Bacara Resort & Spa Reviews

Excellent excellent excellent!!! I will return and definitely recommend.

I cannot say enough great things about our experience and stay. The room was a gift from my parents for our 10th wedding anniversary. My husband and I have never been anywhere this fancy or nice, and the entire staff truly went above and beyond to make our visit remarkable. Upon arrival there was some confusion on our end about parking, but Matthew quickly handled that for us, assisted us with our bags and escorted us to our room. We had a bottle of wine and chocolate covered strawberries waiting for us with a beautiful welcome letter. Our room was gorgeous. We had partial ocean view and it was truly breathtaking. Matthew saw us again later, greeted us and asked if we needed anything. After we were all checked in we had a scheduled appointment at the spa, we weren't sure how to get there and Adrianna assisted us by walking us to the spa and congratulating us. She said to personally ask for her if we needed anything at all. We were greeted by the lovely Mariah at the reception desk of the spa. She promptly checked us in and made sure we were well taken care of during our visit there. Noris was the truly caring woman who helped me with my locker and showing me around. She was such a gem and I enjoyed my time with her immensely. We booked a duet massage and Heidi and Amy were amazing! So kind, genuine and truly in tune with what we needed; they checked in with us throughout the massage and offered us champagne when the treatment was over. When we were leaving the spa I asked Mariah some questions which she was more than happy to assist with, giving us lots of local recommendations and going about and beyond to make sure we were well taken care of and enjoying our stay. Much to our surprise, as we were getting ready for dinner we received a lovely spa gift package from Mariah wishing us a happy anniversary and a wonderful stay. We were truly beside ourselves. The valet staff were amazing too. Inside the hotel they greeted us with champagne, there was live music and the atmosphere was gorgeous. We wished we had longer to stay, because you could easily spend an entire weekend just at the resort. Florence helped us during check out and she was kind, efficient and helpful. Overall, this was by far the best hotel experience we have ever had. The location is amazing, the hotel is gorgeous and I have to say the entire staff were remarkable. Friendly, inviting, caring and beautiful. Those are some words that come to mind. We had such a beautiful anniversary thanks to the staff at the hotel. We are even considering making it our yearly anniversary tradition. We will for sure be coming back for an exclusive getaway. If you are looking for an experience that is one of a kind, look no further. We truly had a wonderful time and are so thankful for each person that went above and beyond to make our anniversary amazing.

Miss this place. We have had 3 family reunions at Bacara and every time we are amazed. I recall arriving and being greeted by super friendly staff, a golf cart ride to my room, views of he ocean. The beds are the best I ve slept in. The More

Beautiful new restaurant! Had a phenomenal time for my wife's birthday! Service was fantastic, the food delicious and the view on the outdoor patio beautiful. A must go.

Great hotel, great service, very nice, the location is great, great style, the decor of the rooms is top, the parking is perfect for e vehicles to load, great service, gladly again

Great relaxing place social distancing worked out well. Staff very accommodating. Beach and pool very easy to get to.

Rooms were nice and staff even nicer. The property provides a lot of activities for both young and old. The beach itself is not really much to look at, nevertheless swim in, but the pools are! Nothing much to add other than it's the freaking Ritz-Carlton!

One of the most beautiful relaxing places that I have visited. The location is unbeatable and the rooms are absolutely perfect. With fireplaces and patio, each spot is perfect. They also take pet friendly to a whole other level. As a person that always travels with my pet, it was both a relief and treat, especially since the restaurants were also pet friendly. I can't imagine staying anywhere else on future visits.

I would never recommend this resort. One star is too many. The staff is ok. But takes forever. Our pool guy was very nice, but that was the only plus. The pool was so noisy with kids in the wrong pool. It was impossible to relax. And packed in like sardines.
Angel Oak had a nice waiter, but the food was awful and way over priced. We are club members. And Have been with Marriott forever. And to be treated so poorly? They just tripled our membership fees with a months notice,,and are very arrogant and condescending about it. it s unheard of. Front desk was very slow. And there wasn t any apologies. We have talked with management many times and have had rude very poor correspondence. The manager of the spa never calls back or return emails promptly. It s impossible to get good service when it comes from the top. Our room didn t have robes. And did not get a sense that it was all that clean. The bed had a lopsided mattress on top of it.
We ve tried and tried to keep giving it a chance. But it never seems to get better. Much of the staff is hard to understand. And just doesn t seem to care. The service at the bistro is so slow every single time that we have tried it, it just seems to get worse. And believe me we ve eaten there often over the years. We are so very upset with the way we ve been treated. I would never recommend this place to anyone. Ever!
It s too bad. Because the location is beautiful.

