Post Ranch Inn

Just arrived today after spending the weekend here… and I must say… everything was just perfect about this place. From check in, to in room dining, Sierra mar, and our experiences of couples massage and facials. I love everything about this place… not one thing I can say bad or need to improve on. Definitely will return!!!

So, as many others have done before, we spent enough money for a cheap european vacation and instead went to Post Ranch Inn for our honeymoon (we only had a little time for the trip and so we stayed local). That said, we have no regrets and wish we had trust funds or a larger source of independent wealth to make this place our go to spot in Big Sur. The employees are extremely helpful, and the grounds are beautiful, well curated, and taken care of. The food is delicious. The mini bar is complementary. The vibe is tranquil, northern California fancy, and the resort is there to cater to anything you need. These people work hard to make this place an oasis of relaxation.

My (new) husband and I stayed two nights here during our honeymoon and absolutely LOVED it. It was such a perfect spot for a honeymoon, and even though neither of us would be considered the «outdoor-​sy» type, this was so serene and romantic I would definitely recommend staying here for a honeymoon or other special occasion.
You pull up to the front office where you are greeted by several friendly employees as well as your choice of champagne or other beverage. They then take you to your room/​mini treehouse building in a hybrid Lexus SUV. I believe they must use hybrid vehicles because they are very ‘green’ but they are also so quiet and add to the serenity of the place.
Our room was very luxe mountain cabin-​like complete with a fully stocked mini bar (which everything is complimentary) to free reusable steel water bottles which you can fill up in your bathroom sink, as all the water on the property is filtered.
There are lots of activities you can partake in on the property, such as stargazing with a knowledgeable astronomer and high powered telescope, yoga, and guided hikes. There are also some small short trails around the property you can explore as well. There are two infinity hot tubs that look over the cliff right in to the ocean where you can watch the sunset.
If you want to go off property to dine, they arrange for a driver to drop you off and pick you up. When we used this service, we were offered a bottle of champagne to enjoy when the driver dropped us back off — free!
While the rooms are quite pricey here, you will definitely have a very upscale experience and won’t be disappointed by the endless amazing customer service and the gorgeous views — mountain range to your right, cliff to the ocean to the left! If you are looking for a romantic, serene getaway, I definitely recommend staying here!

Out of every where I have been in my life, I would say Post Ranch Inn is my favorite place. I came here this time last year for my boyfriends birthday and I didn’t know what to expect. After a long, but beautiful 4 hour drive, we arrived to post ranch. Everyone was extremely friendly greeting us, and the check in was quick and easy. We walked up to where our room was, and it was a trail of trees and a gorgeous view of the ocean. We stayed in one of the tree houses over looking the ocean. The room was absolutely beautiful. It had a cozy little fireplace, a big bed, and the best bath tub in the world! No joke. We had a balcony overlooking the ocean. I can go on and on about how amazing this place is, but the main things I loved were:
— the 24 hour infinity hot tub overlooking the ocean, one night after dinner, we went to the hot tub at 2 am and there was no one but the two of us, and we saw every star in the sky. I can’t even put into words how beautiful it was.
— the trails, so many trails to walk down, peaceful quiet and relaxing, and we even saw several deer!
— we had a couples massage at the spa. It overlooked the mountains and the therapists were amazing.
— several course dinner at Sierra mar. The dishes were one of a kind and absolutely delicious. The restaurant overlooks the ocean as well, dimly lit, and very romantic.
— the bath tub and just being in the room.
Over all post ranch inn went above my standards. I had the most romantic weekend of my life here and I will be coming back!

My favorite hotel & resort on the West Coast. Absolutely incredible! Have stayed a couple of times in the mountain house accommodation. Superb views over the mountains. In my view better than the view over the ocean. The Sierra Mar restaurant has excellent food and a wine cellar that holds several gems. Very nice trekking trails within the resort and a lovely heated swimming pool! Love the place!

