San Francisco Hotels|Half Moon Bay, California, United States

The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay

Name: The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay
Telephone: 650-712-7000

NorCal's cliff-top golfing retreat

VERIFIED LUXURY

Learn How We Inspect

Sitting atop a dramatic bluff, The Ritz Carlton, Half Moon Bay gives you a beautiful coastal setting, verdant golf courses, ocean-view dining and impeccably warm service.

From your first glimpse of the expansive sea vista from the foyer, you’re immediately ensconced in elegance. And when you discover details like chandeliers studded with glowing rock crystals or the exquisite carpet inspired by a walk on the sand, you’ll understand why Architectural Digest named The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay the most beautiful hotel in California.

Boasting the largest ballroom on the Northern California coast, the property is an ideal locale for a wedding or business conference, yet with scenic views and delightful dining options, it’s also the perfect spot for a romantic getaway.

Our Inspector's Highlights

Everything about The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay is designed to showcase the beauty and majesty of the Pacific. From the silvery gray, soft white and slate color scheme to the surfing and water photos on the walls to the sustainable seafood on the menu, you feel at one with nature.
The fifth-floor Club Level is the prime place to stay. Along with your coastal view room, you’ll have access to an exclusive lounge with games, books and tempting hot and cold fare for breakfast and lunch, freshly baked cookies and beverages ranging from coffee to Tavel rosé to port.
Golfers should pack their clubs. The resort offers two spectacular courses: the original designed by Arnold Palmer and Francis Duane that hugs the resort and a newer Scottish links-style ocean option by Arthur Hills that affords stunning vistas from every hole.
Schedule a time in one of the spa’s 15 treatment rooms to experience rituals that showcase NorCal’s local bounty. Our favorites include the Coastal Lavender Indulgence, inspired by the flowers harvested from Matanzas Creek Winery in Sonoma, and the Redwood Forest Ritual, which employs a hot poultice scrub drawn from the forest.
About 90 minutes before sunset, you may spot a bagpiper in a kilt walking the perimeter of the Half Moon Bay hotel. He’ll end up on the 18th green, where he plays a fitting tune to say farewell to the sun as it slips away each evening.

Things to Know

You’ll need a rental car, taxi or shared car service to reach The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, since it’s a 40-minute drive from San Francisco International Airport. Fortunately, the journey is a scenic one.
Bring a warm jacket. The Northern California resort sits along a rugged stretch of coastline overlooking the Pacific, so it can get breezy early in the morning and later in the day.
If you like having snacks in your room (and you’re not on the Club Level), call a few days before your stay to have the luxury hotel stock your refrigerator upon arrival.
Drawing from his Scandinavian roots and international experience, executive chef Jakob Esko has a European-inspired culinary style that complements the fresh, locally sourced cuisine at The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay. Esko will welcome noted chefs — Val Cantu, Ebbe Vollmer, Søren Selin and Ryan McCaskey — for the resort’s acclaimed Global Cuisine Series throughout 2020.

The Rooms

The 239 guest rooms and 22 suites are luxurious and understated. From the expanse of gray marble under the TV to the subtle silvery water print on the headboards to the beds swathed in 400-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets, every detail sets a calming ocean vibe.
If you like sitting by a warm fire while enjoying the cool air, then ask for one of the terrace fire pit rooms on the ground floor. Wrap up in one of the fuzzy brown throws and order s’mores from room service for the ultimate fireside experience.
Water-scented bath salts on the Carrara marble credenza invite you to take some me time in the deep bathtub. In the separate rain shower, you’ll find Asprey’s Purple Water toiletries.
All suites boast cozy gas fireplaces, but only the 2,000-square-foot Ritz-Carlton Suite comes with two bedrooms, a walkout balcony and an eight-seat dining room table.

The Restaurants

Seafood is the star at fine-dining restaurant Navio and The Conservatory, which is open all day. Standouts include the ahi tuna tartare with smoked trout roe, kimchi, finger lime and purple potato crisp and the San Francisco classic cioppino with Dungeness crab, cod filet, mussels, clams and prawns in a spicy tomato broth.
Brunch is the big weekend draw at Navio, and if you want in on the luxurious Saturday and Sunday extravaganza with its sushi station, caviar and oyster raw bar and carving stations, be sure to reserve well in advance.
If you crave a craft cocktail, head to the corner bar at The Conservatory. The staff will mix up artisan spirits, fresh herbs and creativity into creations like the non-alcoholic Caramel Apple or a refreshing rosemary-infused twist on the classic French 75.

Amenities