Lucia Lodge is a stay for the solitude, peace, and amazing cliffside views. The room was super…read moreclean and comfy. I stayed in Room 1 and was pleasantly surprised with the privacy and cozy feeling. Even though this room is set back furthest from the precipice, I had amazing views of cotton candy clouds each Dawn and dusk. The bathroom is very small but functional. The bed was comfortable with decent pillows and warm blanket. All important as I opted to sleep with the window open to hear the ocean during the early spring night. The lodge is a perfect base to explore Big Sur by day. A continental breakfast with slices of sweet breads, hard boiled eggs, juice, and cutie oranges is provided each morning. There is a Keurig in each room with coffee and tea. The breakfast is an alternative to a hot breakfast since the lodge's restaurant burned down in a wildfire and has not yet been rebuilt. Keep this in mind for dinner since there are no other services nearby. I recommend packing some wine, tinned fish, and crackers to make the most of a sunset dinner looking out to the Pacific and waves crashing against the magnificent cliffs.

This is a great stay!, It is secluded quiet and away from modern comforts. Despite spotty wifi and…read moreno TV the rich geology of Big Sur and the Santa Lucia range is truly amazing. Jade cove and similar beaches are a 20 min drive and there is a food truck accords the street. Staff and other stayers were very friendly and the views from your room and the parking lot are great!

I spent three nights here with my husband and our small dog and we had an absolutely lovely time…read more We were greeted warmly and taken to the lobby via cart where we were checked in very privately and all of the amenities were explained to us. Our room was well appointed with a comfy bed and fireplace as well as a place for us to work. The bathroom was nice with a large tub for soaking and we had a private hot tub on our deck that we made very good use of. All of the food, whether it was room service or happy hour plates or meals at the restaurants (with the single exception of the Big Sur Smokehouse which was terrible and I do not recommend) was very good. As a matter of fact, I would say that the culinary experiences here were some of our best experiences overall, and that is saying a lot considering the level of customer service you receive at this establishment. We also hiked the trails with our small dog but unfortunately as much as they advise this is a dog friendly place, dogs are not allowed in the pool or soaking areas and you cannot leave them in the room, so by bringing our dog we did miss out on use of the pools and some of the other amenities. We were able to dine at the dog friendly restaurants though and again the food was delicious. Overall, this was definitely a five-star stay from the amazing service and accommodations to the delicious food to the ability to appreciate being surrounded by nature. We spent a lot of time relaxing in in our hammock or our hot tub, as well as snuggling in front of the fireplace. enjoying each other's company. This is the perfect location if you are looking to relax and unwind and was very romantic for us. We are planning another stay here soon and I am very much looking forward to it.

I returned to Alila Ventana Big Sur after staying in December 2021, as a Hyatt Globalist both…read moretimes. General service was still good, and I appreciated turndown. But this felt like a decline in standards, not just fewer amenities. Dinner at The Sur House was the main problem. At check-in, the remaining choices were 5:15 PM or 8:15 PM onward; we booked 8:15. On arrival, mussels and filet mignon were unavailable. I accepted sirloin and ordered medium. The steak arrived close to 9 PM. The server confirmed it had mistakenly been cooked medium rare. Rather than taking the whole plate back or replacing the steak, staff brought an empty plate and asked us to transfer the already-cut pieces onto it for further cooking. The same pieces came back, some so full of tough connective tissue that even a steak knife struggled. I could not eat them. We were then told hot food service had closed. After I said, "I'm still hungry," they offered octopus: a small portion over lots of potatoes. That did not feel like an adequate replacement. A guest accepting a reservation offered by the resort should not be left without a satisfactory dinner because of the kitchen's mistake. Elsewhere, the wine, fruit and cheese welcome had become popcorn and a letter; the minibar had six sparkling waters and three snack boxes, without the small Champagne bottle I remembered. Room service now cost $10 per delivery despite meals being included. Dinner was limited to one entree per person. I could accept that, but the food tasted worse to me, and two friends staying in another room also felt hungry. I also noticed overlapping dishes across restaurant, room-service and poolside menus. My issue is not missing freebies. It is food quality and how mistakes are handled--basics I expect even at an ordinary restaurant. At 55,000++ points or nearly $3,000 after tax per night, I would not recommend this experience.

1 star. Rodent in our room. Terrible resolution…read more Food, spa, and location were all great. But there was a live rodent in our room on night one of my husband's 40th birthday trip. It scampered into a hole in the wall. Staff tried to stuff a rag in it before moving us to a closet-sized "unsaleable" room, a third the size of our suite. Compensation for a thousands-per-night booking gone wrong? A slight room upgrade for one night, a comped activity, and $150 (which didn't even cover the resort fee). When we followed up through our third-party booking, Ventana told them we'd already been compensated. For a rodent, two room changes, and a ruined special occasion. Nice property. Awful management. If something goes wrong, don't expect them to make it right.

