February
24
ESCAPE LONDON AND VISIT AMERICA – BEAT THE COVID BLUES Visit Beautiful Bacara Hotel, Santa Barbara
Beautiful Bacara. I’ll be back…
Having the luxury job of reviewing some of the most beautiful hotels in the world, I always think …”Surely, it can’t get better than this.” But … enter the Ritz Carlton BACARA Hotel in Santa Barbara, California.
I had always heard the Bacara Hotel was the Hollywood celebs hideaway from the crowds, to recuperate on their beautiful complex and private beach. I can now see why it is one of the top two hotels of California, and has been for decades.
They say first impressions always last and walking into the atrium at the Bacara Hotel is no exception. The Mediterranean “old Santa Barbara” revival-style decor with the clean white washed walls, terracotta tiles, wrought iron hardware and wood beams all add to the light, airy, elegant beachy feel.
The Bacara has such unique wall art, it jumps out as a individual featured art pieces, not to mention the classy, white concrete/granite style reception desks to the elongated wrought cast iron shades.
When you absolutely cannot stand to see the four walls for your living room one more time, the Bacara should definitely be on your “Covid-careful” travel list.
I would definitely recommend this hotel during Coronavirus times as all 358 rooms are separated throughout 12 villas over the immense grounds.
Each room has their own private entrance opening in to the open air; no stuffy corridors.
The efficiency of the Ritz is as expected; we arrived at peak time on a Saturday and check-in lasted about 4 minutes. Happy times!
All the restaurants, bars, cafes are now outdoors, with canopies for shade and heat lamps and fire pits for the evenings. So you have plenty of options; the Tiki bar, The O Bar, Rotunda Bar, Bistro Cafe and the Angel Oak restaurant.
The private wine cellar room (not currently open) is striking with a full glass wall showing off its 6,000 bottles of wine.
The pool and jacuzzi reservation system is very organized so not to worry, you will definitely get some relaxing pool time in one of the 3 pools. Jacuzzi sessions are for 15 minutes and pool sessions are split into morning and afternoon with sanitization between each sessions.
The spa has it’s own 28 person relaxation pool open all day from 9am – 5pm, a jacuzzi and indoor sauna. Treatments are available in the hair salon, nail salon, facial treatments, massages and you can buy a special something at the spa shop. Soothing music envelops the sun loungers. You can choose either massages on the penthouse open air area or in a private, well-sanitized indoor room.
Once you’ve relaxed playing golf, tennis or swimming in the pool, you can look forward to your evening dinner at the Angel Oak restaurant.
We were treated to an Amuse Bouche of delightfully original bruschetta, followed with a perfectly salted, generous portion of their French onion soup, alongside the most fresh, warm parmesan encrusted bread rolls.
The miso glazed salmon is paired with top-of-the-range mac n cheese perfectly contradicting the soft melted cheese with a crunchy topping.
The pastry chef does herself proud with her deconstructed apple pie; an elongated slate plate lined up a creamy caramelized apple, salted caramel ice cream, crusted sponge.
As per Ritz standards, the wait staff are suitably attentive, chatty, informative and friendly.
Throughout the whole complex, I love the myriad of secluded little hideaways, benches, sweetheart corners where you can romance with your loved one.
To end a perfect vacay stay, I can recommend you take the very informative, guided, daily Eco-hike around the grounds detailing the flora and fauna. Very interesting and it is wonderful how environmentally aware Bacara is.
Beautiful Bacara – I’ll Be Back!
The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara
8301 Hollister Ave, Santa Barbara, CA 93117
Phone : (805) 968-0100
Heart London Magazine 5 Star Review
Service 5/5
Food 5/5
Bedroom 5/5
Covid-19 Cleanliness/Safety 5/5
Facilities 5/5
Suzanne, Heart London Magazine
Heart London Magazine 