The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay
Grand Scottish coastal lodge meets NorCal wine country retreat. Stone fireplaces, ocean lawns, tartan accents, and the sound of bagpipes drifting across the 18th hole at dusk. Not a slick, Miami-modern hotel — this is a proper resort built for long weekends of golf, wine, and salt air.
Ask the concierge for the bagpiper schedule — it plays roughly 5 nights a week an hour before sunset and is free to watch from the ocean lawn.
Why It Matters
Forbes Five-Star 2026. Only resort of this caliber between SF and Santa Cruz. Two championship golf courses — one Arnold Palmer and Francis Duane–designed, one by Arthur Hills — sit right on property. The 2024 renovation by Hirsch Bedner Associates refreshed guestrooms, suites, all three restaurants, and the spa. Navio earned a separate Forbes Four-Star for 2026.
Perched on a bluff above the Pacific, The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay opened in 2001 in a grand Scottish Highlands-meets-Northern-California lodge style and got a comprehensive multimillion-dollar renovation in 2024 covering guestrooms, suites, spa, and all three restaurants. Two championship golf courses sit directly on the property, a bagpiper performs at sunset most evenings, and the kitchen leans hard into sustainable coastal California ingredients. It holds the Forbes Five-Star rating for 2026, making it the undisputed top-tier option between San Francisco and Santa Cruz.
Where You'll Stay
9 room types available
Deluxe Room
Entry-level rooms in the main building with views of the golf course or Santa Cruz Mountains. Renovated in 2024 with updated furnishings. Comes with 300-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets, down pillows, in-room safe, mini-refrigerator, Smart TV, and one-touch blackout shades. Some have fireplaces.
Guest House Room — Cypress & Fairway Houses
Set among cypress trees facing portions of the Old Course. Top-floor rooms get the views; ground-floor rooms have fire pits. More secluded than the Ocean House and a slightly longer walk to the main building — the resort offers complimentary transportation on request. Dogs are allowed here (not in other accommodations).
Guest House Room — Ocean House
The Ocean House sits about 450 yards from the main building (8-minute walk or complimentary shuttle). Second-floor rooms face the ocean and the 18th hole of the Old Course. Ground-floor rooms come with private fire pit terraces. Much better access to the pool, tennis courts, and golf. Complimentary self-parking included.
Luxury Fire Pit Suite
Ground-level suite with a private outdoor fire pit and panoramic Pacific views. Built for intimate stays. The bedroom also has an indoor fireplace — so you can watch the sun drop into the ocean from the terrace, then move inside to keep the fire going. Renovated in 2024.
Luxury Suite
Step up from the standard one-bedroom with a more expansive living area and upgraded finishes. Ocean views and fireplace in the bedroom. Good option for couples who want a proper lounge to spread out without going full multi-bedroom.
Ocean View Room
Main building rooms facing the Pacific. The better choice over Deluxe for views — you get the full blufftop sightline across to the ocean horizon. Some include a balcony and working fireplace.
One-Bedroom Suite
Spacious one-bedroom suites available with ocean views or front-drive orientation in the main building, or as ocean-front options in the Guest Houses. Separate living area, fireplace, and deep soaking tub. Guest House versions come with private fire pit terraces.
Signature Suite
One-bedroom suite with sweeping ocean vistas and a refined coastal design. Features an expansive living area, a luxurious bath with bluff views, and a Juliet balcony. Top choice for couples wanting serious ocean views without going multi-bedroom.
The Ritz-Carlton Coastal Suite
The flagship suite. Three bedrooms, vaulted ceilings, Juliet balcony, ensuite bathrooms throughout with ocean-blue color palette, a media room, and expansive living and dining areas. Sleeps up to 10. Best suite in the building by a wide margin.
Multiple KingsThe Property
Eat & Drink
4 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Complimentary beach cruisers, maps, bottled water, and protective gear for overnight guests. Rides start at the resort and follow the Coastal Trail running parallel to the Northern California coastline.
Guided hike through the California Redwoods led by a local naturalist. Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space is a short drive from the resort.
18-hole traditional Scottish design by Arthur Hills. Ocean views from every hole with tight fairways and challenging knolls. Par 72, 6,649 yards. Designed to channel the Scottish links experience on the California coast.
