Living in the Bay Area of California, I often forget that I live in one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in the world, and The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay is just an hour’s drive from California. I took it for granted that there was My home gave me an excuse to go see if it lived up to its own hype.
From the Ritz-Carlton to the Four Seasons to the Waldorf Asturias, you have certain expectations when staying at a luxury hotel, and mine was high. Our short one night stay at was magical from the moment we turned the corner of the property.
Here’s a quick rundown of what I liked about The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay and why you should consider visiting.
place, place, place
Half Moon Bay is about a 30-minute drive south of San Francisco International Airport (SFO). Home to popular seaside seafood restaurant Sam’s Chowder House, it’s home to legendary surfing as waves are known to reach as high as 6 feet in the waters off Half Moon Bay. We didn’t come to the city to surf, but on our way out of town we stopped at Sam’s Chowder House for some takeout on the beach before heading home.
The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay itself has a lot to offer, but the view of the Northern California coast has to be at the top of the list. The drive from his home in East His Bay to the hotel included a short drive on the legendary Highway 1. The hotel is about 10 minutes drive from the highway, past a residential area along the coast.
Related: How Points and Miles Spent $0 on an Epic Highway 1 Expedition
hotel
When you park your car at the hotel, there is a necessary stop before entering the premises, someone will check your name for your reservation, and then drive you to the front door. I kindly waited for the valet to help me with my luggage. Ask if you have been to the property before and wish you good luck during your stay.
The hotel lobby was actually breathtaking when I first saw it. When you pass through the tall glass door at the hotel entrance, you are greeted by a crystal chandelier surrounded by autumn flowers and greenery that decorates the ceiling. Below, a compass motif resting on the hardwood floor was an ode to the nearby coast.
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Beyond the entrance is The Conservatory, the hotel’s more casual restaurant and bar. Further back is Navio, the Ritz-Carlton’s fine dining restaurant, but more on that later.
The next area, just in front of the check-in counter, was a less elaborate space with a coffered ceiling and modern carpet. At the counter, I was told that my room had been upgraded from a deluxe room to a coastal view room due to my Marriott Bonvoy platinum status. Our room wasn’t ready yet so we unloaded and went outside to have lunch on the ocean terrace overlooking the sea. When our room was ready they called my cell phone and offered us a glass of wine that we could take home with us.
After checking into our room, we were free to stroll along the coastal paths surrounding the hotel’s golf course before booking dinner. The footpath has a footbridge over the water, leading to a publicly accessible beach. Luckily, the sky was clear and we could see the waves crashing in the Pacific from above.
Beyond the beautiful scenery, amenities at The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay include a spa, tennis courts, gas fire pits overlooking the ocean, and a bagpipe player playing daily at sunset.
room
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Ashley Onadell/The Point Guy
Redeemed 95,500 Marriott Bonvoy points for an overnight stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay. An original deluxe room overlooking the golf course would otherwise cost $1,200 a night, and an upgraded room with coastal views certainly cost more.
The cool silver and white walls nod to the coastal location without feeling overdone, and the wooden nightstands and entryway furniture gave the room the warmth it needed. There was a shower and a deep soaking tub with bath products from Diptyque Philosikos. The bathrobe was hung between the door and the tub, and the slippers were in the closet.
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Ashley Onadell/The Point Guy
But the focal point of the room was easily the sea view. We crammed chairs around the windows, sipped wine, and discussed what parents talk about when their kids aren’t around. It was quiet and beautiful and we didn’t hear any peek from people walking outside our window.
restaurant
We decided to take advantage of the availability of a great award and splurge on dinner at the hotel’s fine dining restaurant, Navio. There, you could choose from a 3-course prix fixe menu or a chef’s tasting menu. We decided on the prix fixe ($155 per person) but instead of the cheese starter we added the Kaluga caviar starter from the chef’s tasting menu.
Kaluga caviar is placed inside a small white pumpkin, and crème fraiche and pepita are layered on toasted brioche bread. For my first course, I enjoyed a fresh tomato, persimmon and Maine lobster salad while her husband had the duck consommé. Entrees included savory black cod with Florentine broccolini and calamari pasta, and Colorado lamb rack with eggplant puree.
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Ashley Onadell/The Point Guy
Dessert is a light chocolate tart with espresso and Vietnamese coffee. The food and service were divine.
Conclusion
In fact, The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay deserves to be on every Points and Miles enthusiast’s bucket list. Just a 30-minute drive from San Francisco International Airport, it’s the perfect place for locals looking for a relaxing staycation.
From the gorgeous coastal views to the delicious food to the comfortable and well-appointed rooms, I cannot recommend anyone to stay at this hotel. Believe me, it is.