We had a three night stay to celebrate our birthdays and wedding anniversary. We were late in…read morearriving - it was dark and couldn't see anything beyond our deck - but they were ready for us. A nice surprise waiting in our room: chocolate covered strawberries and a bottle of champagne, a nice way to start things off. We explored the Japanese hot pools. They have separate men and women pools with one in the middle if you want to meet and look at the sky together. Very romantic and the water temperature was just right. It was wonderful to wake up the next morning and have a perfect view of the ocean from our room. We had breakfast, we walked around the grounds for a little hike, back to our room to hang out. Lunch, more walking, dinner. Rinse and repeat. Spent one afternoon carving a pumpkin we picked up along the way. The staff were professional and friendly, kept our room stocked with bath salts, coffee pods and a bottle of water on the nightstand when they turn down the bed. Gorgeous views, awesome weather. It is a great place to unwind and just be.

Dena was was absolutely wonderful!! Dena took out myself and eight girls and we had a blast. Dena…read moreplanned everything and we just had to show up. We went to four great places and had a great lunch provided by Dena! I would 10000% recommend behind the scenes tours to anyone looking for a tour in the area. It was FUN, comfortable, and even educational. 10/10!

We had such an amazing and memorable day with Dena! This is absolutely the way to see wine country,…read morecurb to curb service with lots of fun in between. Our tour included a delicious lunch and Dena even brought a birthday cake to help us celebrate our special day!

This was my third visit to Hotel Carlton in the past 12 months, and what a transformation it has…read morebeen! During my first visit, renovations were just beginning. My room was old-fashioned, with dated furnishings and an unpleasant red carpet. I didn't particularly enjoy my stay, but it was the closest hotel to my event. Five months later, the renovations were in full swing. My updated room had charming wallpaper, a wonderful bed, and a new desk, but lacked seating. Construction noise throughout the day also made it difficult to relax. My most recent visit, however, was a completely different experience! The renovation appears nearly complete, and the hotel looks beautiful! The lobby is fully decorated, there's a new restaurant and bar, and upstairs, Wickerson's Garden has lovely patio furniture, making it a wonderful place to relax in the morning or late afternoon. Our room was absolutely lovely and exceptionally clean! I always check for dust when entering a hotel room, and this one passed with flying colors. The beds were incredibly comfortable, and we had some of the best sleep we've ever had in a hotel. The room also had the perfect amount of furniture, including a sofa chaise lounge, side chair, round table, and a beautiful green dresser that complemented the decor. Everything felt thoughtfully put together and inviting. My only suggestions are to add a second wastebasket near the bathroom sink, since the only one is inside the separate toilet room, and to address the squeaky pocket doors, which can be quite loud at night. What truly made this stay special was the staff. Everyone was incredibly kind and welcoming. My cousin was undergoing chemotherapy nearby, and I requested a late checkout so my cousin could shower and rest before heading home. I was prepared to pay the fee, but the staff graciously accommodated us and waived the charge. They simply wanted to make our stay easier. That genuine kindness meant so much to us and is something I will always remember. The location is another reason I love staying at Hotel Carlton! The hotel is right in the heart of downtown Atascadero, within walking distance of restaurants, bars, ice cream shops, vintage stores, a spa, Pilates studios, and a gym. Everything is just steps away! There's even an adorable tea room called Tea Trolley around the corner. It's probably the prettiest tea house I've ever visited! Most people know Paso Robles, but Atascadero is such a hidden gem. Its downtown is becoming increasingly vibrant and charming, with wonderful little businesses and gathering places. Every time I return, I discover something new. Marriott has done an amazing job transforming this historic hotel into a beautiful Tribute Portfolio property. Having experienced it before, during, and now near the completion of its renovation, I can truly appreciate the transformation. I'm already looking forward to returning for the Christmas holidays! I've been told downtown Atascadero transforms with Christmas lights and festive decorations, and I can't wait to experience it! UPDATE: A Special Shout-Out to Skye and Cammie! I accidentally left some important documents in that pretty green dresser I admired in our room! I called the day after checkout and spoke with Cammie, who kindly alerted Housekeeping. When I called again on Sunday, Skye explained that Housekeeping hadn't seen the papers and had even checked the trash. But he didn't give up! He double- and triple-checked the room, and after I gave him a more detailed description of where I had left them, he finally found them! I'm incredibly grateful for his persistence and willingness to go the extra mile. Thank you, Skye and Cammie, for the exceptional customer service! It's the people who truly make a hotel worth returning to!

There were a few little issues with getting a hold of the front desk the day before check-in. I…read morefeel like they need another employee or two. But this is a very nice hotel in a very safe, mellow, stylish downtown. The two queen bedroom is very spacious and the beds are wonderful.

