Hotel:  Ritz Carlton Bacara
Would I stay again?  Yes.  I received an upgrade so I had a suite with a bedroom and a separate sitting area.  I also had an AMAZING view.  The hotel is a bit far from downtown Santa Barbara but the rooms are great and in between conference sessions, I was able to sit outside and find time for me.  This would be a great place for a relaxing long weekend with girlfriends or a spouse/partner.  If you want to be closer to town, there are some other great options closer but not necessarily Marriott brands.

View from Room 17308

View from Room 17308

Restaurants:

Dinner: Smithy (closed)
Would I dine again? Yes.  Loved my dishes at Smithy and the company was even better!  We sat outside, tried numerous items since we had a larger group and headed to Dargan’s!