The 2 Best Luxury Hotels in Malibu
From the Malibu Beach Inn to the Calamigos Ranch Resort Malibu Highlands: hand-picked 5-star hotels in Malibu. Every suitespot booking comes with free breakfast for 2, a room upgrade subject to availability, hotel credit and VIP service – benefits worth over €500.
The best-known hotels in Malibu
The hotels in Malibu differ less in standard than in location and character. Which address suits which trip is something our travel advisors settle in a conversation, with the date, the occasion and the budget in view. Prices shown are entry rates and may include limited-time promotional rates. Our own first choice here is the Malibu Beach Inn.
| Hotel | Location | suitespot score | Price from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malibu Beach Inn | – | ★ 4.6/5 | 744 € |
| Calamigos Ranch Resort Malibu Highlands | Highlands | ★ 4.3/5 | 690 € |
Your guide to the best luxury hotels in Malibu
Malibu Beach InnFor this guide we have gathered the best hotels in Malibu: two luxury hotels, from 690 € a night.At no extra cost: booking through suitespot costs the same as booking direct with the hotel – the benefits come on top, free of charge.
Two luxury hotels in Malibu – and how to choose
The two best hotels in Malibu sit in two very different places: one right on the beach, one up in the hills.
Calamigos Ranch Resort Malibu Highlands · HighlandsThe Malibu Beach Inn stands on the Pacific Coast Highway, right on the sand of Carbon Beach. Along the highway you reach the Malibu Pier, Surfrider Beach and the restaurants on the coast.
The Calamigos Ranch Resort Malibu Highlands lies on Latigo Canyon Road in the Malibu Highlands, in the Santa Monica Mountains above the coast: a ranch resort with cottages and bungalows among oaks, gardens and ponds.
Our travel advisors’ insider tip
At the Malibu Beach Inn you can book the front row on the water on purpose.
The Junior Suite is the hotel’s oceanfront category: 49 square meters facing the Pacific. Alongside it are the Master Suite and the Sleep Suite at 56 square meters each and the Pier Room at 37.
Why it matters: the upgrade comes on arrival, upon availability. If being right on the water matters to you, secure it through the category – then it is part of your booking.
Our advice: book the Junior Suite if you want to experience the ocean from your room, and give our travel advisors your dates early: we will request the suite for you.
Where to stay in Malibu: on the beach or in the Malibu Highlands
For travelers, Malibu comes down to coast and hills.
On the coast, the beaches line up along the Pacific Coast Highway: Carbon Beach, Surfrider Beach by the Malibu Pier with its surfers, and further north Zuma Beach and the rocks of El Matador. Our recommendation: the Malibu Beach Inn, a small hotel with six categories, four of them suites, right on the beach.
In the hills of the Santa Monica Mountains, things turn quiet: canyons, hiking trails and vineyards. Our recommendation: the Calamigos Ranch Resort Malibu Highlands, with cottages and bungalows of up to 125 square meters – for anyone who wants space and calm and is happy to drive down to the beach.
For orientation: heading south, the highway passes the Getty Villa on its way to Santa Monica and Los Angeles; heading north, it follows the coast up to Santa Barbara.
Suites, cottages and bungalows: the best hotels in Malibu from the inside
The best hotels in Malibu offer 15 categories, six of them suites, plus cottages and bungalows.
The wider choice is at the Calamigos Ranch Resort Malibu Highlands with nine categories: three cottages, three bungalows, two suites and one room. This is also where you find the largest units in this guide: the Bungalow at 125 square meters and the Estate Suite at 118, followed by the Double Bungalow at 84 and the Signature Cottage at 83 square meters.
The Malibu Beach Inn offers six categories, four of them suites: the Master Suite and the Sleep Suite at 56 square meters each, the Junior Suite and the Suite at 49 each. The Junior Suite is the category right on the water. Rooms start with the Premier Room at 33 square meters.
If you need a certain size, tell us: our travel advisors confirm it with the hotel before you book.
What a night at a luxury hotel in Malibu costs
A night at the best hotels in Malibu costs between 690 € and 744 €, with a median of 717 €.
In the hills, the Calamigos Ranch Resort Malibu Highlands starts at 690 €; on the beach, the Malibu Beach Inn starts at 744 €.
| Luxury hotel | From | suitespot benefits from |
|---|---|---|
| Calamigos Ranch Resort Malibu Highlands | 690 € | 1st night |
| Malibu Beach Inn | 744 € | 1st night |
When it is at its best: Malibu has its season all year round.
