The Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe: Newly Renovated Luxury at Northstar

The Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe lives up to the brand’s luxe reputation, offering upscale amenities and dining options with world-class service. Located mid-slope at Northstar Mountain (my favorite family-friendly ski resort in California), guests can grab their ski gear from the ski concierge and be on the chairlift within minutes of leaving their room.

The hotel underwent a complete renovation in 2024 and now features gas fireplaces in every guestroom, in addition to outdoor heated pools and jacuzzis, a spa with a private slope-side pool, a gondola for access to the restaurants, ice skating rink and nightlife at Northstar Village and warm-weather activities like beach and boat access on Lake Tahoe.

Off-season room prices start around $500 per night, but can balloon to $1,600 or more for a base room during peak season and holiday weekends. On-property dining and activities are also expensive. However, those high-demand periods can be a good time to redeem Marriott Bonvoy points, with award stays starting around 91,000 Bonvoy points per night. The hotel is also part of The Edit collection by Chase and Fine Hotels and Resorts by American Express, allowing you to book with credit card points and receive extra benefits like complimentary breakfast.

I visited the Ritz-Carlton in February 2025 during a multiweek snowboarding trip around Lake Tahoe. Although the hotel covered the cost of my stay and food, all the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Location

The Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe is located about 15 minutes south of the downtown area of Truckee and 45 minutes from the Reno-Tahoe International Airport in Reno, Nevada. That access to Truckee provides plentiful options for more affordable après-ski (after-ski activities) and dining away from the property. Beyond snow sports, the area is a haven for year-round recreation, with opportunities for hiking, biking, fishing and golfing around nearby Lake Tahoe.

Visitors flying into Reno can easily access the property by making a reservation on the North Lake Tahoe Express, a shuttle service that connects the airport with North Lake Tahoe. As of this writing, that service ranges between $99 and $140 per person. If you choose to drive, valet parking will cost $60 per night.

The property offers a complimentary shuttle to downtown Truckee. There’s also an on-demand rideshare program called TART Connect that provides free transportation from the hotel to Truckee and the broader North Lake Tahoe area.

Arrival and Check-in

The hotel lobby has a modern ski lodge feel, complete with wood and stone accents and an elegant fireplace.

During check-in, all guests are offered a welcome drink of either champagne or apple cider. You’ll also receive a property map and a rundown of the businesses and services available on the property.

Rooms

The Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe features 170 standard guest rooms and suites that have been renovated with contemporary, neutral tones and simple decor. All rooms contain a fireplace, coffee maker, refrigerator and a deep soaking bathtub.

Mountain view suites

I was booked into a club-level one bedroom suite with mountain views. These rooms feature fireplaces, balconies, a king bed, a king sofa bed and two full bathrooms. The fireplaces really made the room cozy and the view of the Sierra Mountains was absolutely spectacular.

The living room and connected bathroom are separated from the bedroom and its bathroom, providing plenty of privacy between the two rooms.

The main bathroom contains a soaking tub, a vanity with his and hers sinks and a spacious shower.

The guest bathroom is similar to the master bathroom but without a soaking tub.

Standard king and two queen bed guest rooms

The standard king and queen guest rooms are spacious with great views. The amenities are similar to a suite and include a fireplace and soaking tub. However, these rooms have no living room or pull-out sofa.

Booking with Marriott Bonvoy points

Marriott doesn’t publish an award chart, so the number of points required for a free night will fluctuate based on demand and the cash price of a room. For the 2026 ski season, award rates range between 91,200 and 166,000 points per night for a standard room with either a king bed or two queen beds.

NerdWallet values Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.8 cent each. During lower traffic weekdays, base rooms at The Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe can cost around $500, or 91,200 points. At that price, your points would only be worth about 0.55 cent each. That’s around the same point value I found during peak season. While this may not appear to be a great value for your points, given the high cash cost of a room, it could still make sense to use points and hold onto cash to use towards lift tickets, dining and après-ski events.

Additionally, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card gives cardholders a free-night certificate each year worth up to 85,000 points (terms apply). Marriott free-night certificates can be topped off with up to 15,000 Bonvoy points, allowing you to use the certificate on a room that costs up to 100,000 points. Marriott also offers a fifth-night free on award stays of five consecutive nights for all Marriott Bonvoy members, including stays where you combine points and free-night certificates. This can provide another way to hold onto cash during your stay.

But Marriott Bonvoy doesn’t waive resort fees on award stays, so you’re on the hook for an additional $65 per night regardless of whether you use points or pay in cash.

» Learn more: 9 ways to maximize the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

Dining options

You’ll find both casual and fine dining options at the Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe. I tried all the dining options and really enjoyed Manzanita, the property’s upscale option. However, I found the casual dining and cafe options to be overpriced for the food you get.

Manzanita

Manzanita is the primary upscale dining option at the Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. There’s a kids menu for all meals and a champagne brunch on Sundays, in addition to a reservation-only chef’s tasting counter that features a five-course menu.

Manzanita has a sophisticated and pleasant ambience with multiple fireplaces and great views.

