Hacienda Del Sol Guest Ranch Resort

We had our wedding reception here and loved it. As an out of town bride, I needed a lot of hands on detailed information and I definitely got it. I looked at having my reception at Arizona Inn and Lodge on the Desert, but this place offered it all. Bar is open to guests afterwards, it’s right smack dab in the desert landscape, rooms are quaint cowboyesq, and best part is the courtyard is private. If you have a cocktail hour in the smaller courtyard and reception in the larger courtyard, it’s entirely yours! No other wedding parties are on site like at La Paloma. My out of town guests loved it, we recommend getting the Hepburn suite for the parents of the bride/​groom as an extra prep area for the bridal party. Such fun.

Beautifully landscaped old hacienda ranch style hotel up the Catalina foothills of Tucson. Moorish and Southwestern touches with a wonderful 1930s-​40s feel. This place was built as a ranch house for vacationing East Coast millionaires in the early 1930s and then became a movie star haunt in the 1940s. The newer additions and swimming pool are built in impeccable taste, so that the whole effect is seamless and old and new make a perfect meeting.
The one problem is the much-​touted fancy restaurant in the middle of the place; it’s just not very good and service is annoyingly pretentious and not that friendly. (By contrast, the hotel staff are wonderful and consistently friendly.) They spoil one of the more beautiful dining rooms in America — in terms of views — by playing muzak (real muzak! didn’t even know you could still pay for that!) and generally making you feel like you’re in a generic hotel lobby. They should also find a way to create a couple windows that open in the main room, so you could have some of the beautiful breeze.
If they brought the restaurant up to snuff, they would be one of the great hotels in the country. As it is, they are a still a lovely step back into old Tucson history with all the comforts of now.

Beautiful setting with amazing views. Great atmosphere and beautiful dining areas. Appetizers were very good but very different in size — salumi was large but lobster ravioli was only 3 pieces. Soup very good and generous portion. Dinner was very generous portion — the veal chop and pork loin were the two favorite at our table. Server was very attentive. Would definitely come back again!

So, I am new to Tucson and just starting to get out and about to see what this sleepy little town has to offer! The Hacienda Del Sol is a desert gem. It is an absolute «must be» on your to go list while in town!
It’s a restaurant/​resort located in the Catalina Foothills. The views could NOT be more spectacular. I didn’t stay in the resort so my review is strictly on the restaurant. Watching the sun set over the desert with the Tucson mountains in the backdrop was absolutely breathtaking. The grounds of the Hacienda Del Sol are exceptional with variety, water fountains and local art throughout. There are multiple seating options, including a private table for 4 overlooking part of the kitchen. There is live music on select evenings so call ahead if you are interested! The Friday night line up was perfect for out function! Of course, there is valet parking available, or pretty close self-​parking as well.
I was told that in recent years the business did a remodel which they managed to keep the updates to the original feel of the place.
We were a party of 10 and were seated in a large private dining room off a patio. The room had a fireplace and 2 large chandeliers… very classy. The service was impeccable and definitely added to the overall experience.
The menu was of a varied selection with most common options, like lamb, steak, scallops, veal, chicken, a veggie option and fish. They ran out of the stripped bass on the menu and had a Salmon replacement. The use of veggies on certain dishes made for an interesting culinary experience.
The salads looked very fresh and the Three Onion French soup was the
! I highly recommend the scallops.
The wine list was the largest I have seen. In fact, I think they actually boast this fact. The menu was almost to heavy to lift! Prices varied and some made me cringe!!! There was a $ 4500 bottle option.
We were all to full for dessert but the menu looked yummy. My most fav part… the little handmade jalapeño and cayenne dark chocolate truffles they brought out at the end! I wanted 5 more! :p

New Years Eve dinner was unfortunate, thankfully we had good company and the wine was excellent so we decided that made up for the meal.
Rib Eye was woefully undercooked even for Medium rare, we are not novices at good meals and have had good meals here before but for the expense paid we expected a decent medium rare Rib Eye instead of the chewy rawness.
We witnessed a couple leaving unserved, a couple upset possibly the waiting time to sit down we were not sure.
Lovely ambiance, service was average but overall not really worth going back as this would be the second time there was something off and with the expense having something off being your food is really unfortunate.

