Summer in Malibu runs 21 miles of coastline, a string of canyon trails above the PCH, and more good restaurants than one trip can reasonably cover. Most guests arrive knowing the obvious names and leave wishing they had gone further.
At Stay Awhile Villas, we have spent years doing that work for our guests, learning which beaches reward an early arrival, which trails are worth the climb, and which tables are worth booking a month in advance. What follows is the list we give every guest who asks where to begin.
Plan a Day at the Beach
The water is colder than people expect. The light is better than any photograph manages to capture. And the particular relief of having nowhere to be, which is what a Malibu beach day is really selling, tends to register fully only after the fact. These are the beaches we send our guests to, with honest notes on what makes each one worth the drive.
Zuma Beach
If you only have time for one beach this summer, go to Zuma. The sand stretches for nearly two miles, the surf is steady without being aggressive, and even on a busy Saturday in August there is enough room to find a quiet stretch. Bring a soft cooler, a good umbrella, and no plan beyond the water.
- Rating: 4.7 stars, 2,700+ reviews
- Address: Malibu, CA 90265
- Best for: families, swimming, long beach walks Local tip: arrive before 10 a.m. on weekends if you want parking close to the sand
El Matador State Beach
El Matador is the Malibu beach you have seen in magazines without recognizing it by name. The sea stacks, the caves, the way the cliffs close around the cove like a frame it all photographs beautifully, but it is even better without a lens in front of your face. Go in the late afternoon, when the light drops low and the rock goes orange. Wear shoes you can manage on stairs.
- Rating: 4.7 stars, 6,100+ reviews
- Address: 32350 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265
- Best for: photography, quiet picnics, sunset
- Good to know: no lifeguard on duty, surf can be strong. Not recommended for small children
Learn more about El Matador State Beach
Point Dume State Beach
Point Dume is the one guests mention when they get home. The bluff trail above the cove is short but the view at the top stops you ocean in every direction, the Channel Islands on a clear day, the sense that you have found the edge of something. Below, a quiet sandy cove sits sheltered from the wind. In summer the kelp beds offshore are good for snorkeling, and early in the season the same waters draw gray whales on their way north.
- Rating: 4.8 stars, 1,100+ reviews
- Address: 6800 Westward Beach Rd, Malibu, CA 90265
- Best for: snorkeling, bluff walks, whale watching in early summer
- Local tip: park at Westward Beach and take the trail up the headland for the best views
Learn more about Point Dume State Beach
Surfrider Beach
Surfrider is the heart of Malibu surfing the first World Surfing Reserve designated in the United States and one of the most satisfying beaches in the county to simply sit and watch. Even guests who do not surf tend to spend longer here than planned. The long right-hand break draws good surfers, and the proximity to Malibu Pier means coffee is always nearby.
- Rating: 4.6 stars, 870+ reviews
- Address: Malibu, CA 90265 (adjacent to Malibu Pier)
- Best for: surf lessons, watching the lineup, easy pier access
- Good to know: this is the heart of the Malibu World Surfing Reserve
Learn more about Surfrider Beach
Malibu Pier
The pier dates to 1905 and earns its place on every itinerary not through novelty but through something more durable. We like to walk its length in the morning before the heat arrives and stop at Malibu Farm at the end, where the coffee is good and the ocean is close enough to hear over a conversation. It is a quiet fifteen minutes that sets the right tone for the rest of the day.
- Rating: 4.5 stars, 8,400+ reviews
- Address: 23000 CA-1, Malibu, CA 90265
- Best for: morning walks, casual coastal meals, photography
- Did you know: the pier overlooks Surfrider Beach and sits inside the Malibu World Surfing Reserve
Hike Above the Coast
There is a version of Malibu that most guests never find the one that exists above the PCH, in the Santa Monica Mountains, where the trails go quiet and the ocean appears between ridges in ways that make you stop walking. Summer mornings in these canyons, before 9 a.m. when the air is still cool and the light is low, feel genuinely removed from everything below. These are the two hikes we recommend without hesitation.
Solstice Canyon
Solstice Canyon is our first recommendation when guests want a hike that does not feel like exercise. The trail follows a shaded creek through a riparian canyon, passes the stone ruins of a burned estate, and ends at a small waterfall. The round trip is about 2.5 miles and the canyon floor stays cool even in July, which makes it the hike we suggest on days when the inland trails are too hot for comfort.
- Address: 3455 Solstice Canyon Rd, Malibu, CA 90265
- Best for: shaded summer hikes, families, waterfall trail Local tip: the canyon floor stays cool even in July. This is the hike we recommend when inland trails are too hot
Escondido Falls
The trailhead sits on Winding Way in the hills above PCH, and the hike leads to the tallest waterfall in the Santa Monica Mountains. The lower falls are an easy 1.8 miles round trip. The upper falls require a steeper scramble and some route-finding, but guests who make it come back describing a wide, quiet pool below a 150-foot drop that feels entirely out of place this close to a city.
