If you want to dine against a gorgeous backdrop, head to Navio, the fine-dining restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay. The luxury hotel is perched on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and the restaurant has a design that speaks to its closeness to the sea. The Mediterranean-influenced seafood eatery offers views of the blue waters as well as the verdant 18th hole of The Old Course (be sure to request a window-side table). The sea cuisine — such as oven-roasted loup de mer (European seabass) with wild rice, Swiss chard and Meyer lemon, or the local black cod and Berkshire pork belly with grilled Monterey calamari and chorizo — is inviting and familiar, featuring seasonal ingredients and beautiful presentations. Navio makes a scenic and comfortable place to dine with an ocean view.
Our Inspector's Highlights
- One of the big events each weekend is Navio’s Saturday and Sunday brunch, with seatings from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. that often sell out. The scenic restaurant is a popular destination for people living in the Peninsula and San Francisco, so advance reservations are recommended.
- When you arrive at the luxury resort overlooking the Pacific Ocean, it's easy to feel that you're in a retreat far away from the bustling big city. But the hotel is actually just about 45 minutes south of San Francisco or San Jose, depending on traffic.
- The farm-to-table movement California is known for is prominent at the restaurant. In fact, they take it one step further — the majority of the cuisine is ocean to table with only the freshest seafood and shellfish served.
Things to Know
- As the signature restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, Navio is open Wednesday through Sunday serving dinner and weekend brunch.
- Navio is ideally located on the third floor of The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay. When you walk into the hotel, head straight back through the foyer and turn right. Walk through the light-filled Conservatory to reach Navio.
- The dress code for Navio is business casual or cocktail attire.
The Food
- At dinner, choose chef Xisco Simón Comas’ seven-course tasting menu or select items à la carte, from a menu that is broken into lighter dishes and entrées.
- Navio offers a special tasting menu for vegetarians with items like Ouroboros baby greens with juniper-citron vinaigrette, persimmon, walnut and watercress risotto with Acquerello rice, shimeji mushrooms and sea lettuce.
- Brunch is an open-format prix fixe with everything from made-to-order eggs to specialty carving stations to a raw oyster bar to a buffet of fresh-pressed juice.
The Look
- Pale white and gray floors and Italian Carrara marble counters mix with expanses of honey-toned paneling accented by unique sconces with nautical rope detail.
- White clothed tables are decorated simply with understated pottery in shades of taupe, cream and pale aqua made by Heath Ceramics in nearby Sausalito.
- The scene at the Half Moon Bay restaurant is comfortable and elegant, which is a perfect vibe when you’re on vacation.
Getting There