This is a beautiful resort! The experience was incredible. I will absolutely be recommending this resort to anyone planning to travel to Tucson! Many thanks to all the staff for making my stay such an incredible experience!

Fabulous Sunday Brunch! With everything you could imagine. all beautifully displayed at the buffet as well as the cook stations. Delicious mimosas made with blood oranges.
We also enjoyed dinner in The Grill. Dining on the best soup ever!
Great food and attentive service. Highly recommend for a special occasion.

I recently had my wedding here, and I was consistently impressed with the venue (it’s GORGEOUS) as well as the staff. From the time that we booked it through the post-​wedding follow-​up, we had nothing but positive experiences.
The event coordinator, Rachel, is the epitome of professional. Saying she is competent doesn’t even begin to do her justice; she is above and beyond highly competent, from keeping track of all the many moving parts of a wedding to miraculously appearing with bitters and soda to soothe my stomach when I got pre-​wedding jitters and ginger ale was too sweet for me to handle. She is easy to reach by both phone and email, and responds quickly; when she is out of the office, even for a couple days, she puts notices on her email and voicemail so you’re aware. Beyond Rachel, the hotel staff in general is great. Our wedding guests stayed here, and had nothing but good things to say about the restaurant, the rooms, and the staff.
Hacienda del Sol requires that food and beverage for the reception be through them, which is no problem at all given their excellent food. Multiple guests commented on how delicious the food was, and we were given lots of options for wine as well.
I commend the servers as well for being extra attentive to my husband and me. As often happens at wedding receptions, we spent so much time talking to our guests that we didn’t really get to eat. A server not only boxed and saved our meals, but had them delivered to our room so we could eat later that night. We definitely appreciated that when it was after midnight and we were ravenous!
The beauty of the venue speaks for itself, with lovely grounds, historic architecture, and stunning views. In addition, Rachel and the Hacienda del Sol staff go out of their way to make you feel special, and I couldn’t have asked for a better wedding experience than what they helped provide.

It’s heartbreaking that I’ve to rate Hacienda del Sol only 3 stars. I took my daughter to this highly recommended & well-​spoken-​of hotel in the elite area of Tucson foothills one beautiful morning. She & I just came off her moving-​up ceremony to middle school. I was happy that she was among the 7 students who received an «Achievement award» at her class. We lived about 15 miles far from this nice hotel but I wanted to have a special mother-​daughter bonding so I decided we go on a nice breakfast at a really «classy place» so we took the 40-​min drive up the mountains towards Hacienda del Sol. We arrived 10am. The receptionist told us at the door they don’t serve breakfast anymore. Initial disappointment flooded our faces. I then asked if they’re serving anything at that time of the hour. She said they don’t but they start serving 11am for lunch. She then handed me the menus for lunch. I was like, «Um, we’re hungry. We haven’t eaten anything since we woke up. We want to eat something NOW. Not at 11am,» We were about ready to compromise to have lunch if they can serve us right away instead of us having to wait at 11am, but a lady behind us told the receptionist, «Yes, we can still serve breakfast,» so, um ok then, breakfast it is… the place was almost empty w only a couple finishing up on their breakfast. We got seated at a really nice view overlooking the golf course & spectacular mountain views of the Catalinas. A young fella came to the table & after brief exchange of pleasantries, asked us if we care for something to drink. Since they’re serving breakfast, I ordered for coffee. My daughter ordered her favorite pink lemonade. To my horror, they don’t serve pink lemonade. But, they can concoct lemonade w blended strawberry fruit. My daughter didn’t like it LOL… too sour! I can’t believe a hotel as nice as this couldn’t make a pink lemonade. The breakfast – my daughter ordered was brined corned beef & egg… for a $ 13 a plate it wasn’t worth it, the corner beef consisted mostly of 80% fat. My daughter didn’t eat the meat but just managed to fork up bits and pieces of her scrambled egg & side of bacon. It was a total disappointment for her. On the flip side, I’d love to give this place a chance to redeem itself. Maybe a dinner on a special night w a special person… Maybe. We will see.