**Restaurant Review Only.** Two stars for service, I read that people have had trouble with attitude of the staff or the paces of their meal. This was not our problem.
Without going into too much detail– 8 out of our 10 dishes (including the special beef dish which was a $ 60 supplement) were very flawed– under seasoned, textural misfires, and a lack of flavor all around. Components of my entrée were inedible. They might be composed and pretty plates but they are missing the essentials of a good meal.
*I am amending this review because upon receipt of an email I wrote, the chef has emailed me back personally and offered his apologies and offered to refund our meal. On top of that he noted that they change their menu entirely every night, which I was not aware of– and I know that must be incredibly challenging both creatively and logistically– SO… for what they lacked in flavor that night, they made up for in hospitality and professionalism…

My wife and I stayed here for two nights of our honeymoon. We stayed the the treehouse and had a wonderful time. The amenities in the room were incredible. The grounds were very enjoyable and the views of the ocean and the lighting on the mountains at sunset were lovely. We are glad we stayed two nights instead of one as we were better able to relax and enjoy the retreat that the Post Ranch Inn is. We ate at the restaurant, which was top notch!!!
All in all, Lovely, but pricy.

The Post Ranch Inn is RIDIC. Hands down the most awesome place I’ve ever stayed, like a 5-​star woodlands resort. Shit here is perfect and they really go all out! The staff and service is amazing. Also, they don’t half-​ass the amenities. I was marveling at all the snacks they include in your room (I even took a pic). Our mini fridge literally had all the following items:
–pita chips
–hummus
–trail mix
–dried fruit mix
–biscotti
–potato chips (sea salt and salt and pepper)
–white wine
–bottled water (6)
–sparkling water (2)
–apple juice (2)
–pear juice (2)
–coconut water (2)
–honest tea (2)
–milk (2)
–root beer (2)
–diet coke (2)
–bottled coke (2)
–goat cheese
–chocolates
Non-​fridge items included:
–chocolate chip cookies that were really good
–champagne
–red wine
–bananas and apples
–more things I’ve forgotten
Anyway, so other than the free food (not actually free, just included with your exorbitant hotel bill haha), our room was awesome. We stayed in the Pfeiffer Room, which is on the upper level of one of the Coast houses. We had our own private balcony overlooking the ocean and nobody stayed in the room below us while we were there. The room is small but wonderfully cozy, with a bed, couch, and fireplace (no TV) in the main area along with sliding doors out onto the private deck. We watched the sunset from the deck while we had champagne and it was so freaking romantic.
A short walk away from our room was the infinity hot tub. The regular pool is a bit further but not too far. You can call the concierge and ask for a ride in one of their Post Ranch Lexuses if you don’t want to walk. Don’t forget to go by the bird’s nest for an obligatory pic. As far as activities go, I would recommend going on one of the trails. They aren’t too difficult and it was wonderful to walk around in the forest and be out in the fresh air. Note: there are critters and deer EVERYWHERE. Turkeys, too. Be respectful!
Breakfast at Sierra Mar was included in our stay. The food is not amazing, just a fancy-​ish breakfast buffet, but you get that awesome view. The room service was pretty decent too. We just ordered sandwiches and dessert.
The rooms here book up really, REALLY far in advance so plan accordingly if you want to stay at the Post Ranch. It’s also expensive AF, like seriously $$$$$, but I gotta tell you it was totally worth it!

I really can’t add anything more then the other reviews. Total bucket list material. Go there, close your eyes while signing the bill and enjoy heaven on earth.
Reflex reaction: amazing views, interesting architecture, comfort, great service, expensive

This place is truly divine. The ocean views are breathtaking and the vibe is serene and peaceful. I would recommend the ocean front rooms as the added view is worthy of the upgrade. The breakfast buffet is some of the best I’ve had and the serenity pools overlook the water and are perfect for relaxing and indulging with a glass of wine and oysters. The oysters up here are some of the best Morro bay selection I have had. Morning yoga in the yurt was a perfect way to start the day and the hikes are remarkable on the property and surrounding areas. A visit here is worth your $$, enjoy!

Would give this 10 stars if possible. We’ve stayed twice for one night each time: once with an ocean view; and once with a mountain view. Each time was amazing. The infinity meditation pools are essentially huge hot tubs without the bubbles. The restaurant was excellent, and the free breakfast is 4 star.
When we were there, we shared the pool with Marcia Cross of Desperate Housewives. And ate breakfast next to Campbell Brown. No one bothers the celebs, but just enjoys this amazing place. It ain’t cheap, but for an anniversary or special occasion, it is well worth it.

