The Surfrider Malibu, Los Angeles
The Surfrider Hotel Malibu is a beautiful boutique property perched right on the Pacific Coast Highway. Originally opened in 1953 as the Malibu Shores Motel, it served as a legendary haunt for surfers, musicians, and artists during the golden age of California surf culture. In 2014, the site was acquired by architect Matthew Goodwin and his partners, who meticulously transformed it into the sophisticated “California Beach House” it is today.
The hotel’s design is deeply rooted in its environment. The owners served as the primary designers, drawing inspiration from the surrounding Santa Monica Mountains and the ocean depths to create a tactile, grounding atmosphere. Every room is outfitted with natural materials like reclaimed wood and stone, while the rooftop restaurant remains an exclusive, guest-only sanctuary perfect for watching the sunset over the Pacific.
Guests can lean into the local lifestyle with complimentary perks like custom surfboards shaped by local legends and beach baskets for seaside lounging. The hotel even keeps a vintage 1968 Land Rover on hand to help visitors hunt for the perfect wave along the coast.
Location-wise, you are just steps away from the iconic Malibu Pier and the world-famous Surfrider Beach. For those interested in history or culture, the stunning Adamson House Museum and the architectural marvel of the Getty Villa are also located nearby, offering a rich glimpse into Malibu’s artistic and colonial past. It is truly the ultimate base for a genuine Malibu experience.
Expert reviews
“For a low-key, personal stay in Los Angeles you can do no better. This light-filled, design-forward spot was a motel in the 1950s before a California architect and his Australian wife transformed it.”
What guests liked
- Top location
- Great food
- Friendly staff
- Roof terrace
- Excellent Wifi
Location
Recent guest reviews
15 April 2025
Lovely beach resort, clean and perfect location.
We received a warm welcome from the staff. We were escorted to our room and given the tour. Loved this property and will visit again.
The recent fires and mudslides / closure of PCH caused the staff shortage which meant no dinner on property. But we understand.
28 February 2025
What a great find. So chic and cool. Highly recommend
Very chic - loved the location and staff and the whole staff was just wonderful
Nothing!
21 October 2024
Beautiful funky hotel !!
The decor and the whole vibe was superb, loved it !!
Nothing not to like
20 September 2024
Met or exceeded expectations- a little pricey but I’ll probably be back
Mercer!
Also drinks were very well done
23 August 2024
Your California dream stay
The mood, the design, the staff
21 July 2024
Best hotel we stayed in California
Everything was perfect!
18 July 2024
Disappointing and over priced.
The room was very small and noisy. Despite double pane windows, the traffic on the main road was overwhelming.
7 July 2024
I would definitely stay at the surf rider again!
The staff was excellent iand the amenities are great! Beach chairs, towels, surfboards WIFI.
There was nothing not to like about this hotel! 😀
1 July 2024
Perfect place for a getaway
Loved everything about this place. The property was well taken care of and in a great location, the room was comfortable, the staff was excellent, and food and drink options were delicious. The amenities were a nice touch as were the optional add ons. We had a great time surfing with Pete and would definitely recommend the surf lessons. Can’t wait to come back!
22 June 2024
We loved our stay here, the rooftop deck is very nice to catch the sunset and have some appetizers and drinks.
The location & staff are incredibly great!
The room is a little small, but cozy.
17 June 2024
I wouldn’t stay there again.
The property is pleasant enough. It’s clean minus the ants and has a nice California beach vibe. Our room was right off the parking lot so we had a lot of noise beyond just the highway. The roof deck is what makes the hotel.
It’s priced like a luxury hotel and delivers a comfortable place to stay in a good location. To be clear, the staff is really great, friendly and helpful. The hotel is just way overpriced for what it is. If you didn’t feel gauged by the price you would be extremely happy. 600+ a night for a ground floor double room is laughable. Thus the price to be in Malibu. I was there for work and wanted to be close to the venue so I didn’t have to rent a car. I should have rented a car and stayed further away. You’re charged with an amenities fee for their beach gear they have available, and they also charge you a 3% bed linens fee. One would think 600 a night could cover your linens and the beach gear. Ask for a damage deposit rather than asking your customer to pay for your beach chairs and surf boards.
6 June 2024
Amazing stay! I recommend everyone to come to stay if they go to Malibu beaxh
Everything about our stay was amazing. Very welcoming and kind the staff. Made us feel homie
Everything we liked
22 April 2024
I would definitely visit again. My wife and me had a peaceful and relaxing stay!
The food was delicious.
22 March 2024
The perfect Malibu getaway.
We had a Seaview room and could watch the surfers while the sun went down from our balcony. The rooftop bar and restaurant was only available to guests which means you don’t have to leave if you don’t want to and the food + view was amazing. So many thoughtful touches.
15 March 2024
Jubilant and Super Special!
The staff went above and beyond to make our stay comfortable and happy! We got engaged on Valentine's Day and when the staff found out they were super excited for us and gave us complimentary champagne! We even took ohotos on the beach with staff during their surfing break! Super fun!! Love the Surfrider; it was a jubilant and perfect weekend!! Thank you!
NA
5 March 2024
Beautiful, great location but could be better
The property is absolutely beautiful and the location is great. An easy walk to both the pier and Malibu Country Mart. Staff was very friendly and helpful.
The rooms are extremely small and get a lot of noise from the road. The space does not have a closet or anywhere to put your luggage which adds to the cramped feeling. Bugs were also a bit of an issue during our stay, we had several spiders, ants and beetles in the room. We were also a little confused at checkout when we were charged a $115 “amenity fee”, not sure what this fee was for/covered. There aren’t many amenities at this hotel so we were definitely caught off guard by that.
25 February 2024
It was ok ish
Location
We got free upgrade ocean view because it was raining for the past days and I guess they wanted us to feel better about our stay
Not genuine friendly. Very laid back Also it was raining and they run out of umbrella ! For the amount we paid ….
They also charged us for the use of WiFi extra on top of the room
31 July 2023
Another great stay in paradise
How clean and close to the beach it is. Also the people working there are so nice and welcoming
Hotel facilities
Food & Drink
- - Restaurant
- - Bar
- - Breakfast in the room
- - Special diet menus (on request)
- - Wine/champagne (additional charge)
- - Coffee house on site
Services
- - Room service
- - Laundry (additional charge)
- - Dry cleaning (additional charge)
- - Ironing service (additional charge)
- - Luggage storage
- - Concierge service
- - Trouser press (additional charge)
- - Daily housekeeping
Outdoors
- - Terrace
- - Sun terrace
- - Outdoor furniture
- - Outdoor fireplace
General
- - Non-smoking rooms
- - Facilities for disabled guests
- - Lift
- - Safety deposit box
- - Non-smoking throughout
- - Air conditioning
Activities
- - Hiking
- - Yoga classes
- - Beach
- - Happy hour
Entertainment & family services
- - Board games/puzzles
Parking
- - Electric vehicle charging station
- - Accessible parking
Pool and wellness
- - Sun loungers or beach chairs
- - Sun umbrellas
Miscellaneous
- - Key card access
- - Smoke alarms

More photos

10 August 2025
Stylish Hotel but did not meet expectations