Malibu Travel Guide

My favorite place in the United States – MALIBU. Gosh, it is so incredibly beautiful here! There is nothing quite like driving up the PCH. You get to see where the ocean meets the mountains – truly breathtaking! Malibu makes for the perfect long weekend spot, and with my recommendations below, you’ll be sure to have the best experience!!

Travel: Your best option is to fly into LAX and then drive out to Malibu (without traffic this should be under an hour, but could be up to 1.5 hours) I personally recommend renting a car. Malibu isn’t really “walkable” and you’ll want a mode of transportation during your stay.

Weather: The weather is always great in CA, but keep in mind that it’s typically cloudy in the mornings and clears up closer to lunch time. There isn’t a big difference in highs and lows, but still be sure to check the weather before you head out there. The Fall is actually when the ocean water is the warmest! When we were there in October it was highs in the 80s and lows in the 60s. Summer is there busiest season, so stay outside of these months if you want to save some $$ during your stay.

Breakfast:

• Malibu Farms – restaurant is at the beginning of pier and walk in order out is at the end of the pier

• Sunlife Organics – juices, smoothies and acai bowls!

• Ollo

• Kristy’s (also great for lunch!)

Lunch/Dinner:

Nobu – without hesitation, an absolute must every time we go to Malibu. Im not actually a huge Nobu fan anywhere else, but the Malibu location has the most incredible views right on the ocean. The vibes are a 20/10 and worth every freaking penny. FYI – you have to book your rez out pretty far and they only take reservations 30 days out!

Geoffrey’s – Another really great, fine dining restaurant with ocean views. We typically love to go here for a cocktail to watch the sunset and then head to dinner elsewhere. Dinner here is great, too, though!

Lucky’s – This one is not on the water, but the food and drinks are INCREDIBLE. We love love love going here!

Duke’s – Another fun option that is on the water and has a tropical vibe. Great for lunch, too!

Moonshadows – On the more casual side, but a fun place on the water that you can grab any meal at!

The Malibu Cafe – Not to be mistaken with Malibu Farms, this spot is on Calamigos Ranch property. We’ve been for lunch and dinner – bth wonderful. I do recommend going lunch since you’ll want to explore during the day. They have a fun outdoor area with yard games and live music!

Where to stay:

Airbnb – This is the easiest option, IMO, without breaking the bank. There are tons of great properties, and depending on how many people you have, you can potentially get a house with killer views! Being closest to the coast is best, in terms of accessibility to restaurants and shops, but finding a place in the hills won’t out you too far from all the action!

Calamigos Ranch – Ugh, this place is a dream. If you want to do Malibu the right way, definitely stay at Calamigos. It’s attached to Malibu Cafe, plus they have a spa, pool, private beach access, and horse back riding! Pricey but so worth every penny if you can make it happen!

Surfrider is also a great place to stay! Still on the pricey side (as is everything in Malibu), but it has an awesome rooftop area that overlooks the ocean and is right next to everything!

If you want a cheaper option, you can stay in Agoura Hills. There are plenty of hotels, like a Marriott, that will get you up into the hills, but you’re still about a 30 min drive away from all food and restaurant/the coast. As long as you don’t mind the drive, this is a great + more $ friendly option to explore Malibu!

What to do:

The Malibu Cafe – HIGHLY recommend planning lunch here one day. It’s a huge open lawn attached to Calamigos Resort that has the cafe that you can eat at, a coffee shop, and tons of fun lawn games, live music, etc! This is a MUST if you’re heading out to Malibu!

Wine tasting at Cielo Farms – there are a ton of wine tasting options, but we absolutely love it here the most! Beautiful views, great atmosphere, and great wine!

Hiking – there are lots of trail options up in the hills, Solstice Canyon Loop, Escondido Falls, and Backbone Trail to name a few.

Spa Day at Calamigos – even if you aren’t staying there, you can still set up services at their spa, and ejoy the entire day relaxing on the property!

Surfing – there’s lots of great surfing in Malibu. You can always look up an instructor and head out to the ocean for the morning!

Muholland Trail – Definitely be sure to take a drive down this trail. Located up in the Malibu hills, you’ll really get to experience your surroundings. Michael typically like taking his bike out here, so you may see lots of motorcycles! Even if you’re in a car, be sure to drive down the trail while you are in town! (It’s near Calamigos/The Malibu Cafe + Cielo Winery)

Malibu Country Market – This is where all the shopping is. Everything is outdoors. Lots of cute shops and restaurants!

The PCH- take a drive up the coastline for the most breathtaking view. Taking part of a day to just drive around Malibu is honestly worth every second. The landscape and views are just incredible. Take a drive and soak it all in!!!

Beach Day – can’t go wrong with a day on the beach! There are lots of public access areas to head out to the beach and spend the day in the sun! if you stay at Calamigos, you have your own private access to the beach as well, if you aren’t, Paradise Cove and Zuma beach are your other two options. Note that Paradise Cove is the only beach in Malibu that allows alcohol. Paradise Cove has an awesome beach set up where you can rent cabanas. You can bring alcohol with you but no hard liquor (they do sell it at their restaurant)! I highly recommend hitting up Paradise Cove while in town for your beach day.

I hope this was helpful in planning your next trip to Malibu! It’s our favorite place to visit. Let me know if you have any questions!

xo,

Emily