Whenever I am in Los Angeles, I try to sneak out to the beach to do some of my favorite activities. About an hour outside of L.A. is the amazing beach town of Malibu, known for surfing, celebrities, beach, hiking and great restaurants. Having spent some time there, I decided to give you my guide to how to spend a weekend in Malibu.
Day 1:
Check into your hotel or Airbnb and head to the beach. There are many points you can decide to hang out, but Zuma Beach is a great option. This beach is open to the public and super scenic, with wide stretches of sand, neighboring places to get coffee or food and lifeguards on duty.
Brunch at Kristy’s: After a few hours on the beach, walk over to Kristy’s, which is about a mile-long walk from Zuma Beach along the shore. This restaurant has a beautiful setting with high ceilings, outdoor seating and a Malibu-rustic vibe. The menu is equal parts delicious and healthy, which is much appreciated if you’re going to be spending all weekend in a bathing suit!
We started with an acai bowl to share. I then had the omelette of the day while my fiancé had the surfer’s breakfast: two eggs sunnyside up with hash browns and a bloody Mary. We went on a recent weekend and spotted celebrity Eva Longoria and her husband having brunch.
Malibu Wines: That evening, head to Malibu Wines, which is a fun spot to drink wine, eat casual foods and even do a wine safari. Set on acres of picturesque land in the mountains, Malibu Wines is so picturesque, with great views and instagram opportunities every way you look. They also have a great feature, called the Wine safari. After you hop on a tractor with your wine, you get to see all of the exotic animals on the premises, such as their giraffes, zebras and llamas. In addition to this, they have tasting rooms for a wine flights and even a Malibu Wines guided hike throughout the grounds of their expansive Saddlerock Ranch.
Day 2:
Run and Hike on the beach: Get up early for a run along the beach. One of our favorite days was one that we logged 9 miles between running, walking and jogging. First, we jogged along the beach in the wet sand and listened to the waves crash and seagulls making the rounds. It was early morning, so there weren’t may people out, making it feel really peaceful.
Point Dume: Then, we headed to a spot called Point Dume, which has some of the best views of Malibu. You can hike up to Point Dume from the base of the beach. It is a decent hike up, great for your tush muscles, and the views are spectacular. We went up and walked out to this rock cliff to look at the water, and we saw two whales close to the shore and a few dolphins. It turns out that this area is very popular for whale watching, so make a plan to hang out on the rocks for a bit and try your luck.
Pack a picnic: We came across a great little grocer with tons of organic food in Malibu town near the beach. Head there for some fresh juices or food and take it to go and head to the beach for a late lunch.
Nobu Malibu: Arguably the best Nobu in the world, this sushi spot is RIGHT on the water in Malibu and is regularly frequented by celebrities. If you’re celebrating a big occasion or just in the mood to splurge, this is the spot.
Day 3:
Malibu Café: One of my favorite places for a number of reasons is the Malibu Café. This outdoor bar/restaurant/overall cool area to hang out is on a sprawling ranch in Malibu that is picture perfect.
I have a hard time describing the place to people, because it’s unlike anyplace else I’ve been. It is on a site with giant redwood and weeping willow trees and there are multiple bars set up. My favorite thing to do is get a glass of rose and play all of the lawn games they have. On our last visit, we played bags, a giant connect 4 and giant Jenga. There is also a pool table under a giant tree with a chandelier hanging from it Basically, it’s one of the most Instagrammable places we’ve been.
Have an early dinner at their restaurant (I love their deviled eggs and steak salad. My Fiance had their burger, which looked great too) before calling an Uber for the airport in LA to head home. It’s the perfect note to end a trip to Los Angeles on.
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