Set dramatically above the Pacific Ocean, The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay presents a way of seclusion simply minutes from one of many world’s most dynamic cities. Lower than an hour from San Francisco, the clifftop resort feels strikingly distant. It’s outlined by crashing waves, windswept headlands, and an environment extra evocative of the Scottish Highlands than coastal California. Right here, refined hospitality, vacation spot eating, championship golf, and a restorative spa anchor an expertise that balances proximity to city life with the luxurious of true escape.
Background and Idea
Opened in 2001, The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay was conceived as a contemporary interpretation of a basic seaside property—grand in scale, but intimately related to its environment. The shingle-style structure sits intentionally low in opposition to the panorama, echoing the tones of sand, sky, and sea. Over time, the resort has refined its id round a particular Highland-inspired aesthetic, expressed by means of particulars each refined and ceremonial.
A latest property refresh, accomplished in 2024, has sharpened that imaginative and prescient. Interiors now reinforce the connection between indoors and out whereas preserving the timeless character that longtime friends love.
Location
The resort occupies a commanding clifftop web site simply south of San Francisco, but the transition feels dramatic. On strategy, the drive narrows, the air cools, and the land all of a sudden opens to an enormous, wind-swept shoreline that feels far faraway from the city rhythm of the Bay Space. Set above miles of untamed shoreline, the lodge enjoys uninterrupted ocean views and direct entry to the California Coastal Path, inserting nature on the heart of the expertise.
Highland Character
The resort’s Highland character reveals itself most convincingly within the particulars. Every night at sundown, a lone bagpiper makes his means from the doorway towards the Ocean Garden, the sound carrying throughout the cliffs as daylight fades. It’s a beloved ritual. Bell employees wearing jodhpurs and flat caps reinforce the temper, as does the lodge’s personal bespoke tartan, designed completely for the property and formally registered with The Scottish Register of Tartans. Its palette attracts immediately from the environment, mixing the deep blue of the Pacific, the vivid inexperienced of the Half Moon Bay Golf Hyperlinks, and the wealthy, earthy tones of close by redwood forests. Climate, too, performs a defining position right here. Fog is embraced as a part of the expertise, lending an atmospheric high quality that many seasoned friends favor, significantly when paired with one of many resort’s many fireplace pits. Scattered all through the grounds, these fires grow to be pure gathering factors as night settles in, providing heat, dialog, and uninterrupted views of the stressed sea beneath.
Rooms and Suites
The resort options 261 guestrooms and suites in various sizes, the bulk oriented towards the ocean and shoreline. Following the refresh, lodging really feel extra tactile, with layered textiles, heat leather-based accents, and plaid components that nod to the Scottish heritage. Fireplace pit rooms stay significantly wanted, providing non-public outside seating that transforms even the chilliest evenings into an occasion.
My Room
My room functioned as each retreat and commentary submit, with a north-facing image window that ignored the shoreline’s crashing waves and the golf course. A big tv anchored the room, and the bedding was plush, making for cozy early nights and sluggish mornings. A Nespresso machine dealt with espresso, and complimentary mushy drinks in my non-public bar had been refreshed every day, a small and welcomed indulgence. The marble toilet included a deep soaking tub, Dyptique bathtub facilities, and simple comforts corresponding to gown and slippers.
Culinary Choices
Eating is a central pillar of the Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay expertise. Navio, the resort’s high-quality eating restaurant, pairs elevated coastal delicacies with one of the compelling ocean-facing eating rooms in Northern California. Chef de Delicacies Francisco Simón brings a refined, globally knowledgeable strategy formed by his tenure at Barcelona’s two-Michelin-star Enoteca Paco Pérez. Menus spotlight pristine native seafood, rigorously sourced meats, and seasonal produce. A 3-course prix fixe presents an accessible entry level, whereas the seven-course tasting menu permits the kitchen to discover method and taste extra expansively. Considerate wine pairings improve the expertise, and desserts arrive as inventive finales.
The Conservatory presents a extra relaxed counterpoint, serving California consolation dishes in a brilliant, glass-lined area overlooking the Pacific. The Ocean Terrace is right for informal lunches, uncooked bar picks, and sundown cocktails, significantly on clear days when the horizon appears countless.
The Spa
The spa attracts inspiration from the encircling redwood forests and coastal terrain, with remedies designed to revive each physique and thoughts. Lately refreshed leisure areas, moist services, and remedy rooms improve the sense of calm. Friends with booked remedies acquire entry to the co-ed whirlpool, sauna, steam room, and chilly plunge—a really perfect circuit for unstructured afternoons. On my go to, the hydrating QMS Collagen Reset Facial stood out for its instant and visual outcomes.
Actions
Golf here’s a main draw, with its two Half Moon Bay Golf Hyperlinks championship programs positioned immediately alongside the resort. The Arnold Palmer–designed Outdated Course presents a extra conventional parkland expertise, whereas the Arthur Hills–designed Ocean Course embraces a rugged links-style structure with ocean views from each gap. The resort’s amenity price contains entry to putters and wedges to be used on the follow inexperienced, in addition to golf bag storage.
The price additionally contains guided coastal walks supplied every day, health and yoga courses, tennis courtroom entry, and guided cycle excursions.
Past the property, actions vary from horseback driving and whale watching to browsing and biking, all of that are simply deliberate through the concierge. Almost 70 wineries are positioned inside an hour’s drive, making day journeys to the Santa Cruz Mountains or Peninsula wine areas simply achievable with concierge planning.
Ultimate Ideas
The resort’s energy lies in environment: the climate, the land, the rituals, and the best way time appears to stretch. Near city facilities but immersive sufficient to really feel transformative, it stays one in every of California’s most transportive luxurious resorts.
TLE Prime Tip
A night spent on the Ocean Garden, wrapped in a blanket with a glass in hand, is crucial to the expertise. Higher but, e-book a fireplace pit room and plan to be again on property for beautiful sunsets. Be certain to acquire one of many resort’s gourmand s’mores kits to be used on the fireplace pits. It features a L’Amourette 59% Further Darkish Milk Chocolate Bar. Yum!
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