I had my wedding reception here last year and it was the most amazing venue. Myself, my husband to be at the time and many of our guests checked in a few days before the wedding and spent the weekend there which was perfect. My in laws rented the casita grande which is basically a two bedroom house with two bathrooms and a full kitchen as well as a dining room and living room. It really worked out well being able to stock the fridge and have a place for people to meet up and hang out for the weekend. The girls also got ready there and it had plenty of room for everyone! The hotel does include a small bridal ready room as well at no cost but we used it as a place to stage flowers, etc out of the heat until the reception started. They also gave us a free night in a suite for the night of the wedding and put a bottle of champagne in our room! As far as the actual reception went… Rachel was a wonderful coordinator. I didn’t have a day of coordinator but she was very hands on the day of assisting with everything from set up to even serving plates herself during dinner! If you have your wedding on site the package does include a separate day of coordinator as well I believe. We had the cocktail hour and dinner in the courtyards but they included the ballroom as a backup in case of weather at no charge. Their courtyard is absolutely stunning and I didn’t have to decorate anything… Seriously. Just simple centerpieces are all that is necessary. I loved the white lights strung over the courtyard! The whole property is really gorgeous and made for the most amazing wedding pictures. I still look back on my photo album with the most fond memories. If I had to narrow down the reasons for why I loved this venue it would be 1) the food was amazing 2) the views and grounds are stunning and 3) I love the local Tucson feel and how historical it is. The only negatives I saw are: the rooms are a little pricey and you have to rent out all the courtyard rooms (which are small) in order to have the reception go past 10pm. The rooms also have a two night minimum stay on the weekends. Another is the alcohol prices are not discounted at all… You pay the same price per beverage or bottle as you do in the restaurant which added up very quickly. Alcohol was our biggest expense; I think they should give case discounts or something. Lastly, I was recently up there and they are doing a lot of construction to add new guest rooms. I love the small historic feel and wish they weren’t doing that! Overall, I’d recommend Hacienda del Sol as a wedding/​reception venue to anyone without hesitation though!

Wow! The food and service are superb. Best Sunday Brunch we’ve enjoyed in a very long time! Will definitely be coming back.

Hacienda always hits it out of the park, over the hill, and into the gorgeous sunset. This isn’t a reference to the clientele, but a paean to the staff. We had the gorgeous dining room all to ourselves, which usually worries me because that often means we’ll be either forgotten or fawned upon in poorly-​timed exuberance. Neither was the case, as Herbert appeared in a timely yet unobtrusive manner with drinks, our delectable albacore app, spicy mahi etouffe and my outlandishly delicious capellini carbonara complete with its requisite salty-​gooey egg and tender pancetta. We opted for chocolate decadence for dessert, a solid chilled mousse and ice cream indulgence sporting a large Hacienda-​designed cookie and garnished with salted caramel. The chef sent out complimentary cups of cayenne-​laced hot chocolate alongside our Arbuckle’s coffee. Alejandro, the extraordinary Spanish guitarist, strummed a ballad or two on request. The moonlit patio is a great place to unwind after dinner. What a great way to miss the Oscars.

Stayed here recently for 4 nights. Location is very nice. The «Grill» restaurant is very nice. Employees very nice. However, this place is very old and officially, it’s a historic rated place. But, it needs upgrading very badly. I understand there’s a fine line between upgrading it and also keeping the historic value.
They are currently doing a remodel and addition (30 rooms) so construction is bothersome starting at 7 am. (We were notified at time of reservation). Parking lots are gravel. I would think they would close down and do the remodel. My biggest gripe is charging full fare for the rooms during the construction. At least, rent them for a very reduced rate. You will have to travel a few miles to eat off property if you don’t like their menu.

Went for brunch last Sunday. All I can say is WOW! Great views, beautiful grounds and wonderful food! Flowing blood-​orange mimosas to boot! I think I tasted a bit of everything — eggs benedict, cheese, roasted veggies, prime rib, sushi, flank steak, etc. It was delicious! The only disappointment was the desserts. Good thing I filled up on the good stuff and wasn’t planning on saving room for it.
Great service as well. It is a bit pricey but for a special occasion and views it is worth it.

