The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay

Great views (as long as you stay within the hotel grounds), nice room and a very good dinner.

The location looks appealing, but walking options are very limited — you constantly encounter “golfers only” and “private property” signs. For a ~$1200/night stay, the additional $70 parking fee feels unreasonable. “Breakfast included” is actually an $85 credit, which is not enough for a proper breakfast. Service is inconsistent: during turndown, personal items were handled unnecessarily while dirty glasses were left behind; at breakfast, the wrong item was served and staff insisted it was correct; the welcome drink experience feels oddly handled and below expectations. Starting from 6 AM, noise from technical equipment makes it impossible to sleep.

Beautiful views and impeccable property.

If you are not staying at this hotel, be prepared to be treated poorly. Stopped here for lunch on a girls day out, thinking this would be a great treat. Boy were we wrong!! Sat down on the patio outdoors. The view was gorgeous. Waitress (Jolene I think her name was) immediately asked for credit card before we ordered anything, since we weren’t staying at the hotel. Odd, but whatever. She took our drink order and we ordered appetizers. Came back with drinks and app plates. Took food order. While later our food comes out delivered by food runner. Never saw our waitresses at our table again until we were finished eating. Didn’t ask if we needed drink refills, couldn’t ask about our missing appetizer. She was vey attentive to the 3 other tables, but wouldn’t even make eye contact with us so it was very difficult to flag her down. She finally shows up and we let her know we never got our app. She acted surprised that we even ordered it, even though she provided us with plates. Then comes the bill. We wanted it split 4 ways. Seemed to not be a problem, except when we got our cards back, she charged one card for the wrong table whose bill was $20 higher. Food and poor service was not worth the price. This experience put a bit of a damper on a nice girls day out.

They told us that there is no space in the restaurant for breakfast despite the fact that we booked bed & breakfast in advance. Can you imagine for paying for breakfast in advance and then they tall you that there is no table for you!

Location is great but the experience was poor. It was too crowded and the staff was sloppy.

Visited for 4 nights to attend a series of business meetings. Arrival was met with helpful and courteous greeters; check-in experience was professional, attentive and efficient. Assigned room that overlooked the ocean. Room was of a large size, and nicely adorned with comfortable, aesthetically pleasing and functional furnishings. Large windows provided favorable views of the ocean (despite the rain); draperies could be controlled electronically but when closed blocked access to power plugs needed to power peripherals on the work desk. Everything worked as would be expected; there was a very large TV, the bed was very comfortable, climate control was responsive, wifi worked well and there were ample power outlets next to the bed that was appreciated. Bathroom was generous in size but design required opening and closing doors to access to the room, shower and WC. Water pressure from the shower was adequate but not great. Hotel premises (lobby, restaurants and meeting rooms) were Rtiz-esque - all good. Less than 5 star recommendation refers to the hotel's offerings of food at their restaurants and room service. Food was overly priced ($85 for a club sandwich plus soda + room service) - which I would not mind as much except that the food was badly prepared and flavor-less. Offerings from the restaurants and at organized venues were equally marginal - expensive mediocre food. But service was good and attentive throughout - if not a little perfunctory.

From the moment you arrive, the property feels cinematic, perched dramatically above the Pacific with sweeping bluff-top views that make you pause. The grounds are immaculate, the air is crisp, and the fire pits at sunset are quintessential Northern California luxury. (Tip: Get an ocean view or even partial ocean view - because you cannot put a price tag on falling asleep to the sound of waves crashing). Check-in was admittedly impacted by an unexpected system outage. While this could have detracted from the experience, the front desk team handled it with professionalism and composure. They communicated clearly, remained gracious under pressure, and did everything possible to minimize inconvenience. It was a strong example of service recovery in action. During my stay, I encountered a few unexpected personal needs, and this is where the property truly distinguished itself. Guest Services Manager Kate was exceptionally understanding, responsive, and solution-oriented. Her attentiveness and discretion made a meaningful difference, and I felt genuinely cared for rather than processed. That level of individualized hospitality is what defines a luxury experience. Danny was incredibly sweet and helpful with my luggage. The rooms are elegant and comfortable, with a calming coastal palette and the kind of quiet that allows you to fully reset. Waking up to the ocean views alone is worth the visit. Overall, despite the initial technical hiccup, the service, setting, and staff professionalism more than delivered. I appreciate when a property stands behind its hospitality standards, and this one absolutely did. Looking forward to returning.

What an incredible stay. The staff was so wonderful and the spot was quiet and lovely

NA

We visited Half Moon Bay to celebrate our daughter’s 29th birthday. The hotel was stunning and spotless, making the trip truly memorable. We definitely plan to return!

I have no negative remarks about this hotel.