conditioning, feather bed with linen of 400-plus thread count, sitting area, writing desk, soaking tub in most categories, robes and slippers, Nespresso machine, mini fridge, safe, TV with Netflix, Wi-Fi and evening turndown.
The Channel Island Suite
Reached by Spanish-tiled steps to its own entrance, with two king bedrooms, a living room with sofa bed, kitchenette and a large ocean-view terrace; Club Lounge access. Up to 8 guests.
The Ritz-Carlton Suite
Two king bedrooms, a living room with sofa bed and fireplace, dining for eight, kitchenette, two and a half bathrooms and an ocean-view balcony; Club Lounge access. Up to 6 guests.
Ocean View Suite
King bedroom, separate living room with sofa bed and fireplace, two bathrooms and a balcony facing the ocean; Club Lounge access. Up to 5 guests.
Fireside Suite
King bedroom, separate living room with fireplace, two bathrooms and coastline views; Club Lounge access. Up to 5 guests.
Coastal View Suite
King bedroom, living room with sofa bed and fireplace, two bathrooms and a balcony with coastline views; Club Lounge access. Up to 5 guests.
Resort View Suite
King bedroom, separate living room with sofa bed, two bathrooms and views over the resort. Up to 5 guests.
Club Access
King room with sitting area and resort views, plus Club Lounge access. Up to 2 guests.
Ocean View
King room with sofa, soaking tub and ocean views. Up to 3 guests.
Fireside Coastal
King room with a fireplace and coastline views. Up to 3 guests.
Pool View
King or two queen beds, a sitting area and a balcony overlooking the pools. Up to 3–4 guests.
Fireside
King or two queen beds, a fireplace and views over the resort gardens. Up to 3–4 guests.
Resort View with Balcony
King room with sitting area and a balcony overlooking the resort. Up to 3 guests.
Resort View
King or two queen beds, sitting area, soaking tub and views over the resort. Up to 3–4 guests.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.