The Surfrider Hotel, Malibu
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Avg. $321 /night, 3/23 - 3/24
$575
per night
$448
per night
$321
per night
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Reflects recent average nightly prices reported by our partners, and may not include estimated taxes or fees. Price at checkout may differ.
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About
#3 of 7 hotels in Malibu
Location
4.8
Rooms
4.6
Value
4.3
Cleanliness
4.9
Service
4.8
Sleep Quality
4.6
The 20-room Surfrider Malibu is a modern California Beach House located directly across the street from the famous Surfrider Beach in Malibu, California. The former 1953 motel has been converted into a boutique hotel capturing the essence of California's beach life. Featuring 18 rooms and 2 suites, along with a vaulted ceiling lobby, 2nd floor library, incredible roof deck bar and restaurant available to guests-only, outdoor shower, on-site parking, native and sub-tropical planting and completed with sustainable design and locally sourced materials.
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Property amenities
Electric vehicle charging station
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Bar / lounge
Beach
Hiking
Rooftop terrace
Baggage storage
Dry cleaning
Paid private parking on-site
Wifi
Coffee shop
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Breakfast in the room
Complimentary Instant Coffee
Outdoor dining area
Snack bar
Special diet menus
Wine / champagne
Rooftop bar
Concierge
Newspaper
Non-smoking hotel
Outdoor fireplace
Outdoor furniture
Shops
Sun deck
Sun terrace
Umbrella
Laundry service
Room features
Allergy-free room
Blackout curtains
Air conditioning
Housekeeping
Room service
Minibar
Cable / satellite TV
Complimentary toiletries
Bathrobes
Safe
Telephone
Bottled water
Private bathrooms
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Refrigerator
Flatscreen TV
Hair dryer
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Centrally Located
Business
Languages Spoken
English, Spanish, Portuguese
Location
23033 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265-4935
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Grade: 73 out of 100
73
Los Angeles Intl Airport
17 mi•
See all flights
Hollywood Burbank Airport
21.5 mi•
See all flights
Rental Cars
30 Restaurants
within 0.75 miles
Reviews
Traveler rating
- 117
- 15
- 4
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- 5
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Popular mentions
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Detailed Reviews
The best feature of this hotel is the roof bar/restaurant. It is fantastic with amazing views of the beach, ocean and pier. We had rooms 16 & 17. 17 is excellent with a cathedral ceiling and a fan. 16 is a good room, but has a flat roof and no fan. This is because the roof bar storage room is directly above and noise from the team setting up starts at 7.00am every morning.
The hotel faces the beach with PCH directly in front of you before the beach. It is noisy, but the insulation in the rooms is pretty good.
Overall I’d give it an 8/10 rating though whether it was worth the $10k for two rooms for 5 nights is questionable.
The hotel faces the beach with PCH directly in front of you before the beach. It is noisy, but the insulation in the rooms is pretty good.
Overall I’d give it an 8/10 rating though whether it was worth the $10k for two rooms for 5 nights is questionable.
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Date of stay: August 2024Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip: Use the roof top bar/restaurant - it is fantastic.
Avoid room 16. The suites looked great.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lovely amenities, comfy bed and the perfect (almost) beachfront location. The beach os located across a busy highway but there is a safe cross walk. The hotel provides beach chairs, towels and a beach tote. The restaurant is exceptional - I ate breakfast and dinner at the beautiful rooftop restaurant with a view of the ocean. The only drawback I found with this hotel was the noise. They should double pane the windows - you can hear cars driving on the highway all night. I was on the first floor and the noise from the people in the room above me was relentless.
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Date of stay: October 2022
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: Book the second floor as it may be a bit quieter.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Surfrider Malibu, Other at The Surfrider Hotel, Malibu
Responded Nov 29, 2022
Hi Lisa! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us such a positive review and we are so glad to hear you enjoyed so many aspects of our property. While we are located on the iconic Pacific Coast Highway and road noise is inevitable, we do actually have double paned windows with a special noise cancelling seal in our sliding glass doors. There is also white noise machines and earplugs in all of our guest rooms for the noise sensitive! We hope to welcome you back in the future! Sincerely, Team Surfrider
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
What can I say? The Surfrider really made me feel like I was living the California Dream. Great rooms (we had an upstairs room with a hammock, it was simple but high quality, everything you need in a beach house). Location was amazing, walking distance to Surfrider Beach, Carbon Beach and Malibu Pier and a quick drive to many great hikes, beaches and Malibu Country Mart. The hotel even has complimentary Mini Coopers to get around in. As well, complimentary surfboards, paddle boards, beach towels, umbrellas, morning coffee delivery, wifi... we were impressed by how many things they "threw in" knowing that Malibu prices can be on the higher end. Most hotels would charge for all these things. Surfrider cares about quality and value. Food was next level, probably the best we had on our trip. Cocktails were clever. Music was thoughtful and I spent half my time Shazaming the songs. Noise definitely wasn't as bad as some people make out on this platform, we weren't bothered at all and were actually pleasantly surprised. Staff were great and there was a really cool vibe with other guests too. Seems that The Surfrider attracts great people.