Nice hotel with friendly staff. Rooms were nice as well.

This is one of the most beautiful places that I've ever been. The rooms are immaculate and the service is divine. I feel like a queen every time I stay here, and I LOVE feeling like a queen :)
If I could have every vacation at this hotel, I would.

I stayed here on a work trip. The hotel is almost too beautiful to stay at on a business trip. The grounds are large, the staff are friendly, the views are amazing and the rooms are luxurious. You get what you pay for. Be warned, I did pay $50 for a hamburger and fries! Drive down to State Street or even Goleta if you're desperate to grab a bite.

Pricey but run down. Good food and service and nice view and walking lanes on the beach.

Beautiful property. Rooms are nicely sized and ours had both a fireplace and roomy balcony. Service is the Ritz-Carlton standard - always excellent. Staff members go above and beyond to make your stay comfortable. The higher end restaurant on the property is also excellent.

Would actually give this resort 3.5 stars. Nice view of the ocean from our room and patio. Like that there is no carpet in the room anywhere. Unfortunately lots of ants and terrible sewer smell coming from the shower.

The view from this place is mesmerizing. The place is very calm and filled in greenery. The design of buildings are authentic, food is great.

Luxurious hotel, all the amenities at your finger tips. No need to get in your car. We took the bike & hike for$50 and it was fun, the guides were excellent, we also took the Eco hike which was informative with lovely views. The Club Room meals were good, on the lighter side at dinner, more of a self service, a good deal with all the food and drinks. The ocean front view rooms are gorgeous.

Absolutely amazing property, very large facility with a very attentive staff. We enjoyed brunch, they had a great buffet selection with some off the freshest food that we've ever had. Highly recommend eating there if you're in the area. P

Staff attention seems to go to the events on site and not their regular guests. Service was slow, pool areas were neglected, and the food was mediocre. Too many issues to list during our 3 night stay. It was obvious this location has a culture issue and needs new management who will drive a customer first culture that matches the Ritz Carlton brand.

My girlfriend took me to the spa and then the rooftop bar for my birthday. The massage at the spa was the best massage I've ever had. The locker rooms were very nice with amazing showers, sauna, jacuzzi and everything you need. The men and women's sections are segragated though. The only difficult thing was finding the bathroom attendant. I had to track him down. The robes they give you are amazing. The pool outside is heated and large enough that you can swim some laps if you want to. The rooftop bar I've been to many times (it's just past the lobby and through the normal bar). There are fire pits and they give you free olives. The prices are a little high but everything I've ordered came in large quantities. The wine tasting room outside is worth a visit too. They are very friendly and accept some of the local wine memberships for tastings (like Firestone) or their own membership. Highly recommended.

This hotel is spectacularly beautiful and right on the beach.

We had a delightful family dinner at the resort. The food was wonderful and the atmosphere at the restaurant down by the pool was perfect for families with children.

Overbooked, understaffed. Not a bad resort but not worth the price.

Dana point Ritz blows this place out of the water. Good food but high prices,
Difficult to contact,
Rooms average

Great location, really nice and helpful staff. We came up for a romantic night to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary and go wine tasting the next day. We weren't disappointed; had a terrific time

Top notch, excellent environment, wonderful service. The locals that grew up there miss the beach that bacara took over.

Nice resort, really nice pool, food was average, beach was Rocky, didn't get to try the golf course, room was real nice.

The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. My fiance and I stayed here for a business trip. The property is large, warm and clean pools, plenty of places to eat and get a drink. Lots of hills and pathways. It's easy to get lost here. Our room was close to the pool and right on the beach. Perfect location. The rooms are incredible.

Great place to stay excellent service and good food

The Ritz is a overall a very nice, pleasant place. Very spacious and expansive with several pools and direct access to the beach. The club lounge, which has food and drinks, is simply a wonderful addition to the hotel. I found myself going back to the lounge several times throughout the day as they rotate different platters of food out.

This venue is massive. We came here for a meeting for a future event. While walking from the bar to our room, we were lost for 15 minutes and one of the staff came to our rescue with a golf cart. The room was comfortable. The only drawback to the room was someone playing the trumpet at 830 while I was trying to sleep.

big sprawling grounds, amazing views, great rooms. great place for corporate events

This was definitely not up to Ritz standards. They need a refresher in the Credo card. The service at the O bar was fair at best. When we turned our shower water on, it smelled like a sewer. And the room service we ordered (one small pizza and a Caesar salad) cost $83 and was not edible. We were also unhappy with the bell service. I have never written a negative review so this is new to be. Staying at a Ritz is very special to me but this visit was not. The hotel itself was beautiful and the location can t be beat. It was just the service.

