Malibu Day Trip: What to Do with Just an Afternoon
Malibu works surprisingly well as a day trip, whether you're coming down the coast from Santa Barbara or escaping LA for the afternoon. You don't need a whole weekend. You need a lunch plan and a parking strategy.
Recently, I found myself in Carpinteria, California, which is about 15 minutes south of Santa Barbara. With a free solo day on a Sunday, I roped my LA-based daughter into meeting me for lunch. Guess what world famous beach town sits roughly halfway between us. Correct. Malibu, California: home to certain Barbie and Ken dolls of the 1970s, Frankie and Annette beach movies, Johnny Carson back in the day (I am nothing if not timely in my references), Pacific Ocean views, surfers, and celebrities.
This is my guide to a low-key Malibu day trip, good for a solo wander or a catch-up lunch with someone you like. Everything here is from an actual visit, including the Archie comic book, which I will explain.
A note on the 2025 wildfires: Malibu took a hard hit from the January 2025 Palisades Fire, but as of this update everything mentioned in this post is open again. The Getty Villa is open Friday through Monday with free timed-entry reservations, and Duke's Malibu reopened in March 2026 after a fire-and-mudslide year that required a full interior renovation. Details are updated below.
Start Your Day with Lunch at OLLO Malibu
We met for lunch at OLLO Malibu (23750 Pacific Coast Highway). OLLO touts itself as a family purveyor of locally sourced California cuisine with Mediterranean influences. This cozy local favorite is ideal for solo diners or a relaxed meet-up with friends.
OLLO is located in a nice strip mall with convenient parking. There was a big newsstand in the strip mall, full of every magazine you could think of. A rarity these days. I was able to get an Archie comic book as a surprise for my 20-something kid.
The restaurant has a covered patio with heat lamps, and a large open dining room with bar. There is also a fireplace and TV.
It was a great atmosphere, with pleasant ambient music, and the acoustics weren't too loud, so it was easy to have a conversation. (Yes, this seems more and more to be my top criteria for a restaurant these days.)
The food was very good. I had the Crab Cake Benedict, and my daughter had fish tacos.
Stroll the Malibu Pier for Classic Coastal Charm
We hopped in the car and drove a mile to visit the Malibu Pier. Parking was a steep flat fee of $25. There didn't seem to be other easy options, so we went for it. The pier has a great, classic vibe. Shops selling rafts, surfboards, and other beach gear. The restaurants (Malibu Farm and Malibu Farm Cafe) were packed and looked like a lot of fun, with good food.
There are great views of the beach and the coast from the pier, of course. The end of the Pier holds a fun shop, The Ranch at the Pier, selling knickknacks and artwork. The Farmers Cocktail Bar offers up delicious-looking concoctions.
(Almost) Window Shop at Malibu Country Mart
After the delightful pier our plan was to visit the Malibu Country Mart for some shopping, or more likely some browsing. The Malibu Country Mart is a complex of buildings featuring high-end shopping and dining. Stores (that I recognized) included Brandy Melville and Starbucks. There are lots of other clothing and home goods stores which I was interested in checking out.
Unfortunately, it was jam-packed when we arrived at about 3:30 on a Sunday afternoon. We couldn't find parking and gave up. But it does look like a fun place to browse and see some stores and merchandise, which is different from the usual stuff we can find at our local mall.
Other Fun Stops for a Future Visit
Though I only had an afternoon to spend in Malibu, I want to come back to explore more, now that everything has reopened after the fires:
- Getty Villa Museum – Open Friday through Monday with free timed-entry reservations (book ahead, they cap daily visitors, and parking is $25). Our old pal J. Paul Getty's collection of ancient Greek and Roman art with fabulous ocean views and beautiful gardens in this recreation of a Roman country house. They offer an afternoon Garden Tea which I would love to check out.
- Point Dume Cove Trail – Don't let “hike” scare you off. This short 1.1-mile loop is manageable, and the views earn the walk. Good for a solo stroll with a camera in hand.
- Geoffrey's Malibu – This restaurant was originally called “Holiday House” and was patronized by Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe and JFK. Great for a solo splurge lunch or sunset dinner if you're in the mood to treat yourself. Every table is supposed to have an ocean view.
- Duke's Malibu – Reopened March 2026 after the fire and a mudslide, with a fully renovated interior. Duke Kahanamoku won 6 Olympic swimming and water polo medals. He is also known as the father of modern-day surfing. There are 6 Dukes Restaurants now, 3 in Hawaii and 3 in Southern California. Dukes is famous for their Hula Pie dessert: macadamia nut ice cream in a cookie crust, topped with hot fudge, whipped cream, and macadamia nuts.
- Malibu: Celebrity Homes, Beaches & History Tour – This highly rated 5-hour open-air bus small group tour starts and ends in Santa Monica, so it's perfect if you're visiting L.A. without a car and/or want someone else to drive so you can enjoy the views and not have to worry about the abysmal parking.
- Paradise Cove Beach Cafe – A reader let me know about this gem with some tables actually on the sand of the beach. Looks like great food, and if you go on your birthday, you get a free 10-inch tall piece of cake. I see no downside.
- Neptune's Net – Another reader recommends this historic “beach shack” restaurant with great views. Check out this link for a list of movies it has been featured in.
Plan Your Afternoon in Malibu
Here's how I'd structure an afternoon, based on the one I actually had:
- 12:30 PM – Lunch at OLLO Malibu – A leisurely California-Mediterranean meal on the covered patio. Try the Crab Cake Benedict or fish tacos, and a watermelon mimosa if you're feeling festive.
- 1:45 PM – Walk the Malibu Pier – Park nearby (yes, it's a pricey $25 flat fee), soak up ocean views, watch surfers, and browse beachy shops like The Ranch at the Pier.
- 2:45 PM – Grab a drink or sweet treat – The Farmers Cocktail Bar on the pier is a good spot for an afternoon sip, or head to Malibu Farm for something fresh and seasonal.
- 3:30 PM – Attempt a stroll through Malibu Country Mart – If it's not too crowded, browse the high-end shops and maybe spot a celebrity or two. (Parking here can be tricky, arrive early if possible.)
- 4:30 PM – Head home – Optional: detour to Point Dume for sunset views or swing by Duke's for a slice of Hula Pie.
Before You Go
Malibu turned out to be an easy, restorative afternoon, and I didn't even get to everything on my list. If you've spent time there, or you have a hidden gem I should check out on my next visit, drop it in the comments. My list for the return trip is already growing.
