Also see: 5 of the Best Lunches in Malibu & 5 Great Breakfast Spots!
For many trip out to Malibu can be very few and far in-between. Not being a local or unfamiliarity with the city can make it difficult to figure how to make the most of your visit. Questions like "Where should I eat?", "What landmarks should I see?", and "What activities can I do?" can lead to confusion on how to properly seize the day! Often times locals can overlook some of the great things to do here. We have compiled a list of 7 of the best things that Malibu has to offer to offer some guidance. Hope you enjoy!
The Malibu Pier is one of the most, if not the most iconic landmark that Malibu has to offer. Built in 1905, the pier has gone through a number of renovations throughout the years, however it still looks fairly similar to its original construction.
The main activities on the pier include sightseeing, grabbing a bite to eat, taking photos, and fishing.
The Malibu Pier also features one of Malibu’s most popular places to eat, Malibu Farm. Malibu Farm has two locations on the Pier, one at the end (the cafe) and one at the base of the pier (the restaurant). Both serve delicious food, however feature different menus. Take your pick, you can’t go wrong with either.
As seen in Malibu Farm Secret Menu!
Malibu, just like other small cities, has a few local restaurants that have become part of the fabric of the city. Some of these restaurants have been here for ages, some are just incredibly popular, and some are both. Here are just three that we recommend you try out when you visit.
Malibu Seafood – This seafood joint located across from Dan Blocker Beach has become a Pacific Coast Highway landmark for its unmistakable square sign featuring a large red lobster. On any given sunny beach day the line for this place will be so long it often floods onto the should of the highway. Definitely worth the wait if the line is long! BYOB as well :). As seen in 5 Great Lunches!
Paradise Cove Beach Cafe – This restaurant sits right on the beach at Paradise Cove Beach Club and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. This restaurant is popular with locals and tourists alike. The menu boasts a large selection of options to chose from with portions ranging on the large size. Perhaps the best part about this restaurant is that seating is available outside on their patio overlooking the ocean. There aren’t many better settings to enjoy a meal! As seen in 5 Great Breakfasts!
Lily’s Cafe – If you’re looking for a great burrito, look no further. Lily’s has become incredibly popular over the years for its signature breakfast burrito. By no means is this restaurant a one trick pony. It is hard to miss with anything on the menu, it's all DELICIOUS! If you can, make sure to call ahead with your order. During the busy hours the wait can be up to 40 minutes plus. As seen in 5 Great Breakfasts!
If you enjoy any of the following things the Malibu Wine Safari is for you: wine, beautiful vineyards, mountain scenery, exotic animals (including Stanley the Giraffe), good times with friends...
It is really hard to miss with this one. The Wine Safari takes you on a tour through the beautiful vineyards of Saddle Rock Ranch . Along the tour you are drinking wines from locally grown grapes, visiting exotic animals, and enjoying the beautiful surrounding scenery. There are plenty of great places for photo ops that will surely make your friends jealous!
For more information check out our blog post about the Malibu Wine Safari HERE and purchase tickets HERE.
Hiking is one of Malibu’s most popular activities. Hiking enthusiasts travel far and wide to experience the beautiful trails and ocean views that Malibu has to offer. There are many great hikes in Malibu and you can see a list of them by clicking HERE.
One hike that we specifically recommend is it the Solstice Canyon Hike. This is a great hike to bring along the family and dog (if he or she is on a leash) to enjoy some of Malibu’s scenery. What makes this particular hike unique are the ruins of two homes that were victims of wildfires, one in 1982 and one in 2007.
Zuma Beach can handle of all of your essential beach needs from sand castles to boogie boarding. Zuma is by far the largest beach around so it rarely feels like the beach is crowded. This beach also has plenty of parking as well as public bathrooms and showers.
If you are looking to get some shopping done in Malibu two of the best places to do so are The Country Mart and the Lumber Yard. These shopping centers feature plenty of stores, many of which are locally owned small businesses! These two shopping centers are adjacent to each other, easily within walking distance making it easy to visit as many stores as you want.
There are also plenty of places to grab some food or drink including John's Garden, Tra Di Noi, Coffee Bean, Sunlife, and much more. If you bring the kids along, there is a great play area right in the middle of the Country Mart (pictured above).
The campgrounds are dog-friendly and can accommodate cars, tents, and RV’s. Coming in 2016 there will also be electrical and water hookups for RV’s. The north part of the adjacent beach is one of the few dog-friendly beaches in Malibu.
Fun activities at Leo Carrillo include hiking (closest trial is Nicolas Flats), exploring the tide pools located just down the road from the campsite, snorkeling out past the surf, and other beach activities.
Reservation for camp spots can be made as early as 7 months in advance. We recommend that you make your reservations as early as you can because these spots fill up fast!
Camping starts at $45 a night and the additional water and electrical hookup spots will cost a bit more.
A community resource, local business platform and showcase for Malibu artists, artisans, and events. Partnered with the Malibu Chamber of Commerce.
© All Things Malibu 2024 | All Rights Reserved