You’ll find American cuisine with a menu that rotates seasonally and includes steaks, seafood and an extensive wine list. I had the prime rib with sauteed mushrooms for dinner, accompanied by a glass of Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. The steak was expectedly fatty and flavorful, complementing the wine nicely.

There’s also a cocktail bar, which serves the full restaurant menu. On Sundays, this bar offers an Art of Mixology class for $60, which includes three cocktails paired with appetizers.

The Living Room

The Living Room is the main casual dining option and offers burgers, sliders, soups and salad. The recent renovations make this space really inviting, with an open atmosphere, a fantastic bar and a huge fireplace.

I tried the smoked brisket nachos and a Caesar salad. At $26, these were probably the most expensive nachos I’ve ever eaten. While they were fine, I didn’t feel they were worth that price. But if you’re staying at The Ritz, prices like this are to be expected.

I posted up at The Living Room’s elegantly redesigned bar multiple times during my stay, and found the cocktails to be tasty and well made. The bartenders definitely know what they’re doing. The atmosphere was also pleasant, with an icicle chandelier set against views of the Northstar slopes.

The Backyard Bar and BBQ

The Backyard Bar and BBQ is the hotel’s slopeside dining option and located next to the outdoor pool. It’s easily accessible and in a good location for lunch or a mid-afternoon break from skiing. But the food prices were high (notice a trend?) and my lunch was not that great; the brisket was dry and the fries were cold by the time I got them. However, drink prices were reasonably priced for a ski area and the service was good.

Cafe Blue

Cafe Blue offers fancy coffee drinks and grab-and-go food like sandwiches and fruit. After trying the Backyard Bar and BBQ, I switched to grabbing a sandwich each morning and throwing it in my bag before I hit the slopes. That allowed me to eat on the mountain and have more flexibility with my day.

The club lounge

All rooms on the fifth floor provide access to the club lounge. If you book a non-club room, access will cost $600 for two adults, $250 for each additional adult and between $60 and $120 for children, depending on their age. Children under five years old receive complimentary access. The lounge includes a dedicated concierge and rotating food and beverage options throughout the day. The service in the lounge was top-tier and one of my favorite aspects of my stay.

Food options were quite good and included made-to-order omelettes for breakfast, complimentary snacks and drinks throughout the day and a variety of light dinner options. I ate in the lounge each morning and found it a pleasant and quiet place to get work done before hitting the slopes.

I also used the lounge to grab snacks throughout my stay and a drink and appetizers before dinner.

Amenities

Ski valet and mountain concierge

Upon arrival at The Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe, the ski valet will grab your skis or snowboard and drop them off at the mountain concierge, allowing you to pick up (or drop off) your skis or board on the gentle slope leading from the property to Northstar Mountain.

While I generally prefer to handle and store my own gear, the concierge process was fast and flawless. Honestly, it ended up being pretty nice to drop off my snowboard at the end of each day and have it ready for me each morning after providing a ten-minute advance notice.

True North

Lift passes, rental gear and a limited selection of apparel is available at True North. This made it easy to pick up my ski pass when I arrived and for the person I was snowboarding with to get fitted for gear without having to head off property. The staff will also give you a rundown of conditions each day and provide suggestions on where to find the best snow.

Heated pool and hot tub

The property features a heated pool and hot tub situated along the Northstar Mountain slopes. I love being in the cold mountain air while submerged in warm water and visited the pool daily.

The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Lake Tahoe

The spa was one of my favorite parts of the property and offers massages and additional treatments, including facials. All-day access is provided when you book a treatment, or you can pay $75 for a day pass, which provides access to all the spa’s amenities, including wet and dry saunas and a private heated pool and hot tub.

I booked a 60-minute deep-tissue massage after my second day on the mountain, which was a great way to relax after a couple days of carving.

Prior to the massage, I loosened up in the extremely pleasant dry sauna.

My favorite part of the spa was the private, outdoor heated pool directly adjacent to the Northstar slopes. During my spa day, there was literally no one else in this pool.

Topgolf Swing Suites

Guests can reserve two on-property Topgolf Swing Suites, each equipped with a variety of virtual golf and non-golf game options. A 90-minute reservation costs $250 for up to 10 guests. For an added cost, you can also order from a casual food and beverage menu.

The Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe: Is it worth it?

The Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe offers guests the kind of upscale experience you’d expect from any hotel bearing The Ritz-Carlton name. The property has a modern, mountain-luxury feel, and for skiers at Northstar Mountain, the location can’t be beat.

While everything is expensive around Lake Tahoe, The Ritz is on a different level. But in my experience, overpaying for nearly everything comes with almost any high-end ski hotel. If the sticker shock doesn’t deter you, The Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe could be a great choice for your next winter adventure. If you’re looking to hold onto some of your cash and have a glut of Marriott Bonvoy points, an award stay may also provide decent (although not great) value for your points.

However, if you’re not set on Northstar Mountain and still want a ski-in/out experience, consider The Everline Resort and Spa. That property is located at nearby Palisades Tahoe, which I consider to be the best overall ski resort in California. It’s also part of the World of Hyatt program, which has an award chart and will generally provide better value for your points.