Our waiter Jamie was the star of the show tonight. He was busy, but attentive w our order. The…read moreshort rib ravioli are My favorite for sure. Everyone in the group enjoyed their meal. Big shout out to our waiter! Overall: A+

The meatballs were no better than decent frozen ones I've had. The sauce on them was sweet like…read morecheap tomato sauce out of a jar. The pizza crust was not good. Still ate the whole thing tho cause it's pizza. The salad and garlic knots were good. Overall a disappointing experience.

Came to have a family dinner. We were seated in the back room along with a few other unfortunates…read more There was a group of about 40 people in there. You can only imagine how loud it was, no you really can't! We asked to be moved and were told no. Couldn't speak to one another, couldn't hear the server nor he us. To make it even worse we were at a table for 6, there were 7 of us! The only reason I even rated a 3 is because the food was good.

We had such a wonderful experience at Giuseppe's in San Luis Obispo. From the moment we sat at the…read morebar, the atmosphere was fun, lively, and welcoming. It is exactly the kind of place where you can relax and enjoy a great meal. A big thank you to Jeff behind the bar, who took amazing care of us and made the whole experience even better. We also had the pleasure of meeting Giuseppe, the owner's son, who was incredibly kind, welcoming, and clearly passionate about the restaurant. The food was absolutely unbelievable. The Italian baguette sandwich is a must. It is so flavorful and perfectly done. The beet salad was fresh, delicious, and a great complement to the meal. We truly love sitting at the bar here. It has such a fun vibe, and we cannot wait to come back. Thank you again to Jeff for the outstanding service and to Giuseppe for running such a fabulous restaurant.

OMG. I absolutely love Detroit-style pizza and this place got it soooo right…read more We started with the Caesar salad which was delicious, and then ordered the elote pizza which came with chorizo, corn, cilantro, and the works. It was sooooo good!! Definitely would want to come back here for different pies. Although... don't order the espresso martini it was lackluster... to say the least.

Came to Bear & the Wren with friends for dinner on Saturday. Our friend made a reservation so we…read morewere seated shortly. I'm glad we were able to sit outdoors with our pup! We did family style and ordered the strawberry fennel salad, melon salad, two bee stang pizzas Detroit style, spicy pig pizza Detroit style, and elote pizza Neapolitan style. Presentation of the food is chef's kisses, but the dishes themself are on the pricy side. I do think the portions are on the smaller side, especially $15 for a small salad is a little much, but overall the food all tasted very good. Everyone's favorite was the bee stang. I will say I am a Neapolitan style pizza so would have loved to tried that with the bee stang. Overall, great experience and good food. Our waitress was super sweet and attentive. The atmosphere is extremely pretty and moody. Great for date night or an intimate dinner with loved ones!

Our group of 8 chose CDV for our Friday night meal to kick off the weekend, and we could not have…read moremade a better choice. You do feel as though you are in an Italian restaurant but there is a lot going on with the decor, from multi colored walls to a plate wall and random photos all around. Thankfully, we were so engrossed in our conversation and the amazing food, the chaotic decor did not detract from the experience. Our main server was Emma. We learned she has worked there for 10 years and she obviously is good at what she does and must love it a whole bunch. She was on every detail with our table and many around us. It was a fairly busy night but manageable. We ordered several different things from the menu and about 3 different bottles of wine. Emma came to the rescue to discuss and help make choices along the way. My order was the mushroom raviolis and it was so delicious. Everyone raved about their meal. Generous portions. You might want to sit your meal if you want dessert. You will not regret any dinner you have at this place. I'm already thinking ahead to when I can order those raviolis again. Yum!

Good food and service offset by lousy acoustics…read more We both had the beet salad which was tasty and nicely presented. The wife had roasted eggplant and I had the pork saltimbocca which were both tasty and generous in the portions. I noticed that a fair number of people took take-away boxes as did we. What threw things off was the terrible acoustics. All hard surfaces in a fairly small space meant that the any conversation anywhere added to a very high noise level even when the restaurant was only 2/3 full. And when people left towards the end of the night the musak was even worse, no clarity whatsoever just noise. It was difficult to carry on a normal conversation without leaning in to hear each other. We'll go back again, but just making sure that we sit outside.

Took some freshman here during their WOW week and Petras was super accommodating. Service was great…read moreand the food was a perfect lunch. Would definitely recommend to anyone in the SLO area and will be coming back!

Yum! First time at this spot and had to try the gyro pizza. It met the hype and reviews. It was…read moreflavorful, cheesy, and tender pieces of gyro meat. The shawarma pita sandwich was also bomb. The chicken was well seasoned and juicy. Gotta try the kabobs, garlic sauce, and rice next time. This one is a keeper.