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Date of stay: May 2021
Rooms
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Surfrider Malibu, General Manager at The Surfrider Hotel, Malibu
Responded Jun 14, 2021
Thank you, Matthew! It's so fun to see guests enjoying the full Surfrider experience and, making friends with other guests while doing so. That's what travel is all about, in our eyes!! Hope to see you back soon!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I’m sure this is a beautiful hotel with a top notch restaurant. Unfortunately we couldn’t experience any of it and lost money due to their rigid cancellation policy.
My husband and I were literally driving up to the hotel for our anniversary (an hour into our drive), planning to drop our kids and puppy off at my mom’s when we got a call from my mom saying she got sick and couldn’t watch the kids. My sister, who was also our plan B to watch the kids and dog, also got sick. While we could’ve quickly found a pet boarding hotel to drop our dog off on the way to the hotel (super not ideal because she’s a puppy), the person I spoke to told us they didn’t have any rollaway beds on site nor a ton of space for a rollaway bed/air mattress if we brought one for our kids.
At this point, we felt like it wasn’t in our cards to even make the 3 hour drive up since we didn’t have a solid place to take our puppy or our kids, we called the manager and asked if we could reschedule our visit or get some refund…she flat out said “No” and said they have a very strict 7 day cancellation policy. I asked to speak to her boss or send her boss an email, she said that she couldn’t give me her email address, but that she’d try to text the general manager but that she will likely say No as well. So I asked for the contact info of the hotel owners/company to plead our case, but she said she wasn’t at liberty to give me any contact information. She did offer 1) for me to get a second room to accommodate our kids (which for over $700/night, it’s not worth it) or 2) to try to resell the hotel room online but said that there was a slim chance someone would take it this late in the day.
She also said they are a small hotel and that our reservation probably prevented someone from reserving the room, but obviously they had a room available (the one they offered to us for our kids!)ty, so we didn’t prevent anyone from reserving the room because there was still availability!
Given that this was a family emergency and a very extreme and rare circumstance, I was blown away by their lack of consideration or accommodation. I was surprised that the manager didn’t think the management company wouldn’t even bother to hear our case. Customer service is absolutely lacking. It’s not like we were trying to scam the hotel…we were literally driving to the hotel with a packed car. We ended up taking the $ loss, turning around and going home.
Please use caution when you book a room at this hotel because their cancellation policy is absolutely terrible.
My husband and I were literally driving up to the hotel for our anniversary (an hour into our drive), planning to drop our kids and puppy off at my mom’s when we got a call from my mom saying she got sick and couldn’t watch the kids. My sister, who was also our plan B to watch the kids and dog, also got sick. While we could’ve quickly found a pet boarding hotel to drop our dog off on the way to the hotel (super not ideal because she’s a puppy), the person I spoke to told us they didn’t have any rollaway beds on site nor a ton of space for a rollaway bed/air mattress if we brought one for our kids.
At this point, we felt like it wasn’t in our cards to even make the 3 hour drive up since we didn’t have a solid place to take our puppy or our kids, we called the manager and asked if we could reschedule our visit or get some refund…she flat out said “No” and said they have a very strict 7 day cancellation policy. I asked to speak to her boss or send her boss an email, she said that she couldn’t give me her email address, but that she’d try to text the general manager but that she will likely say No as well. So I asked for the contact info of the hotel owners/company to plead our case, but she said she wasn’t at liberty to give me any contact information. She did offer 1) for me to get a second room to accommodate our kids (which for over $700/night, it’s not worth it) or 2) to try to resell the hotel room online but said that there was a slim chance someone would take it this late in the day.
She also said they are a small hotel and that our reservation probably prevented someone from reserving the room, but obviously they had a room available (the one they offered to us for our kids!)ty, so we didn’t prevent anyone from reserving the room because there was still availability!
Given that this was a family emergency and a very extreme and rare circumstance, I was blown away by their lack of consideration or accommodation. I was surprised that the manager didn’t think the management company wouldn’t even bother to hear our case. Customer service is absolutely lacking. It’s not like we were trying to scam the hotel…we were literally driving to the hotel with a packed car. We ended up taking the $ loss, turning around and going home.
Please use caution when you book a room at this hotel because their cancellation policy is absolutely terrible.
