Sanctuary status
Ritz-Carlton Bacara (Santa Barbara)
GETAWAYS • Santa Barbara
Perched high on a bluff above Haskell’s Beach with views of the Santa Ynez Mountains in the distance, the Ritz-Carlton Bacara is a paragon of luxury in the American Riviera. About a 15-minute drive north of Santa Barbara’s main drag, the 78-acre resort sits a comfortable distance from the hubbub of downtown, and chances are, if you booked a stay at Bacara, you’re not here for shopping or sightseeing anyway.
Spread across 19 buildings, the 358-room resort village recently completed a significant renovation for its 25th anniversary, and while the overall mood hasn’t changed, rooms, suites, and restaurants have been refreshed and upgraded. Whitewashed buildings and terracotta tile roofs blend classic hacienda style with textures and patterns that gesture to the area’s Indigenous roots. Guestrooms feature carved stone, aged leather, rugs inspired by Chumash motifs, and custom fabric headboards by Erica Shamrock that take cues from Californios’ horse blankets. Most rooms have fireplaces and balconies. Two Ritz-Carlton suites and a two-story Channel Islands suite are located close to the ocean in their own private villa building.
Its four clay tennis courts are perfect for a morning match, followed by an alfresco breakfast at the newly reimagined Mediterranean-style restaurant Lulio (above). Days at Bacara unfold with swims in three heated, saltwater infinity pools (including an adults-only option), followed by treatments like golden hour collagen massage and cryo-sculpt facial at the four-story spa.
End the day at chef Danny Grant’s new fine-dining restaurant Marisella, which offers great ocean views and an Italian-inspired menu of handmade pastas, local seafood, and wood-fired meats. –Allison McCarthy
→ Ritz-Carlton Bacara (Santa Barbara) • 8301 Hollister Ave • Rooms from $647, Nov wknd night.