The Ritz-Carlton Bacara unveils its multi-million dollar transformation
- Kaitlyn Nicholas
- Jul 22
- 2 min read
A refreshed sense of place now defines the 78-acre blufftop resort in Santa Barbara, as The Ritz-Carlton Bacara completes a comprehensive renovation ahead of its 25th anniversary this September.
In collaboration with renowned design firm Meyer Davis, the multi-million dollar project touches nearly every part of the resort—from guest rooms and public spaces to dining venues and the outdoor pool deck—bringing a quieter, more tactile expression of luxury to California’s central coast.
What once served as a formal lobby has been reimagined as an open-air welcome experience—one that leans into the architecture of early coastal casitas. Framed by sculptural ironwork, native landscaping, and terracotta tones, the arrival space creates a calm transition from the road to the sea. Atmospheric lighting now guides guests from one space to the next.
The updated interiors of the 358 guest rooms reflect the natural materials and rich history of Santa Barbara. Spanish tile, carved stone, aged leather, and woven textiles are paired with custom details such as Chumash-inspired rugs and upholstered headboards by Erica Shamrock. Larger suites, including the 3,700-square-foot Channel Islands Suite, carry the palette through generous layouts and private terraces.
Dining across the property has also evolved. Marisella and Lulio—join a collection that now offers a broader culinary perspective and revamped interiors. Marisella, led by Chef Danny Grant and Maple Hospitality Group, draws on Italian coastal cooking with a California lens, housed in a Spanish Mission–style structure redesigned by Studio K. Lulio, named after the Latin word for July, adds a Mediterranean point of view, with seasonal menus, coastal wines, and an open-air layout that shifts with the sun. Nearby, ‘O’ Bar & Terrace serves as a connecting point between the lobby and the Pacific, with a circular bar clad in Malibu Ceramics tile and a focus on California-inspired small plates and agave-forward cocktails.
The pool area has been reshaped with three zero-edge pools, expanded terraces, and new cabanas areas. SunBar offers day-to-night lite bites and cocktails along the edge of the bluff, with views that mirror the slow, steady pace of the redesign itself—intentional, enduring, and rooted in place.