This is hands down my favorite view & restaurant in Big Sur. Many thanks to Jose tonight for making this birthday experience one of the most cherished experiences EVER!!! Jose suggested I try tonight’s four-​course tasting menu. GREAT advice… It did not disappoint!!!
Began my culinary adventure w/​the seared Foie Gras & cheese stuffed squash blossoms… HEAVENLY!!! Duck was my entrée. It was served sliced, medium rare on a bed of cauliflower coulis… nuff said. DELECTABLE!!! To finish, grilled strawberries paired with fresh ice cream & cream de AWESOME!!! Chefs here are to be COMMENDED… BRAVO!!!
If you’re looking to treat yourself to a beautiful meal surrounded by the beauty of the California coast, Sierra Mar is a MUST STOP!!! I guarantee, no regrets :)

Had an awesome lunch here!
One star knocked due to the fact I requested windows table at the time of the reservation which I made a month ago and I called the day before to confirm and they said they had NO note of it. I don’t know where they have an issue with keeping requests as the same thing happened for my husband’s birthday. They had no note that I had asked for window and told them we were celebrating a bday.
The food and view are priceless!

Post Ranch Inn is in a totally higher class from everything else in the world! I booked a two night stay with the honeymoon package which is amazing!!! And I told the staff that I was going to POP the big Question to my love of my life! They went way out of their way to help me set this all up for over a month and half they were calling me a couple of times and the even UPGRADED my Treehouse to an Amazingly Ocean view room «F. Post 121»! The staff is on point and helpful and friendly! When I pop the question on our private bench in front of the cottage over looking the mountain side to the ocean I could not of help shutting one tear on how special moment in my life is! Thank you Post Ranch Inn!
And she said YES of course! Lol

I cannot rave about Post Ranch Inn enough, especially in comparison to Pebble Beach Resorts (who completely ruined my last Carmel-​by-​the-​Sea visit). Post Ranch Inn is AMAZING.
I’ve seen many beautiful views, experienced many luxury resorts, throughout the world. PRI’s gorgeous architecture echoes the CA coastal redwood vibe (morning greetings by red tail hawks & the deer were nice touches), loved the hiking, the restaurant, infinity pools & jacuzzis extending off the cliffs (perfect sunset spot), delicious in-​room snacks, great activities (yoga, food, stars!!!), completely 100% worth the $$$$$.
Here’s the thing, there are many wonderful places to spend your time & money, so for me, what makes a place stand out, is the service. The customer service was wonderful (efficient, intuitive, considerate, non obtrusive, & kind). THAT is why I will return soon, & also recommend this establishment to family & friends. Just thinking of my visit, continues to fill me with joy. PRI, thank you!

WORTH IT ***this review is for the restaurant only*** the tasting menu is $ 125 per person and it is 4 courses of amazing perfection. The setting couldn’t get any more incredible and our server Rachel was SO nice. It’s definitely pricey but it’s an experience I’ll remember forever. We were fortunate enough to get wonderful weather, and a layer of clouds hat made it seem even more like heaven. They were EXTREMELY wonderful about my gluten free needs and it was literally the best gluten free bread I have ever eaten in my life.
It’s a pricey night so make it a special occasion if you don’t have funds for a random dinner here. If you want to just enjoy the view pick a warm night and do a drink on their gorgeous patio.
I repeat… WORTH IT.

One of the most surreal and magical stays I’ve ever had!
The bf and I went to Post Ranch during December of 2013 as a relaxing weekend retreat to kick off the holidays. We had never been to Big Sur before and wanted to experience nature and all of its beauty but didn’t want to sacrifice some of our plush and ritzy cravings. Post Ranch satisfied all of what we were looking for and much much more.
We opted to stay in the Tree House and yes, you heard that right. It’s a freaking Tree House. We were lucky and got the Tree House with both a breathtaking ocean view and a breathtaking view of the trees and mountains. The Tree Houses were separate enough from each other to allow for optimum privacy and seclusion. The Tree House itself was rustic, cozy, charming and had a much needed spa tub and patio.
However, aside from the incredible accommodations, what makes Post Ranch truly outstanding is the entire property and all of the amenities. We hiked through all the recommended hiking trails on site and discovered hidden hot tubs and hot springs with the most ridiculous views! We basically hot tub hopped throughout the ocean side and woods. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday… We even discovered a hidden lake, a secluded pond, cliffside couples hammocks, and some beautiful animal life. In addition, the breakfast buffet at Sierra Mar was the perfect way to start off the day — a dash of breathtaking views and delicious food. And last but not least, the pools were phenomenal.
We also did dinner at Sierra Mar and tried their 9 course Chef’s «Taste of Big Sur» Tasting Menu with wine pairings and thoroughly enjoyed the experience! It was truly one of a kind.
And of course, as is mandatory with any vacation, we indulged in a 90 min couples massage at the spa and had the most ridiculous view from the couples massage room. My only regret is that we were so lazy and slept in everyday that we didn’t try out the cliffside oceanfront yoga class at 8:30am.
So on your next trip out to Big Sur, definitely consider Post Ranch Inn for a one-​of-​a-​kind, truly romantic, secluded and relaxing stay. We never even left the ranch once during our 3 day stay!

