Hollywood
Can’t-miss Malibu oceanfront resorts and retreats
Last Updated: August 05, 2026
The Surfrider Hotel
From cliffside resorts to private beachfront escapes, the best hotels in Malibu offer unmatched coastal scenery. These luxurious retreats define seaside travel in 2026. Top accommodations include Malibu Beach Inn, offering oceanfront rooms; The Surfrider Malibu, blending surf culture with modern design; Nobu Ryokan Malibu, known for its exclusivity; and Malibu Country Inn, an ocean-view hotel steps from Zuma Beach.
5-star hotel
Malibu Beach Inn is a five-star boutique hotel situated on the exclusive sands of Carbon Beach. This luxurious retreat features 47 oceanfront guestrooms, each offering panoramic views of the Pacific, where guests can enjoy the soothing sounds of the sea and breathtaking sunsets. Renowned for its exemplary service and bespoke details, the inn fosters genuine connections between its dedicated staff and long-standing guests. The property boasts the award-winning Carbon Beach Club restaurant, the serene Cure Daily Spa, and private beach access via a 34-step stairway, ensuring an unmatched ocean escape. The hotel's clean, contemporary design and luxurious natural materials, complemented by the Mani Brothers' curated art collection, perfectly embody Malibu's seaside elegance.
4-star hotel
The Surfrider Hotel, Malibu, is a boutique Californian beach house featuring 20 rooms, located along the iconic Pacific Coast Highway, directly opposite the renowned Surfrider Beach. Drawing inspiration from Malibu's landscape and California's surf culture, it offers a deeply local and personalized guest experience within an exclusive setting. Praised by RUSSH Magazine as the ultimate dream beach house, the hotel boasts impeccable design, farm-to-table cuisine, and an exceptional rooftop deck. The Surfrider has garnered numerous accolades, including the 2021 Travel & Leisure World’s Best Award and multiple inclusions on Conde Nast's Gold List. Its unique ability to make guests feel like true locals sets it apart as a distinctive and celebrated destination.
3-star hotel
Nobu Ryokan Malibu, nestled on Malibu's exclusive Carbon Beach—often dubbed "Billionaire's Beach"—is a luxurious sanctuary designed as a traditional Japanese inn. Co-owned by Larry Ellison, Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, actor Robert DeNiro, and film producer Meir Teper, this intimate retreat features just 16 exquisitely appointed rooms. Guests can indulge in Italian bed linens by Anichini, indoor and outdoor fireplaces, and serene patios with ocean views. Each bathroom boasts Jerusalem limestone and traditional Japanese soaking tubs. The hotel's exclusivity is underscored by its reservation process, requiring inquiries through the website, and its proximity to Nobu Malibu, offering guests priority reservations. Additionally, access to the Malibu Racquet Club enhances the experience with top-tier facilities and amenities.
Ocean-view hotel
Malibu Country Inn is a small, personal 16-room boutique inn set right along the Pacific Coast Highway just steps from Zuma Beach, one of the largest and most popular stretches of sand in Malibu. Many of the individually decorated rooms open onto genuine ocean views, and several feature stone fireplaces, private patios, and updated modern furnishings following recent renovations. Guests can start the day with the lobby's complimentary gourmet coffee, cool off in the heated outdoor pool and flower-filled garden, or grab a bite at the on-site Ocean Blue Restaurant without leaving the property. Sitting in the heart of a beach city long favored by Hollywood's coastal residents, Malibu Country Inn offers a more low-key, personal alternative to Malibu's larger resort hotels, with an ocean view and the sand within easy walking distance.