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Date of stay: July 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip: Their cancellation policy is terrible. Customer service is worse. Only book here if you know for...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I stayed at The Surfrider in May 2020, just after they reopened from being closed from COVID. This was my first venture out in months and I was a little apprehensive and nervous. The staff made me feel so incredibly safe and the hotel was exceptionally clean. It was obvious that they were taking matters incredibly seriously. What was impressive though was that not only did I feel completely safe but also like I was having a normal Surfrider experience, even with a few slight changes, it felt complete and not like I was lacking or missing out. At check in I was given my own personalized packet which included a welcome note telling me all about The Surfrider experience, my own menus so that I didn't have to be sharing with others throughout my stay and a morning coffee card which I was able to fill out to have coffee delivered to me in bed at my preferred time. My room was beautiful and had a little bunch of wildflowers by the bedside, along with their custom made Surfrider hand sanitizer which they had in all common spaces and guest rooms. I definitely got the sense that they really really care about their guests. The roof deck was fantastic and guest-only which I loved. And the food, well I'd come back every week if I could, just for the food. The menu is unique and considerate but not fussy. It's surprising but comfortable. Everything is organic and local and just SO fresh. Highly highly recommend. Thank you Team Surfrider for taking such good care of me, after a crazy few months. I will be back many more times!
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Date of stay: May 2020
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip: Ground floor but spent most of my time on the deck!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Surfrider Malibu, General Manager at The Surfrider Hotel, Malibu
Responded Jun 8, 2020
Hi Bea, Wow, thank you for staying with us during this time and also, for taking the time to leave us such a thoughtful review. We really really appreciate it. We are so thrilled to hear that you had an amazing stay and that everything we were doing during these times made you feel safe, comfortable and happy. That's our number 1 priority. Chef also says thank you for the very kind words about he and his teams food. We couldn't agree with you more. Until next time, stay well. Looking forward to seeing you again soon. ~ Team Surfrider
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We desperately needed an adult night to sleep in without our toddler, so we booked a Friday night stay. Unfortunately we stayed underneath the restaurant and all night and morning we could hear a door slamming and the room would shake. I informed the front desk but they could not stop the noise. I ended up much more sleep deprived then when I arrived and would not recommend staying here if you need some R&R.
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Date of stay: October 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: It’s located above the very busy highway FYI
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Before you book, please understand—The surf rider has a 1 week cancellation policy and makes no exceptions—even if an injury has rendered you unable to go on your trip! NO EXCEPTIONS.
My husband and I booked this hotel for a one night mid-week stay and he injured his back a few days before. The Surfrider doesn’t care, it’s all business.
My husband and I booked this hotel for a one night mid-week stay and he injured his back a few days before. The Surfrider doesn’t care, it’s all business.
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
It is hard to put in words what this hotel means to me. I have stayed there many times over the last four years and the way I am treated always makes me feel special and well looked after as if I’m a family friend rather than a hotel guest. The hotel is on the busy Pacific Coast Highway but what you get when you are in the hotel is a small (20 rooms)peaceful haven with perfectly designed beach chic decor and a rooftop terrace to die for. In the day the view is incredible watching the best surfing on the whole coast of Malibu and depending on the time of year I have seen huge pods of dolphins. At night the terrace has an amazing starlit atmosphere with warm heaters and a fire pit.
But the most important factor that makes this hotel stand out in a class of its own is the staff who make you feel like a guest or family.
I arrived late on Thanksgiving night when Malibu was in a complete power cut and the circumstances for the hotel must’ve been a nightmare yet I was treated to some apple pie from the owner and the member of staff that it was meant for! Thank you Jordan for being so kind. Big thanks to Derek and of course Emma who is one of the owners.
But the most important factor that makes this hotel stand out in a class of its own is the staff who make you feel like a guest or family.
I arrived late on Thanksgiving night when Malibu was in a complete power cut and the circumstances for the hotel must’ve been a nightmare yet I was treated to some apple pie from the owner and the member of staff that it was meant for! Thank you Jordan for being so kind. Big thanks to Derek and of course Emma who is one of the owners.
