WHERE TO STAY IN MALIBU
Renting a beach home in Malibu is a fun way to vacation like a celebrity! Malibu offers a plethora of stunning beach rentals so I put together a guide of the 20 Best AirBnBs in Malibu. All the rentals on this list have ocean views and are organized by location to help you pick the best beach house for your Malibu vacation.
If a hotel is more your style, I also put together this list of the 5 Best Hotels in Malibu. Each of these is cute, clean, and in a great location to allow you to explore all Malibu has to offer.
THINGS TO DO IN MALIBU
Just 21 miles of scenic coastline makes up this famous beach destination, yet there is so much to do and see in Malibu! Here’s a quick list of some of the top things to do in Malibu. For a more extensive list check out my post 30 Things To Do In Malibu.
- Have a beach picnic at Surfrider Beach
- Go shopping at Malibu Country Mart
- Take your children to the Country Mart playgrounds (there are two!)
- Explore Malibu Pier
- Take surf lessons (with me!)
- Visit the Getty Villa
- Explore tide pools at Will Rogers State Beach
- Go hiking at one of the many Malibu hiking trails
- Go on a Malibu Wine Safari
- Take a helicopter tour
- Go wine tasting at Rosenthal Wine Bar
- Go diving
- Rent a boat and explore the coastline
- Go paragliding
- Visit the Malibu Feed Bin
- Explore Topanga Canyon
- Have a beach day at famous Zuma Beach
- Walk the trails at iconic Point Dume State Beach and Preserve
WHERE TO EAT IN MALIBU
Malibu has tons of great restaurant options. The best part about dining in Malibu is that because of the excellent weather, you can eat outside year-round and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Here are some of my favorite restaurants in Malibu.
Nobu Malibu
Nobu Malibu is the ultimate seaside dining experience in Malibu. Celebrities, locals and tourists flock to this upscale, swanky sushi restaurant and bar.
Nobu Malibu is very expensive and it is very hard to get a reservation here so I recommend booking months in advance.
Malibu Farm Restaurant
Malibu Farm Restaurant on the Malibu Pier is an ideal spot to sip cocktails in the sunshine while watching the surfers catch endless waves at Surfrider Beach.
They have two locations on the pier – Malibu Farm Restaurant which is a sit-down restaurant for lunch and dinner and Malibu Farm Cafe which offers outdoor dining counter service and food-to-go.
Taverna Tonys
Located in the Malibu Country mart, locals, tourists and celebrities flock to Taverna Tonys for delicious authentic Greek food.
Taverna Tonys offers outdoor seating on their large terrace, but be sure to make reservations in advance because they get very busy, especially on the weekends.
Mastro’s Ocean Club
Mastro’s Ocean Club and Steakhouse on PCH is a staple for upscale dining (and drinking) in Malibu.
Notorious for being extremely pricey, and for their extremely generous martinis, Mastro’s is the ultimate upscale dining experience in Malibu if you are looking for excellent cocktails and fresh, delicious seafood.
Reel Inn
The Reel Inn is a casual, counter service, a seafood restaurant on PCH in Malibu across from Topanga Canyon. It has existed in its current location since 1947 and is a great place to grab a quick lunch or dinner with family or friends.
A few of my favorite dishes are their blackened catfish, their sautéed calamari steak and their fresh steamed vegetables!
Saddle Peak Lodge
For over 100 years, Saddle Peak Lodge has been a place of enchantment and great dining for those looking for a unique dining experience.
Located in the Santa Monica mountains above Pepperdine University, Saddle Peak Lodge is an ideal place to have a romantic dinner for a date night or special occasion.
They also cater to private events and weddings and offer whiskey tastings in their whiskey room!
Gladstones Restaurant
A staple in Malibu since 1972, Gladstones is a family-friendly beachside restaurant featuring classic seafood dishes, burgers, and beach-inspired cocktails.
Located at the famous intersection of PCH and Sunset Blvd—where the sun meets the sea, Gladstones is a fun place to have brunch, lunch, or dinner with sparkling views of the coastline.
WHEN SHOULD I VISIT MALIBU?
Malibu has great weather all year making it an ideal destination to visit year-round! In the summer months of June, July and August the temperature are usually in the mid 70s – mid 80s Fahrenheit making Malibu an ideal place to spend your summer getaway at the beach.
In the winter months of December, January, February the average temperature is still around 67 degrees Fahrenheit, so often even the winter here feels like summer! Summer is high season in Malibu though, so if you want to avoid the crowds and get better prices on a Malibu vacation rentals I suggest visiting during fall, winter or spring.
September and October are my favorite months in Malibu because the weather is typically still in the upper 70s – low 80s Fahrenheit so you get to enjoy warm “summer” days without the crowds!
Malibu Guide Wrap Up
I hope you enjoyed reading my quick guide to Malibu and it has inspired you to visit this little slice of heaven on your next seaside getaway.
As I mentioned above, I teach surf lessons in California year-round, so if you want to learn how to surf while you are in Malibu or Santa Barbara (I give lessons in both locations) please reach out to me. Happy Travels!
Have you been to Malibu? Please share your experience or questions in the comments below!
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