- Address: Winding Way, Malibu, CA 90265
- Best for: waterfall hiking, adventurous guests
- Local tip: go early and go on a weekday if you can. The trail is narrow and the parking fills by 9 a.m. on summer weekends
Spend a Morning at the Getty Villa
Not every summer day in Malibu belongs to the beach, and the Getty Villa is the best argument for that. Perched on a Pacific Palisades bluff above the PCH, the Villa is modeled on a Roman country house from the first century, and the collection inside Greek, Roman, and Etruscan antiquities spanning three millennia is among the finest in the country.
- Rating: 4.8 stars, 11,700+ reviews
- Address: 17985 Pacific Coast Hwy, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
- Hours: Wednesday through Monday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Tuesdays.
- Cost: free admission, timed-entry tickets required, paid parking Local tip: reserve tickets at least a week in advance for summer weekends
Learn more about The Getty Villa
Try the Tables Worth Booking
Eating well in Malibu in summer is less about finding the right restaurant than about understanding what the setting is doing. The places below are ones where the food and the location reinforce each other where you would not want the meal anywhere else.
Nobu Malibu
The dining room opens onto a wooden deck built directly over the water, and the sound of the surf carries through every course. The menu is the classic Nobu program strong sushi, the famous black cod with miso but what guests remember is the room itself. Book a month out for summer weekends and ask specifically for a deck table at sunset. It is the table everyone wants and the one worth waiting for.
- Rating: 4.3 stars, 3,600+ reviews
- Address: 22706 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265
- Hours: dinner nightly, lunch on weekends
- Best for: special occasions, sunset dinners
- Local tip: ask for an outside deck table at sunset. It is the table everyone wants and worth waiting for
Malibu Farm Restaurant
At the end of the pier, Malibu Farm is where we send guests who want a morning that does not rush. The menu is local and vegetable-forward, the space is unhurried, and sitting above the Pacific with good coffee and a plate of farm food before the beach crowds arrive is one of the better ways to start a Malibu day.
- Address: 23000 CA-1, Malibu, CA 90265
- Best for: casual coastal lunches, pier access, farm-to-table menu
- Local tip: ideal for a mid-morning breakfast after an early beach walk
Learn more about Malibu Farm Restaurant
Café Habana Malibu
An outpost of the New York original, tucked into the Country Mart and frequented by a local crowd that does not photograph its food. The Mexican corn is the reason most people come. The patio and the unhurried pace are the reason they stay longer than planned.
- Address: 3939 Cross Creek Rd, Malibu, CA 90265
- Best for: casual lunches, Malibu Country Mart afternoons
- Local tip: the line moves fast even when it looks long
Learn more about Café Habana Malibu
Start Planning Your Stay
Malibu in summer is a particular kind of place, slow along the coast and generous with its light, and the right villa changes the nature of everything that follows. At Stay Awhile Villas, we host guests across Malibu’s beaches and canyons, and the details we take care of are the ones that turn a good trip into one you come back from already planning to repeat.
When you are ready, browse our Malibu vacation rentals or get in touch with our concierge team. We would love to host you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best month to visit Malibu in summer?
June can begin with a persistent marine layer, a phenomenon locals call June Gloom, that holds the coast under fog most mornings. July and August are warmer and clearer, with reliably open afternoons and long golden evenings. September often delivers the finest weather of the year, warm and dry with less traffic than peak summer. For a first visit, late July through mid-September is the most dependable window.
Is summer too hot in Malibu?
Malibu stays notably cooler than inland Los Angeles. Coastal temperatures in July and August typically run in the mid-70s, moderated by the ocean breeze. Inland Malibu neighborhoods and canyon areas can run warmer in the afternoons, but the beach itself remains comfortable throughout the summer.
Do I need a car in Malibu?
Yes. The PCH connects the beaches, restaurants, and trailheads, and the distances between them are not walkable. For guests staying with us, our private transportation service can provide a luxury vehicle from the villa, which simplifies the logistics of a full beach day considerably.
What are the best free things to do in Malibu this summer?
Most of Malibu’s finest experiences cost nothing beyond parking. El Matador, Point Dume, Zuma, Surfrider, and Leo Carrillo are all free to access. The bluff trails at Point Dume and the canyon walks at Solstice Canyon cost nothing at all.
How crowded does Malibu get in summer?
Popular beaches like Zuma and Surfrider fill by midday on summer weekends. El Matador and Point Dume stay quieter because the parking is limited and the access requires a short walk. We recommend arriving by 9 a.m. for any beach on a Saturday or Sunday in July or August.
Is Malibu worth the drive from central Los Angeles?
The drive from Beverly Hills runs 35 to 50 minutes depending on traffic, and the PCH itself is part of the experience. A full day in Malibu, from a morning hike to a sunset dinner at Nobu, is one of the most complete days Southern California offers.