From June to October it is beach time: in early summer a coastal fog often lies over the water in the morning and lifts during the day, and in late summer the Pacific is at its warmest. Our recommendation for beach days and surfing.
From December to April gray whales travel along the coast, and you can watch them from Point Dume; after the winter rains the hills turn green. Our recommendation for hikers and anyone who wants a quieter Malibu.
And whatever the date: the suitespot benefits apply in January just as in August.
How long to stay: two to three nights, on their own or as a stop on a drive along Highway 1 between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara.
At both hotels the benefits apply from the first night.
You earn points at both hotels with the Leaders Club: just give your membership number when you book.
Breakfast, upgrade and exclusive services at a 5-star hotel
What our travel advisors like to arrange in Malibu is a day along the coast: a surf lesson at Surfrider Beach in the morning, fish at the Malibu Pier for lunch, and sunset at Point Dume in the evening.
Personal luxury travel adviceOur travel advisors personally accompany your booking – 365 days a year, from the first offer to late check-out. Reach the suitespot VIP service via email or WhatsApp.Phone: +49 30 81452346 · hotel@suitespot.comAdd to that: a hike in the canyons of the Santa Monica Mountains; the Getty Villa with its collection of antiquities; a wine tasting in the hills; and the rocks of El Matador State Beach.
And the food: fish and seafood from the Pacific, fish tacos, Californian market cooking and sushi at Nobu Malibu right on the water. We are happy to book the well-known tables for you.
The benefits are the same at both hotels: breakfast for two is included, along with an upgrade upon availability and a late check-out.
So in Malibu you choose by location and room: if you want to walk barefoot onto the beach in the morning, stay at the Malibu Beach Inn; if you want to sit outside your own bungalow in the evening, stay at the Calamigos Ranch Resort Malibu Highlands. There the upgrade is especially worthwhile, because the categories go up to 125 square meters.
The hotels in Malibu at a glance
What sets the hotels in Malibu apart – from their opening year to the spa:
| Hotel | Opened | Spa |
|---|---|---|
| Malibu Beach Inn | 1989 | – |
| Calamigos Ranch Resort Malibu Highlands | 1937 | ✓ |
Earn points & use your status in Malibu
The properties in Malibu share a single loyalty program. Your booking counts within it as usual – a direct rate with points, elite nights and your status benefits, plus what suitespot adds. The focus of this selection is Leaders Club.
At no extra cost: you pay the same rate as booking direct with the hotel – the suitespot benefits come on top, free of charge.
| Program | Hotels | Examples in Malibu |
|---|---|---|
| Leaders Club | 2 hotels | Malibu Beach Inn, Calamigos Ranch Resort Malibu Highlands |
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Frequently asked questions about luxury hotels in Malibu
How many luxury hotels in Malibu does suitespot offer?
Two: the Malibu Beach Inn on Carbon Beach and the Calamigos Ranch Resort Malibu Highlands in the hills above the coast.
What does a night at a luxury hotel in Malibu cost?
Between 690 € and 744 €, with a median of 717 €. The Calamigos Ranch Resort Malibu Highlands starts at 690 €, the Malibu Beach Inn right on the beach at 744 €.
Where should I stay in Malibu?
On the coast for the beach and surfing (recommendation: Malibu Beach Inn) or in the hills for space and calm (recommendation: Calamigos Ranch Resort Malibu Highlands).
Which hotel in Malibu is right on the beach?
The Malibu Beach Inn on the Pacific Coast Highway. You book the front row there with the Junior Suite, the oceanfront category at 49 square meters.
Which hotel in Malibu has the largest suites?
The Calamigos Ranch Resort Malibu Highlands: the Bungalow at 125 square meters and the Estate Suite at 118.
When is the best time to visit Malibu?
From June to October for the beach and surfing; from December to April for gray whales off the coast, green hills and quiet days.
From how many nights do the suitespot benefits apply in Malibu?
At both hotels from the first night.
Can I earn hotel points in Malibu?
Yes, at both hotels with the Leaders Club. Just give your membership number when you book.
Which is the most expensive hotel in Malibu?
The most expensive hotel in Malibu is Malibu Beach Inn, with rates from 743 € a night. Calamigos Ranch Resort Malibu Highlands has the lowest entry price at 690 €.
