The Surfrider Hotel

"The Surfrider delivers all that you could want from a Malibu stay: access to the beach (it’s literally across the street!), a view (head to the roof to watch the sunset), and great food (its on-site restaurant sources ingredients from some of the best nearby farms). The rooms are done up in a beachy beige perfection with linen-upholstered seatings and rattan accents. Spend your days surfing and your nights on the hotel's roof drinking a cocktail by the fire. You’ll feel miles away from the buzz of L.A. —Lilah Ramzi, contributing editor"

9 Best Beach Towns in California, According to a Local

"A beachfront lodging with a storied musical past — reportedly frequented by icons like Jimi Hendrix and The Doors — that embodies the town’s surf-and-artist enclave and vintage coastal charm." - Leilani Marie Labong Leilani Marie Labong Leilani Marie Labong is a San Francisco-based journalist who focuses on food, design, and travel. Her work has been featured in Elle Decor, Travel + Leisure, House Beautiful, Sunset, Food52, Food & Wine, The Kitchn, and Architectural Digest. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines

The Best Hotels in Los Angeles, From Beverly Hills to Santa Monica | Vogue

"For those wanting to experience the famous surf culture should look to the Santa Monica Proper or the Surfrider in Malibu." - Elise Taylor

18 Best Hotels and Resorts in California, From Malibu to Napa Valley

"The name evokes a lazy, relaxing shack where barefooted surfers lounge by an open fire on the beach. While it may not be exactly that, there’s something oh-so-Californian about this place, named for the beach in front of it that is in fact a classic Malibu surf spot. The former mid-century motel has been renovated into a 20-room luxury hotel. Still, some of the homeyness seeps through: the lobby is designed to resemble the living room of a beach house, and the rooms are light and bright, engendering good vibes. There’s lots of natural materials—limestone, white oak, teak—and rooms are decorated with locally-made ceramics. Splurge on the Surfrider Suite and you can lounge on the outdoor terrace’s hammock before suppering at the alfresco dining table facing the beach. The roof deck is the perfect spot to escape to, as it’s open only to hotel guests."

34 Best Hotels in Los Angeles

"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. Feel at ease in the cozy library, or chat it up with the staff who are Malibu natives.  There’s a proper bar with stools and multiple seating areas commanding amazing beach and sunset views—including comfy linen-covered couches facing a firepit. The roof deck is only open to hotel guests, the ocean is yards away, and Bellino linens on the beds maintain that perfect balance of luxurious and unpretentious. You really do feel like guests in one big family home." - Krista Simmons, Celeste Moure