Alila Ventana Big Sur
Monterey Carmel Big Sur · United States
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Reviews
Character and identity
Spread across 160 acres of cliffside meadow and redwood canyon on Highway 1, Alila Ventana Big Sur is a 59-key adults-only retreat where weathered cedar buildings dissolve into the landscape rather than compete with it. The look inside is mid-century-meets-rustic-chic: working fireplaces, stone, dark woods, sea grass, muted neutrals. Three restaurants anchor the dining, led by The Sur House and its California cooking on a terrace above the Pacific. Spa Alila runs seven treatment rooms plus outdoor cabanas facing the mountains, and a groovy 1970s NorCal streak survives the Alila revamp, including a clothing-optional pool.
Who's it for
Best for:
Couples and solo travellers chasing a genuine disconnect, with patchy cell service, guided hikes, forest bathing, daily wine tastings, falconry, and vintage Porsche drives along Highway 1. Naturalists, spa-goers, dog owners and yoga types fit the rhythm. The glamping tents in the canyon also open the door to older kids.
Should look elsewhere:
Families with young children (the resort is 18-plus outside the campground), anyone wanting a buzzy scene, big nightlife or a cocktail-led bar (the wine list is the point), and Type A guests who need a packed schedule. Architecture purists looking to be wowed by the buildings will find them deliberately recessive.
Bottom line
The reason to come is the setting and the silence: Big Sur cliffs, redwoods, almost no signal, and a property scaled so it never feels crowded. Book it if a restorative, nature-forward few days sounds like the holiday; a room with a forest-facing terrace and fireplace delivers the experience without stretching to the Coast House. Fly into Monterey if you can.
Location
What this place offers
- 24-hour room service
- Adults Only
- Bar
- Fitness classes
- Gym
- House car
- Meeting rooms
- Outdoor pool
- Pet friendly
- Restaurants