What a wonderful Sunday here. We went with a group of 8 to the Blues and Barbecue festival. There were 10 booths scattered around the property with 3 – 4 choices of Zinfandel, some distributors better than others. Then the food. Oh, the food. We went to the BBQ station first, homemade sausage, roasted meats, great quality. They also had a vegetarian station with fantastic tamales and enchiladas. I also loved the fresh seafood station with ceviche, peel & eat, and the fantastic cheeses. The rest of the group enjoyed the desert booth, but I was too full. The ambiance, quality of food, service, music … everything was fantastic. I am sure it is somewhat similar to the Sunday Brunch so I will be sure to make it back! Thank you Hacienda del Sol for being a gem in Tucson!

Great Spot to Visit, a Tucson MUST!
My wife and I have both worked for hotels and have a high standards for where we stay. Probably higher than most guests, since we know how it should be and what that looks like. This place is fantastic, great service, quiet, tucked away, beautiful views, awesome brunch, great activities available. We did horse back riding while we were there, on the sunset tour, just breathtaking. We definitely look forward to staying again, as we have stayed several times on our many trips to Tucson. Great location for a birthday getaway, anniversary, or just a relaxing weekend.

Hacienda del Sol is probably the most beautiful property in all of Tucson! It certainly has some of the best views, hands down!
We mostly come here to eat, generally just brunch (which is the best in town), though we’ve also been here for weddings. Whatever we’re here for, we always take the opportunity to walk around the grounds and experience all that Hacienda del Sol has to offer. Every walk through seems like we find something new and beautiful to see.
If you start right outside of the bathrooms near the restaurant, you’ll see that they have an old map in a frame on the wall by a little alcove that once likely housed a pay phone. The map shows what the original grounds of Hacienda del Sol were. It was an old school. It’s pretty fascinating to see how many classrooms there were, and that they’re now rooms of the resort. Where you’re standing to read the map (if I recall correctly) was actually the school’s original kitchen! Pretty cool, if you ask me.
Just past the bathrooms is a library like room that has a big dining room table. I love to look at all of their books. In the next room is a big, comfy couch, some chairs around a fireplace, and a computer with internet access for guests. My husband and I enjoy sitting on the couch and browsing through books while we let some of our recently consumed brunch settle a bit. In the next room, there’s the entrance to their gift shop, which also has some complimentary water with lemon available.
Around on the other side of the property, they have a beautiful pool with great views of the mountains. Their courtyard where they hold weddings is gorgeous, too. They have it groomed very well, with lots of colorful and lush vegetation and flowers. It’s a very serene and peaceful area. It’s pretty large, too, so it can accommodate fairly large ceremonies and events.
I’m not going to review their restaurant here, but the views in there are also fantastic. I always ask to sit by a window, and they’re always glad to make that happen during brunch!
The staff is always very friendly, and they understand that people like to walk around and have quiet time here. They politely ask if there’s anything they can do to help you or if there’s something they can get for you, and then they leave you to whatever you were doing. The property in general is kept immaculately clean.
Seriously, if you want some peace and quiet, and want to enjoy the beauty that Tucson can possess, go hang out for a bit at Hacienda del Sol. A visit there always makes me feel more at peace.