I have been fortunate enough to travel and stay at multiple hotels that the Marriott owns such as the Ritz-Carlton and when it comes to the Ritz-Carlton of Santa Barbara this is by far one of the best hotels I have stayed at. The reason being is because of the location of the hotel and the views that you get it is great and beautiful to see the beach outside your view and knowing that you can go to the downtown area of Santa Barbara and less than 10 minutes the rooms are amazing and the quality of service from the staff is very courteous and welcoming they were accommodating 2 one's needs during their time of stay. Although I have stayed at other hotels in Santa Barbara 4 better deals the Ritz-Carlton in Santa Barbara may be expensive but it's definitely worth it as you get what you pay for with a beauty of this hotel and a service that you receive

I had a great Father's Day weekend there with my daughter. Everything was really outstanding. Especially The staff. Everyone went out of their way to be helpful and pleasant. Also really enjoyed the tennis instruction from your pro. He was so kind and gentle with my daughter that she really enjoyed playing tennis. She is six by the way. We look forward to coming back many times in the future. This was probably the sixth or seventh time that I've been to your facility. I look forward to your new fine dining experience.

The work event I attended had great food and service. The facilities are beautiful. The parking lot (if self-parking is a little tight, especially during large events. I would highly recommend it if you can afford the price.

Beautiful beach-front resort in Santa Barbara. Great amenities, views, & service.

Daughter receives excellent tennis lessons with Peter the Bacara tennis pro. Great facilities, excellent instructor.

Name and ownership change, same great place and great service. Awesome tennis courts with clay surface and super tennis directors, Otis is a true pro and is wonderful. Pools are always clean and are salt water so you don't get the chlorine issues as badly as most hotel/resort pools. Spa and Gym are well stocked with plenty of space to relax or work out, good classes to chose from. The only complaints are from the natural setting here. Haskell's beach has tons of tar that you will pick up on your feet or sandals and this area between Tecolote and Bell Canyons seems to be a magnet for the marine layer to stick longer than the surroundings. On a low tide you can walk a mile west to "driftwood" cove that has a much longer and more forgiving breaking wave than Haskell's itself but it becomes impassible if the tide gets high. There is rarely anyone there to compete for waves with but the waves only come in the winter here due to the island blocking factor.

Here for five days. The staff has been great; I had an issue with my bed, and housekeeping got right on it and went out of their way to accommodate me.

Needs remodeling.

Great Staff

Super Nice. Wonderful gardens, views and restaurants.

Beautiful facilities overlooking the ocean. Top service.

Amazing and beautiful. All the staff expressed so much hospitality.

Most horrible experience we have ever had. Customer service is at -10000000. We had trip booked and our 1 year old got very sick, so we called to reschedule. THEY told us to cancel and to call back when their manager is in on Monday (2 days after our call). We called non stop to hotel and manager and No one was picking up. When days after they finally did the manager said they are following their Cancellation policy and cant reschedule or do anything. THEY TOLD US TO CANCEL TO BEGIN WITH! Reassuring everything will be fine!!!! So now we lost $1,000+ for the rooms! Cannot believe a place with such a name can have such horrible service! We stayed in many great expensive hotels and in Ritz in Moscow and always had great customer service: the bigger the name - the better the service as IT IS actually what you pay for. Stay away! Spend your money on other hotel that actually cares about its guests and can provide you with great vacation!

Beautiful location and attentive staff in front of the house which deserves 4 stars. We chose this location for a girl's retreat and staycation. For the Ritz, I would've expected this property to be flawless but it was slightly run down. Beds were not comfortable, lights on patio were not working. We went to the spa and in several of the lounge areas, soiled glass and dishware were everywhere. The pool servers and maintenance crew were not as attentive as the rest of the staff. We were given an ADA room which had plenty of space but no countertops in the bathroom for our stuff.

Exquisite bucket list hotel. I felt like royalty when I stayed here. Wonderful spa facility, several pools and hot tubs, which alleviates crowding. Nestled on the beach with dreamy views. I can't wait to go back

First Class Service. Outstanding food at Live Oak , beautiful views and amazing property!

Had a great time! Great staff too, Erica is the best!

I taught a class in the screening room. Lunch was amazing and the overall atmosphere is excellent. If you can afford, you won't regret staying here!!

Wonderful resort. 15 minutes from Santa Barbara. 5 minutes from UCSB and airport. Great service. Family friendly.

Beautiful, well manicured, and relaxing with great service (and privacy). Debating having the family there for a few days.

Nice spot to walk along the beach and 20 minutes from downtown Santa Barbara.

This was commensurate with what a Ritz Carlton in Goleta should look like. They've taken over an existing property and are doing excellent things.