18-hole parkland-style course designed by Francis Duane and Arnold Palmer, originally built in 1973. Cypress-lined fairways with a legendary oceanside 18th hole. Par 72, 7,003 yards. Hotel guests get complimentary access to both courses.
Miles of blufftop and beach trails accessible directly from the resort. The concierge provides jogging maps and route recommendations for various distances.
Daily complimentary coastal walks and yoga classes. Class times and jogging maps available from the concierge.
Learn the basics of Scottish bagpiping from a professional. Connects to the hotel's Scottish Highlands heritage — the resort's bagpiper performs live near the 18th hole most evenings.
Chef-guided foraging tour of Brisa Ranch, one of the resort's key local purveyors. Seasonal ingredient sourcing with insight into the farm-to-table philosophy behind the kitchen.
Hands-on baking session in the Navio kitchen led by the resort's Executive Pastry Chef.
Covered indoor pool open Mon-Fri 6am-8pm, Sat-Sun 7am-8pm. Adult-only swim hours daily 6am-10am and Tuesday/Thursday evenings 6pm-8pm. Adjacent whirlpool. Towels provided.
Three gas fire pits on the Ocean Lawn facing the Pacific. Open for guests to gather, roast s'mores, and watch the sun go down — especially good backdrop for the bagpiper performance.
Four dedicated lighted courts with Ritz-Carlton–branded equipment. Court time reservations available, private lessons with a pickleball professional offered for an additional fee.
Scavenger hunts through resort grounds with prizes, classic board games (Monopoly, Clue, Risk, chess, backgammon), in-room celebration setups, and seasonal programming. Arts and crafts, swimming, and beach activities for ages 5-12.
Concierge-arranged kayaking at nearby Pillar Point Harbor. Classes, tours, or rentals available for beginners and advanced paddlers alike. Opportunity to spot diverse Pacific marine life.
A curated journey through the Santa Cruz Mountains wine region with stops at legacy wineries in the appellation. Over 70 wineries in the region.
Six lighted courts managed by Half Moon Bay Tennis Academy. Court reservations, rackets, balls, and ball machine use included in the resort fee. Private lessons, group clinics, and player-matching available for an additional fee.
Concierge-arranged whale-watching cruises departing from Princeton Harbor. Gray whale migration viewing in season. Cruises typically go 10-15 miles offshore.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Located on the 5th floor, exclusive to Club Level room and suite guests. Dedicated concierge, five daily culinary and cocktail presentations highlighting Northern California flavors, spa amenity access, and invite-only cultural experiences. Elite Marriott Bonvoy status does not provide complimentary access.
Complimentary in-room and property-wide Wi-Fi. Marriott Bonvoy members who book direct get complimentary high-speed access.
State-of-the-art gym with cardio (treadmills, ellipticals, rowing machines, stair climbers, exercise bikes) and strength equipment including free weights, kettlebells, and weight machines. 24-hour access for guests with room keys.
Full pro shop at the Half Moon Bay Golf Links. Equipment rental, lessons, and a dedicated golf concierge for resort guests.
The San Francisco Bay Area's largest hotel ballroom, plus 16 meeting rooms, multiple indoor and outdoor event spaces, and the Miramontes Terrace and Ocean Lawn for outdoor events.
Valet-only for main building guests. $70/night overnight; $35 Mon-Fri day fee; $50 Sat-Sun and holidays. Guest House stays include complimentary self-parking. EV charging stations available.
Up to 2 dogs, max 40 lbs each. $250 non-refundable cleaning fee per pet per stay, plus $20/night per pet. Dogs allowed only in Cypress and Fairway Guest Houses. Not permitted in main building, lobby, Club Lounge, spa, fitness center, restaurants, or pool.
Covered, heated indoor pool near the Guest Houses. Adult-only hours in mornings and select evenings. Towels provided.
Heated indoor whirlpool adjacent to the pool area.
24-hour front desk and concierge. Staff speaks German, Spanish, Italian, and Chinese in addition to English. Concierge can arrange surf lessons, horseback riding, whale watching, kayaking, wine tours, and more.
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