Paradise Cove Beach

Paradise Cove in Malibu is a public beach in front of a privately-owned facility by the same name. It’s a comfortable place to spend the day (just bring your credit card and a towel) and to walk the Malibu shoreline.

The property and the restaurant has surfboards all around and the outside seating area has wooden lounge chairs (for rent), palm trees, and thatched umbrellas that almost feels Hawaiian. Ironically though with all the surfing memorabilia around the property, the owners banned surfing until 2014 when the California Coastal Commission forced them to allow it. The CCC also forced the owners to quit charging fees for visitors who park outside the property or get dropped off and walk to the beach. Understandably, they still charge for parking on-site.

Chaise lounge chairs and palapas (private spaces) are available for rent each day staring at 10am. They are not cheap, but they are right on the beach in Malibu so you shouldn’t be surprised. These can be reserved through the café website.

Paradise Cove is a perfect starting point for long beach walks. Heading east you’ll walk below beachfront homes and find secluded beaches and eventually get to Escondido Beach. Heading west you can walk below steep sandstone cliffs all the way to Little Dume Beach and Big Dume Beach in Point Dume State Beach. West (to the right when looking at the ocean) is the way to walk if you want to find tidepools. Note that some of these walking routes can be cut off at high tide.

With such a name you’d expect Paradise Cove to be a pretty stunning spot. It lives up to its name and has even been the setting for beach scenes in Hollywood movies.

Parking: The entrance to Paradise Cove is clearly signed at the address 28128 Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. If you park and are here for under four hours and eat at the Paradise Cove Cafe, the parking fee is cheap or free depending on the day of the week, but all-day parking at any time of the year is quite steep (see the Paradise Cove website for current parking rates). This is a lovely place and it’s worth the price of admission to use this wide sandy beach with lifeguards, clean facilities, and a private pier.

Beach address: 28128 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265

Activities: Sunbathing, Swimming, Surfing, Fishing, Tidepooling, Beachcombing, Beach Walking.

Amenities: Fishing Pier, Restaurant, Restrooms, Showers, Tide Pools, Beach Chair Rentals.

Dogs: No dogs allowed on the property or at the beach.

Beach hours: The beach hours are 8am to sunset and the café opens daily at 8am too.

Address

28128 Pacific Coast Hwy
Malibu, CA 90265

Phone

310.457.2503

Other Names

Ramirez Canyon Creek

Owner

Private, Open to Public

Fees

Fees for parking onsite

Links

Water Quality
Tide Chart
Water Temps