Pack it up, sell it all and move me in! I am officially in love with Hacienda del Sol. Several of us headed up to the ranch last night after work to meet with the sales and catering staff to talk about future business opportunities.
We were given the grand tour and the property is utterly amazing. So old Tucson. Not Old Tucson the tourist spot just over the Tucson Mountains, but old, beautiful, unique Tucson that makes you feel a part of history. The meeting rooms are unlike anything offered at any other Tucson resort. These have personality and history behind them and are so special. The staff can meet just about any need or request and make any event memorable. We were able to check out the historic guest rooms and despite the rooms serving as dorm rooms during the ranch’s early days as a girls school, they are quite spacious and comfortable, each with it’s own unique furnishings and tile work. We toured one of the casitas and they’re perfect for family gatherings or smaller groups. Unfortunately the Tracy-​Hepburn Grande Casita was booked so my coworkers couldn’t see it but I’ve been in it before and it’s HUGE and gorgeous.
The chef’s garden is lush and full of fruits and vegetables used in the daily menu. The garden was created in collaboration with Dr Andrew Weil, Tucson’s homegrown star of holistic health.
Stepping in to The Grill, we were blown away by the majestic sweeping views of the Catalinas, such a romantic setting. Oh, there is so much to see at Hacienda del Sol and I can’t even describe it all. You just need to go.
After our tour we sat down for drinks and appetizers in Terraza with Toby, Dawn and Rachel — the 3 person team that makes the magic happen for many of the guests at Hacienda. Terraza has a great menu and we all enjoyed the calamari, chips with salsa and guacamole, and the hummus and pita chips. The hummus was outstanding and many of the ingredients came right from the chef’s garden.
Hacienda does a cocktail of the week and several in our party chose it however being the tequila drinker in our party I went with El Luchador, a pink drink with a bit of spice from the chiltepin. It was tasty.
I’m definitely going back for happy hour on the patio with live music on Friday and Saturday evenings. If you’ve never been to Hacienda, you really need to check it out. You won’t be disappointed.

Hacienda del Sol is one of my all time Tucson favorites. Hacienda del Sol is nestled in the foothills on a gorgeous property offering fantastic views of the Catalina Mountains. Hacienda has an interesting history, which is another one of its many unique qualities. Starting out at a boarding school for girls to becoming a guest ranch for Hollywood’s stars to becoming one of Tucson’s finest hotels.
I absolutely loved my stay at Hacienda last September. I was there for my sisters wedding and I had a room upstairs overlooking the inner courtyard and it was perfect. My sisters wedding guests pretty much booked the ENTIRE hotel for 3 days and it was amazing. The service was topnotch and it felt as though the entire was property was ours to enjoy as if it were our own home. The beautiful cheese plate in our room was also a nice touch.
The Casitas are also fabulous. They are large apartment sized equipped with a kitchen and all the amenities you’ll need! I could easily live in one. These would even be great for a «staycation.»
The entire property is so beautifully and carefully preserved. The gardens and patios are always groomed and in bloom. And no one else in Tucson has a cactus garden quite as unique and funky as the Hacienda.
The best part of this place, is that it that it has its doors open to all Tucson locals in a way that most other hotels and inns don’t. Hacienda is not an afterthought because it is a hotel. In fact, it’s always an option for me and my boyfriend. We love eating dinner in their dining room or simply stopping in for a nightcap at their bar or out on the patio to enjoy the weather.
Every time I go to Hacienda del Sol it feels just as special as the first time I went 8 years ago.

Since I discovered Hacienda Del Sol at the first meeting of the Unilocal Literati, I’ve been pining away for another visit in a serious way. After breakfasting at the Grill last weekend, my condition has grown much worse. Now, I want to live here. Please? It doesn’t have to be in the Spencer Tracy suite.
Maybe it is the 1930s Mission-​style adobe architecture, with fountains, inlaid tiles and hefty wood beams. Or the layout. Staggered patios with views of the Santa Catalinas. Two gorgeous green courtyards flanking a cozy living room with a fireplace, adjacent to the library (where we sipped Manhattans discussing our first Unilocal book).
Maybe it’s the history. In 1929, it was born a finishing school for the daughters of Westinghouse, Pillsbury and Vanderbilt families who were increasingly frightened by kidnappings and eager to have their daughters in a place without «dangerous» distractions. One of the masseuses kindly ushered us into the room she uses for clients, which she says is little changed from girl’s school days.
After the school closed, Hacienda Del Sol became a guest ranch in 1948. Tracy and Hepburn may have fallen in love here. Black and white photos lining the halls tell part of the story.
The grounds are so carefully preserved — down to the screen doors — I feel a little like I’m in a time warp. Whatever it is, I feel a deep tug to this place. Spending a night or a weekend isn’t going to be enough. The food is outstanding, so I’ll be back for breakfast or dinner — and always a LONG stroll around the grounds. And through the hallways. And maybe a nice, long sit in front of the fire…

Hacienda Del Sol Guest Ranch Resort is definitely a Tucson treasure — not only on the National Registry of Historic Places in Arizona, but also a member of the Historic Hotels of America. But it’s really a place you can step back in time.