Post Ranch Inn

WiFi absolutely sucks in the Cliff House rooms — it's 2025 and there's no good reason not to have excellent connectivity at a luxury resort.

Everything else is pretty good, but the WiFi situation is unacceptable for a property charging these rates in the modern era.

Having traveled to many unique resort destinations, I cannot say enough about our recent stay — truly unforgettable with unmatched staff and service.

The facilities and surroundings were magnificently beautiful, but the staff and service was unmatched — seamless, unassuming and gracious. Kudos to Tim Lee, the general manager who could not have been more accommodating and caring during our stay.

We've backpacked Big Sur for years, but treating ourselves to the luxury side was incredible — the property trails, chef's garden, and those 102-degree infinity hot tubs.

We stayed in a Tree House room wanting to be immersed in the woods rather than ocean views, and loved everything about it — the unique shape, wood paneling, reading nook, fireplace. An owl visited us each night and we could hear them whoo-ing. The architecture throughout is spectacular with natural wood and tasteful metal sculptures. The pools are basically infinity hot tubs at 102 degrees, set up as designated quiet areas for ultimate relaxation.

We spent four nights in North Ocean House and those views were absolutely spectacular — plus they turned our leftover steak into a breakfast dish.

The room came with its own music system and outdoor bathtub that made the experience worth the price, plus heated floors and constantly replenished amenities like cookies, milk, and water. Sierra Mar breakfast was complementary and fantastic, though dinner felt steep at $300-500 for two. The chef's garden was peaceful, meditation pool had beautiful views, and we were lucky enough to spot whales on two nights. The property trails through redwood trees are definitely a sight to see.

We stayed in the Ocean Upper Pacific room and honestly, the view alone justifies the price — I've never seen sunsets and stargazing like this.

I booked through Amex FHR and got what they called one of their 'FATest' rooms, and it delivered. The private outdoor tub with the wood fireplace constantly stocked was perfection, and the Lexus service picking us up for dinner at Nepenthe made us feel like VIPs. Sierra Mar's tasting menu was fantastic, though breakfast room service was just okay. My only real complaint is no TVs anywhere — I get the nature thing, but sometimes I want Netflix while relaxing.

We came for our 20th anniversary and it truly felt like a dream — the 180-degree ocean views make you feel completely immersed in nature.

Our Upper Pacific Suite was thoughtfully designed with modern comforts and a gorgeous outdoor hot tub that made the stay special. DJ Singh as Director of Guest Relations made special efforts to check on us and give local tips. The stargazing experience with Sergio was mind-blowing and a trip highlight, while Heather's guided meditation with forest bathing was grounding and unique. Every meal at Sierra Mar was delicious with warm, attentive service that never felt intrusive.

I expected world-class for the extremely high price, but my stay was shockingly disappointing with cleanliness issues and slow, uncaring service.

The room wasn't properly prepared with cleanliness problems that should never happen at luxury resorts, plus worn furniture and malfunctioning switches made it feel neglected. Staff responses were painfully slow and at times felt like no one cared about resolving issues. Dining was beautifully presented but lacked flavor with surprisingly small portions, and excessive wait times between courses. The location and views are stunning, but that doesn't justify the cost when everything else feels below standard.

The property is lovely as you imagine, but Coast House rooms have zero sound deadening — we were woken up every night by neighbors.

The rooms are beautiful but built like Holiday Inns from the 1970s with no soundproofing between rooms. We were woken up late at night and early morning each night, and not because neighbors were rowdy — we may as well have shared a room with them. For Post Ranch prices, guests should expect near perfection and this is far from it.

I've wanted to visit for years, but their policies make it difficult for families — even a 6-month infant requires booking two separate rooms.

The FAQ is misleading about their two-person rule applying to infants, and they should advertise as adults-only rather than leaving families guessing. When I called about bringing our 6-month old baby, we were told we'd have to book two rooms and split up, even though she'd sleep in a pack-and-play we'd provide. I couldn't understand why this would be necessary given there's plenty of room space.

Every detail was approached with thoughtfulness — the Peak house accommodation is perfection with Sonos surround sound playing upon arrival.

The entire property is built with heart, soul, and steel — we loved the reclaimed wood and steel elements throughout. The architecture is a vibe, and Sierra Mar restaurant has hands-down the best food we've ever eaten with the best views in Big Sur. Go for the tastings menu, it won't let you down. Aldo the mixologist, Hector our special server, and Andrew who personally delivers coffee before the restaurant opens and remembers how you like it — all superb.

It took me time to realize the point of this place — just do nothing, reconnect with surroundings, be present while watching hawks ride thermals.

I found sitting on my deck watching the sparkling ocean, hawks riding thermals, and bats catching dinner at dusk was exactly what I needed. The food was terrific, service wasn't overbearing yet available, and the architectural design of the homes is second to none — rustic yet classy. When I asked my wife what her favorite part was after 20 years together, she said the deck that overlooks the ocean with no obstructions.

We stayed in a treehouse room and it was absolute bliss — fabulous design with Pacific views and stars through the skylight.

The staff is exceptional — so hardworking, friendly and helpful throughout our stay. We tried all three pools including stargazing from the Meditation pool our last night. Sierra Mar's portion sizes could be improved for the cost, but everything was delicious and the sommelier's wine recommendation was perfect. It's such a quiet, peaceful hotel — luxury without ostentation.

This is my second year staying during car week — I've seen vintage Mercedes Gullwings and Porsche 918s, plus had a bobcat walk across my patio.

I stayed in Castro House with full ocean views, and there's amazing wildlife throughout the property. Thousands of stars and the Milky Way were visible while sitting in the outdoor hot tub drinking wine — extremely relaxing and meditative. The rooms are stocked daily with complimentary snacks, drinks, and alcohol. The restaurant was good but not excellent like last year, though nearby Solstice and Nepenthe offer superb alternatives.

We stayed in Pacific Suite and used our hot tub daily — the turmeric smoothie and salmon spread from breakfast will forever be in my dreams.

We were able to disconnect, unwind, and truly relax with breathtaking views in a resort that was detailed art. The fireplace was peaceful, and speakers within the room were a great touch. Dinner at Sierra Mar was amazing, and we were lucky enough to meet Tim Lee the manager — he's the kindest, sweetest, friendliest human who made our weekend unforgettable.

We eloped here and it was magical from rainbow sunrises to peaceful infinity hot tubs to redwood hikes.

Derek and the events team coordinated a perfect elopement ceremony, handling weather adjustments via email before our trip. We'll treasure our wedding photos in the redwoods forever. Although lunch and dinner range from decent to good, the breakfast here is one of the best hotel breakfasts I've had worldwide — don't miss the omelets and homemade strawberry jam.