Sun, sand, surf—yes. But Malibu is more than a California cliché. It’s a mood. A winding PCH drive with the windows down. Hills brushed in green and gold like a Dr. Seuss sketch. Marine layer mornings that somehow make everything feel even more cinematic. As a newly minted Los Angeles resident, I finally got it. There’s a quiet majesty here—even on a gray day. The air feels expansive. The shoreline feels storied.
Below, a sharp edit of Malibu’s top boutique stays—all polished, all beach-forward, and all very much worth checking into.
The Surfrider Malibu
Perched along the PCH directly across from Surfrider Beach, this 1950s roadside motel has been reimagined into a 20-key design darling that feels effortlessly coastal. Think pale woods, crisp white bedding, woven textures, and private balconies—some complete with swinging hammocks made for post-surf lounging. The rooftop is the real scene-stealer: ocean views, leafy corners, and a locals-meet-guests energy that makes lingering over coffee (or a spicy margarita) feel mandatory. Borrow a board, book a lesson, or simply claim a sun-drenched chaise and watch the waves roll in. (P.S. don’t forget to order the chocolate chip cookie.)
Location: Malibu, California // 4 Stars // Starting Nightly Rate: $450+ // Room Count: 20 // Website
Malibu Beach Inn
Set directly on Carbon Beach—aka Billionaire’s Beach—Malibu Beach Inn is the town’s most refined oceanfront address and an esteemed member of Leading Hotels of the World. With 47 rooms perched right above the sand, the soundtrack here is pure Pacific. The recently unveiled Dierberg Suite experience ups the ante: a private transfer to Santa Barbara County’s closed-to-the-public Star Lane Ranch, subterranean cave tastings from the family’s personal cellar, and a vineyard lunch overlooking Happy Canyon. Back in Malibu, Carbon Beach Club handles the rest.
Location: Malibu, California // 5 Stars // Starting Nightly Rate: $695+ // Room Count: 47 // Website
Nobu Ryokan Malibu
Blink and you might miss it—which is exactly the point. Tucked discreetly along Carbon Beach, Nobu Ryokan Malibu is a 16-room sanctuary that trades flash for precision. Inspired by traditional Japanese ryokans, the design is spare and tactile: teak soaking tubs, indoor-outdoor fireplaces, private patios, and ocean air as the main event. Next door, Nobu Malibu handles dinner (and the occasional celebrity sighting). Inside your suite? HigherDOSE infrared mats and sauna blankets signal the next wave of luxury: bio-hacking meets barefoot beach escape. Add private surf lessons or one of the new hormone and brain health retreats with CURE Wellness, and suddenly Malibu feels very future-forward.
Location: Malibu, California // 5 Stars // Starting Nightly Rate: $2,000+ // Room Count: 16 // Website
Calamigos Ranch Resort & Spa
Nestled up in the Santa Monica Mountains, Calamigos Ranch Resort & Spa is Malibu’s answer to a refined nature escape—where hills, oak groves, and hidden pools feel just as compelling as the ocean a short drive away. This sprawling 250-acre family-owned estate feels part ranch retreat, part boutique resort, with private bungalows and cottages tucked amid eucalyptus and oak, multiple pools, a full-service spa, and a private beach club that lets you weave beach time into a hillside stay. Whether you’re wandering vineyards, hiking trails, or lingering over wood-fired California cuisine, this is Malibu with a deeper, greener perspective.
Location: Malibu, California // 4 Stars // Starting Nightly Rate: ~$820+ // Room Count: ~90+ (varied cottages & suites) // Website
Hotel June Malibu
Before Malibu became shorthand for mega-mansions and paparazzi lenses, it was a sleepy surf town—and Hotel June Malibu still carries that spirit. Originally built in 1949 as the Malibu Riviera Motel, this 13-bungalow hideaway sits just off the PCH in the quieter Point Dume pocket. Crisp white walls, vintage photography, Aesop bath products, and private hammocks strike a balance between mid-century nostalgia and modern ease. There’s no flashy restaurant scene here—just a heated pool, Linus bikes, and breakfast burritos from nearby Lily’s. If you land bungalow 13, you’ll be sleeping where Bob Dylan once drafted Blood on the Tracks. Casual legend energy.
Location: Malibu, California // 4 Stars // Starting Nightly Rate: $356+ // Room Count: 13 // Website
Malibu, California, United States
