Malibu is one of my favorite places…ever. It’s as beautiful and wondrous as it is in the photos, I can attest. Malibu is one of the best places in LA County to explore and I’m always in awe of the new spots I stumble across. One of my absolute favorite restaurants of all time is located here so anytime a friend of mine asks to go to Malibu, I jump at the chance. If you’re looking for clean beaches, delicious restaurants, and one of a kind experiences…the ‘bu is the place to go. Here is the third entry of my “glow-guide” series.
Restaurants
Taverna Tony: 23410 Civic Center Way Unit B1 Malibu, 9026
Greek Restaurant $$$
My favorite restaurant. Period. This is where I truly fell in love with Greek food. I’ve never been to Greece but whenever I visit this restaurant it feels like I’m in another country. I love how lively this place is especially on Fridays and Saturdays when they have live music and belly dancers. If you’re a fan of mediterranean food you will not be disappointed with their fresh ingredients and authentic recipes. P.S. the dip and bread they serve when you first arrive is probably the most delicious thing I’ve ever tasted.
Must try: vegetarian’s paradise, jumbo prawns, the Greek angel pasta
Malibu Farm Cafe/Restaurant: 23000 Pacific Coast Highway Malibu, 90265
Farm-to-table food $-$$$$
This place is quite trendy and you’ll see why once you visit. Technically these are two separate restaurants, one is a cafe and one is more of fancier sit-down spot, but both are located on the Malibu Pier. The Malibu Farm Restaurant is full service (with a bar!) which is located at the start of the pier. The Malibu-Farm Cafe is a more casual (and a little less expensive) counter-service cafe which you’ll find at the very end of the pier. Both places offer beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean. Last time I was there I spotted a seal AND Weird Al Yankovic who was sitting next to us!
Must order: surfers rancheros (only available at Malibu-Farm Cafe)
Moonshadows Malibu: 20356 Pacific Coast Highway Malibu CA 90256
Seafood $$$
I’ve only been once for my birthday but this place was surely memorable. We sat right above the crashing waves and ate some of the most delicious food imaginable. This restaurant has a panoramic view of the ocean and it’s the perfect place to go for a special occasion due to the uppity ambiance.
Must Order: pumpkin tortelloni, strawberry fields cocktail
The Malibu Cafe at Calamigos Ranch: 327 Latigo Canyon Rd Calamigos Ranch Malibu, 90265
This is another one of my favorite places in the entire world mostly because I’ve never been anywhere quite as unique. Don’t let the word cafe fool you…this is nothing like your average cafe. This extraordinary spot is tucked away in the mountain side of Malibu and I can assure you, you’ll enjoy your time here. What I especially love about this place is that there’s way more to do than just grab a bite eat. With a huge grassy area with giant sized chess boards, jenga, ping pong, and a lake to go boating in…you can spend hours here. It’s incredibly family friendly so if you’re looking for a more relaxing visit I’d recommend coming during the week when the kiddos are in school.
Must Order: Royal Flush cocktail, Chicken Sandwich (only available on grab n go menu)
Sunlife Organics: 3835 Cross Creek Rd Unit 3 Malibu, 90265
Juice Bar $$
This place has the freshest acai bowls you could dream of. I like this location best because it’s just outside of the Malibu Country mart. I usually grab an acai bowl and take it to one of the picnic benches next to the jungle gym to people watch. Or you can walk around all the fancy shops near by.
Must Order: Brazilian bowl (pictured is my dear friend Courtney’s delicious bowl because I dug into mine before I could get a picture lol. Add almond butter or peanut butter on top for some extra love.)
Favorite Beaches
Westward Beach: 7103 Westward Beach Rd Malibu, 90265
I like this beach because 9 times out of 10 it isn’t too crowded. It’s also right across the street from The Sunset Restaurant which is perfect if you’re feeling hungry and want to pause your tanning session and indulge on some yummy food.
Pro tip: This beach is pay-to-park unless you get lucky and can snag a spot on the street on your drive in.
Malibu Lagoon State Beach: 23200 Pacific Coast Hwy Malibu, 90265
There’s a reason why I frequent the Malibu Lagoon (chronic pain friends listen up) !! My secret to this beach is that I park across the street at the Country Mart in a handicap spot and walk over to the Lagoon…#freeparking!!!! Please note that free parking in Malibu is practically like winning the lottery. Now the walk from where I park to the lagoon is a bit of a long one…so I only do this on days I’m feeling up for the challenge. However the walk is very enjoyable with lots of nature to see such as birds, tide pools, plants and trees. Above is a shot of my lovely friend Landry on our walk through the lagoon!
Pro tip: can get incredibly crowded on the weekends.
El Matador: 32200 Pacific Coast Hwy Malibu, 90265
This beach is known for photoshoots, which I agree sounds quite odd. But once you see the the beautiful caves and arches in the rocks in person, you’ll see why so many people take their engagement pictures, pregnancy announcements, and swim wear photos here! It’s quite a lot of walking and stairs to get here which isn’t ideal…but it definitely keeps crowds away. It’s not a place where I’d sit out to tan or invite friends to meet up, but it’s certainly a place you’ll want to visit at least once just to experience the beauty.
Pro tip: Prepare to parallel park!!!!!
Entertainment/Destinations
Malibu Wine Safaris: 32111 Mulholland Hwy Malibu, 90265
I haven’t visited post-covid so I’m not exactly sure how different the experiences are as of now…but I’m sure regardless of how things may or may not have changed, you’ll enjoy your time here. I took my mom here for Mothers Day a few years ago and the two of us had a blast. We rode in a 16-seater safari jeep which made multiple stops to explore the estate, visit the animals (such as Stanley the giraffe pictured here!) and of course…taste lots of wine. We met incredible people on our tour and had so much fun driving around the premises. There are several tour options so pick which ever one speaks to you!!
Malibu Creek State Park: 1925 Las Virgenes Rd Calabasas, 91302
You can do just about every outdoor activity here that you can think of: hiking biking, horse back riding, kayaking, and camping! This beautiful park has a ton of history including being the home of many famous movies and television shows. My favorite memory at this park was when a friend and I decided to buy a ton of painting supplies, drive into the park, hike to a desirable destination, and paint the setting around us. This park is incredibly peaceful and there is truly so much to see. Throw on some comfy shoes for walking, pack a picnic (and some sunscreen!), and enjoy a nature-filled day at Malibu Creek State Park.
Malibu Surf Shack: 22935 Pacific Coast Hwy Malibu, 90265
Walking Distance from the Malibu Pier is this local rental shop. Here you can rent surf boards, kayaks, paddle boards, and more by the hour. If you rent a kayak or paddle board you walk across the street to the ocean right underneath the Malibu Pier and the workers will get you into the ocean in a breeze. It’s incredibly fun and the perfect activity to do before lunch at the cafe above it!
Historic Adamson House & Malibu Lagoon Museum: 23200 Pacific Coast Hwy Malibu, 90265
I stumbled upon this place completely on accident. I was trying to go to the beach next to it and was lucky enough to snag someone’s spot along the PCH who was just leaving. It happened to be right in front of this beautiful museum. I decided to wander onto the site and was met with the beautiful photo you see below. While the actual house was closed for the day when I found it, I still had a great time exploring the grounds on my own self-guided tour, There are many signs and plaques with information about the Spanish Colonial Revival style home and its’ history.
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