The Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe

With 153 rooms and 18 suites, the Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe is no boutique bolthole, yet the customer service and holiday experience is tailor-made and completely personalised. The inside/outside concept of the dining spaces translates into each room, with floor to ceiling glass windows and cosy fireplaces by which to relax. Reminiscent of a luxury alpine lodge you can expect rich dark wood furnishings and textured colourful fabrics representing the northern Californian contemporary mountain design. The hotel’s Club Level is very popular with guests looking for a heightened level of service and privacy, with its own concierge team, private check in and food and drink services five times daily. For the ultimate room with a view choose the Club Level or Mountain View King Guest Room, both of which can be interconnecting for families or groups travelling together.

Manzanita, the hotel’s main restaurant, is a signature dining spot of Lake Tahoe, let alone the small mountain resort of Northstar. Its menu of artfully created cuisine is famous amongst travellers and locals alike and the Steelhead Salmon with roasted ‘Chiogga’ beets is a dish not to miss! For more relaxed dining, the Backyard Bar & BBQ is an inside/outside dining space specialising in wood fired breads and traditional Californian fare. During the summer months the Backyard team serve to the large slope-side pool area but when the snow starts to fall, the terrace transforms into a trendy ski-in bar for the ultimate après winter warmer. Café Blue is the hotel’s grab and go bar and deli for mountain picnics, fresh ground coffee and energising smoothies. The Living Room area is true to its name and provides guests with comfortable cosy seating and casual eats. After a long day on the slopes, in the mountains or on the lake, The Ritz is our number one spot for a S’more or three. Kids of all ages will love the hotels ‘Marshmology’ experience… a complimentary hour long gooey gathering by the outdoor fire pit. The pudding chefs are famous for their homemade marshmallows in every colour and flavour you could imagine and their secret chocolate recipe puts these S’mores at the top of the Lake Tahoe leader board.

Winter – Located on the Northstar ‘Big Easy’ ski run but just minutes from the off-piste playground of Mt. Pluto, the Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe is ideal for skiers and boarders of all abilities. From late November through to May the North Tahoe Mountains are bathed in plentiful sunshine, amidst 20-30 feet of snow which falls on average each year. The hotel’s experienced team will ready your poles, boots, skis or board and meet you at the base of the slope… all you have to focus on is the panoramic lake views, the stunning mountain vistas and most importantly getting down safely! The resorts private gondola takes guests up and down the mountain from the hotel lobby straight into the heart of The Village at Northstar, where you will find trendy eateries, bustling après ski bars and a 9,000ft ice skating rink!

Summer – By no means is the Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe just a winter wonderland. In the summer this castle in the sky comes alive with activities, all surrounded by lush green meadows, pastel coloured wildflowers, warm weather and blue skies. The Sierra Forests provide mile upon mile of hiking (NB Sawmill Lake loop) and biking trails, whilst the lake itself is a crystal clear paradise for paddle boarding, kayaking, fishing, water-skiing, wake-boarding, sailing and jet-skiing. Raft down the Truckee River, haul in a Mackinaw trout or book a tee time at one of the championship golf courses in Carson Valley…there’s not a moment to lose on your summer holiday in North Tahoe.

The 17,000 square foot slope-side spa at The Ritz offers a plethora of treatments, all of which draw inspiration from either water or wood, in keeping with the alpine Ritz experience. The 16 treatment rooms face out onto the valley and pay homage to traditional massage techniques and organic oils. The sauna, steam room and whirlpool are popular places for a post ski or hike chill-out before heading to Manzanita for a mouth-watering mountain meal.