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Date of stay: November 2021Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Surfrider Malibu, General Manager at The Surfrider Hotel, Malibu
Responded Dec 16, 2021
Hi Cath, As always, thank you so much for visiting us and for taking the time to leave such a kind and thoughtful review. We adore having you with us and are so incredibly happy that the borders are open again so that we can see you. We've missed you! See you soon!! Emma and Team Surfrider x
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
My wife and I got married on Monday in Topanga, CA. If you haven’t had the misfortune of visiting, Topanga is mixture of the worst of several worlds; the bad cell service and barrenness of a rural area, the astronomical property values of a big city, and the ever-present aroma of human waste. The Surfrider Hotel is NOT in Topanga. Located in neighboring Malibu — and yet worlds apart — the Surfrider has proven to be the perfect spot for our mini-moon. While our room is not particularly large, it is adequately-sized and comfortable, with a private balcony (complete with hammock), nice furnishings and an awesome shower. There is a great beach right across the street as well. Having worked in hotels for a decade, I can say with some authority that the staff here is excellent. Lucy and Trevor on the rooftop were especially attentive to my and my wife’s needs, with Lucy even remembering a dietary allergy of mine from the day before. Finally, the restaurant at this hotel is incredible. It is only available to guests, which means we never had to wait for a table. There is a very relaxed vibe, and the food is absolutely delicious. Many coastal people consider themselves “foodies.” I am definitely not one. Or should I say, WAS not one; the dishes here are so consistently good, I have found myself trying (and invariably enjoying) menu items I would have scoffed at from anywhere else. Highly recommended.
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Date of stay: June 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Surfrider Malibu, Other at The Surfrider Hotel, Malibu
Responded Jun 6, 2022
Hi Adrian, Thank you so very much for taking the time to leave this amazing review. We really appreciate it and are so happy that you had a great time and loved everything, including those things you otherwise wouldn't have tried :) That's our goal!! We will also pass along your kind words about Lucy and Trevor! Warmly, Team Surfrider
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lovely, friendly and helpful staff. Rooms are exceptionally clean and very comfortable. We were on the first floor with a partial sea view (14) for 3 nights and I did find the noise of the freeway was pretty loud but if you are a deep sleeper or have ear plugs it’s fine. We had to switch rooms on our last night, to a ground floor room which was slightly cheaper and had no view but, I preferred the room because it was much quieter.
The bar/restaurant on the top deck is lovely. Great location. Would recommend.
The bar/restaurant on the top deck is lovely. Great location. Would recommend.
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Date of stay: May 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Surfrider Malibu, Other at The Surfrider Hotel, Malibu
Responded Jun 6, 2022
Hi Clare, Thank you very much for a lovely review. We are so happy that you would recommend The Surfrider and, most importantly, that you had a great time. Naturally, we will work to improve to ensure your next stay is a 5/5. Safe travels! Team Surfrider
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Yes it is directly across the street! Also, Malibu Farms and the pier is directly across the street.
Queen bed is bigger than a double.
No beach bar or club, the hotel has a bar with a great view of the beach, but is on the other side of the highway.
The hotel has a restaurant, limited menu, but excellent food. There are 2 restaurants on the pier, Nobu in walking distance and local shops have other cafes and restaurants (Malibu burger, Thai, Mexican, pizza).
Hi! Apologies for the late response, please call our front desk at 310 526 6158. You can also see our website and online reservations at thesurfridermalibu. Look forward to seeing you!
"Use the roof top bar/restaurant - it is fantastic. Avoid room 16. The suites looked great."Read full review
"Their cancellation policy is terrible. Customer service is worse. Only book here if you know for sure you won’t have any barriers going."Read full review
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PRICE RANGE
$289 - $575 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
surfrider beach club hotel malibu
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Surfrider Beach Club
LOCATION
United StatesCaliforniaMalibu
NUMBER OF ROOMS
20
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect nightly room rates, including any mandatory fees. Taxes not included. Please see our partners for more details.
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Frequently Asked Questions about The Surfrider Hotel, Malibu
Which popular attractions are close to The Surfrider Hotel, Malibu?
Nearby attractions include Adamson House and Malibu Lagoon Museum (0.2 miles), Malibu Pier (0.1 miles), and Malibu Lagoon State Beach (0.3 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at The Surfrider Hotel, Malibu?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include a rooftop bar, free wifi, and an on-site restaurant.
Which room amenities are available at The Surfrider Hotel, Malibu?
Top room amenities include a minibar, air conditioning, and a flat screen TV.
What food & drink options are available at The Surfrider Hotel, Malibu?
Guests can enjoy a rooftop bar, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
Is parking available at The Surfrider Hotel, Malibu?
Yes, paid private parking on-site is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to The Surfrider Hotel, Malibu?
Conveniently located restaurants include Malibu Farm Restaurant, Nobu Malibu, and Marmalade Cafe - Malibu.
Is The Surfrider Hotel, Malibu located near the city center?
Yes, it is 0.6 miles away from the center of Malibu.
Are any cleaning services offered at The Surfrider Hotel, Malibu?
Yes, dry cleaning and laundry service are offered to guests.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at The Surfrider Hotel, Malibu?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Are there any historical sites close to The Surfrider Hotel, Malibu?
Many travelers enjoy visiting Will Rogers State Historic Park (9.6 miles) and Annenberg Community Beach House (9.5 miles).
Is The Surfrider Hotel, Malibu accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access. For specific inquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.