Tough Sledding. Employees up front were great, skip the pool. Took forever and aggressiveness on my part to get a beer. Then, couldn t get the check because our pool help left for the day and didn t tell us. I really don t care, as I would rather just order at the pool bar myself, but they frown on that. Santa a Barbara is nice, but will definitely stay elsewhere in the future

Superior service. Natural landscaping and regional architecture are beautiful!

View from hotel rooms are great but insanely costly

Terrible we got a room with no heat had to move to another room at 1230 am so annoying. Would not expect this at the Ritz. We received mini chocolates for the inconconvience. Terrible terrible terrible. Only good thing about this place their bartenders were awesome . Drinks n food anazing!!!

Everything you would expect from a Ritz-Carlton property. Over the top facilities, view, and staff. It's a little out of the way if you're wanting to spend much time in town, but if you're looking for a place to let your worries wear away, this is it!

As always the Ritz Carlton lives up to its expectations. The Ritz Carlton Bacara is no exception. This location is situated alongside the coast with a direct, elevated view. As such, the grounds are graded and have slight inclines/declines when walking around. For those who are less mobile or need assistance getting around, they have people driving carts to transport people and luggage. Just request it if you need assistant. Staff are wonderful and always accommodating. Very much mission style design, this hotel "fits" its ocean side setting. Definitely worth a visit if you're considering it for anything from a relaxing stay to a special event.

Can't say enough great things about this place. They have it dialed in! Always treated with the best service I've ever encountered at a high end hotel/resort. Everyone goes out of their way to make you feel pampered. Not one single employee passes you without smiling and greeting you. The valet guys are some of the hardest working guys I've witnessed- and go out of their way to get to know you. They even remembered what car we had driven the previous stay which was 4 months prior, and that my husband had shaven his beard off since the last visit. Ryan and Jason are by far exceptional at making you feel welcome and take great care of your car. And Derek is by far the best bellman they have. So gracious and polite- has great suggestions for local spots and feels like a best friend by the end of your stay. If in doubt about staying here- don't delay...book your stay, you won't be disappointed. You will be ruined, because anywhere else fails in comparison. I can't wait to go back and see my Bacara friends!

Annual visit .... never lets you down! Great rooms, with great views

First, I m kind of bummed we weren t even congratulated for our honeymoon even though it was written in the notes. NOTHING from anyone at the concierge. We chose to spend our honeymoon here so an appreciation would have been nice. There are pros and cons about staying here. I like that it s really secluded. The pool and poolside service is awesome, and very fast.

The beach close by is not great. You can t swim because it s filled with rocks so walking hurts. There s kelp everywhere so hoards of flies swatting around you as you try to lay down. Overall, I m more of a beach person but opted to spend more time at the pool.

The restaurants. Angel oak was good, and had great service. The food was a bit below my expectations. I had the halibut which was really disappointing and badly flavored. The steak was good, but not great. The dessert was probably the best part.
The bistro (located by the pool) was terrible. The food was embarrassingly bad for the Ritz and I was really disappointed in my $24 fish tacos which were all but flour and coleslaw and barely any fish (and what was there tasted old.) the service, as others have commented, was terribly slow. A better option is to order from the pool as the service is better and food is similar.

The spa. I was sooooo excited about the spa. My husband and I have travelled all over the world, and were excited to enjoy our honeymoon together and have some time in the sauna to unwind. Nope. Spas are gender specific, so don t plan on going as a couple.

The gym was great and had lots of equipment so I was happy with that. Ping pong table was also a nice fun touch.

In terms of the room, I ll agree with others and say that it could use some refreshing. My bed was comfortable. Views were average. Bathtub was nice.

I think I ll try the 4 seasons next visit.

Location was great with plenty of amenities and complimentary services. The rooms seemed a little dated however.

Service was impeccable, rooms are a good size. Restaurant has a great view. My bed wasn't super comfortable (the bottom half seemed higher than the top half) and the floors seemed pretty thin - I could hear the upstairs guest stomping around. Water pressure in the shower left a bit to be desired.

This place is absolutely beautiful.. Restaurant ,rooms and views ..Must stay in this place

I did not stay overnight. I came to meet someone for breakfast.
The hotel property is absolutely huge. I'm talking acres and acres of property!
I was escorted to the cafe/restaurant via a golf cart. Otherwise, it would have taken me 20 min. to walk there. I'm not kidding. This place is huge. It is also surrounded by trees, nature...
This place is lovely.
Just so you know, it is in Goleta, technically not Santa Barbara. It's irrelevant, but for those who are OCD...

Doesn't get any better than this! Ocean view rooms are AMAZING.

Sure, overpriced food and whatever, but it comes with the territory.