Magical! st Anniversary!!!
Just wanted give an update: We stayed at Post Ranch Inn again, and it was every single bit as great as it was last year, when we got married!
Read my review from last year, either here, or on Trip Advisor. It gives details on what its like to stay at Post Ranch Inn. Everybody should experience it once…

I could be really, really nit-​picky and point out a few minor issues, but no. Just no. Well… okay, just one. We asked someone at the front desk for directions to the Henry Miller Library. He gave us directions to the *county* library instead. We laughed about it when we showed up at the county library and realized the mistake.
The property is amazing and the staff is very friendly and accommodating. If you want to leave the property, they offer a free car service. The cars are all hybrid Lexus vehicles, very nice.
We really enjoyed the breakfast buffet each morning. We had dinner at Sierra Mar one evening, it was a four course tasting menu and our server was fantastic.
Post Ranch Inn is one of the most unique places I’ve ever stayed. It’s very secluded and extremely quiet. It seems like everyone (even the guests) talk in hushed tones. It’s a great place to get away from everything and just relax.

The hubby and I splurged on a 3 day mid-​week getaway here, we didn’t want to leave! Yes, at first glance the Post Ranch Inn is expensive (the rooms vary from around $ 1,000-$ 3000) per night. However, this particular resort tucked away among the mountains and the ocean in Big Sur is always on one «Top 10» list or another for a reason; it is so gorgeous here!
Rooms: 5 stars: We went for a treehouse the first night (how can you not??) And an Ocean House the next night. We got lucky with the treehouse, they put us in the Borona treehouse with an excellent view of the ocean from the window on one side, and a forest view on the other side. The room is very rustic but chic, I mean what other tree house comes with heated bathroom floors? :P The windows are situated very nicely and you can see the stars come out at night; magical :)
The Ocean House is definitely a must-​stay, especially if you luck out and get gorgeous weather! The weather on our second day had a heavy marine layer and thick fog, which was haunting and beautiful too, but on the first and third day the sun came out and the gorgeous ocean was literally right outside our deck. This room is bigger then the tree house, and very private. Each room comes with a stocked mini bar with all the drinks you could want (wine and beer included) and a variety of snacks, this is complimentary for the guests and gets refilled daily. They also provide a good stock of wood for their fireplaces, and the décor is very charming and rustic.
Service: 5 stars: I read that some of the staff can be rude and condescending, but we didn’t feel that was the case at all! Everyone from the guy at the security gate, to the bellman, were so friendly. Since they only have 39 rooms here, they usually know you by name, and the service throughout was prompt, courteous and what you’d expect from a 5 star resort like this.
Food: 5 stars (note: we only got room service from Sierra Mar) Post Ranch has its own on-​site restaurant called Sierra Mar and they provide a complimentary breakfast for their guests each morning. The breakfast is buffet style and very delicious, with a huge range of savory and sweet to satisfy any palette. They also have to-​go coffee and tea cups readily available which was a nice touch, plus you cannot beat the view at Sierra Mar! We also ordered lunch and dinner from Sierra Mar to have in our rooms because we literally didn’t want to leave lol. The sandwiches (turkey and burger) were good, they can also pack it for a picnic, but I highly recommend their Ranch dinners. The portion is for 2 people and includes bread, salad, main entrée and dessert (price range is around $ 150) we got the ribs and it was sooo tender and delicious. They also have their own on-​site organic garden where the chef gets his greens.
Tip:
*They have 2 on-​site open top Lexus Convertibles if you want to take it around Big Sur for a spin
*TRIPLE check the weather before you come if you are going to be disappointed with the marine layer. Post Ranch is very highly elevated above sea level, so most mornings start out super foggy and it clears by 1PM, however, there are days where the marine layer never leaves and you don’t get an ocean view at all.
*The Jade Pool by Sierra Mar has an amazing view, it’s a hot tub at around 110 degrees and is so relaxing
*You can order a picnic lunch to go from Sierra Mar if you want to go enjoy your food during the hikes around the property, or on the beach.
*The Borona treehouse is their best treehouse :)