Malibu Pier

In the early 1900s the Rindge family owned almost the whole of Malibu, a vast coastal ranch they guarded fiercely against any road or railroad crossing their land. With no highway in, the sea was their lifeline, and in 1905 they built the pier to load and unload ships, moving grain, hides, and fruit out to market and bringing supplies back to the ranch. It was pure working infrastructure, the private front door of a private kingdom.

The family's long battle to keep the outside world out eventually failed, and the Pacific Coast Highway pushed through along the shore. As Malibu opened up, the pier's purpose changed with it. In 1934 it was opened to the general public and organized for fishing for the first time, and it quickly became a favorite spot to drop a line over the deep water.

Fishing crowds grew through the late 1930s, and the pier was extended and fitted with a bait and tackle shop. During World War II it served as a Coast Guard lookout post before storm damage and the years took their toll. A later owner repaired the pier after the war and added the distinctive white Cape Cod-style buildings at its head, the towers that give Malibu Pier its unmistakable silhouette today.

By the late 1990s the aging pier had passed into the hands of the state, and after a major restoration it reopened in the 2000s as a California State Parks landmark. The Pacific is hard on any pier, and storms still force the occasional round of repairs, but the state and its partners have kept this piece of Malibu history standing and open for everyone.

What truly makes the pier special is its neighbor. Just to the west lies Surfrider Beach, whose long, peeling right-hand waves are among the most famous in the world and helped launch modern surfing and California beach culture in the mid-1900s. On a good swell the lineup fills with surfers, and the end of the pier is one of the best free seats in the house to watch them work the wave.

Beside the break sits the Malibu Lagoon, where fresh water meets the sea in a restored wetland alive with herons, egrets, and shorebirds, and the historic Adamson House, a Spanish Colonial Revival home famous for its Malibu tile. Between the pier, the surf, the lagoon, and the house, this little stretch of coast packs an outsized amount of California history and beauty into a short walk.

The pier is right on the Pacific Coast Highway in central Malibu, easy to reach and free to walk. There are shops and eateries out on the deck that keep their own hours, and from the pier you can fish, join a seasonal whale-watching or sportfishing trip, or simply stroll to the end and take in the ocean on all sides. Watch for dolphins offshore and, in winter, migrating gray whales.

Come for the light late in the day, when the sun drops toward the water and the whole coast turns gold. Bring a layer, since the ocean breeze makes the deck cool even on warm afternoons, and mind the highway traffic when you cross. Pair the pier with a walk down to Surfrider Beach and the lagoon, and you have one of the most scenic, storied, and easygoing stops on the entire Malibu coast.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

The Malibu Pier is a historic and picturesque pier extending into the Pacific along the famous Malibu coast of Southern California. A beloved landmark dating back about a century, it offers beautiful ocean and coastline views, fishing, dining at pier restaurants, and a charming spot to soak up Malibu's laid-back, upscale beach atmosphere. Adjacent to the world-renowned Surfrider Beach, a legendary surfing spot, the pier is a scenic centerpiece of Malibu, perfect for strolling, watching surfers, enjoying a meal by the water, and taking in the classic Southern California coastal scene.

You can stroll the historic pier for lovely ocean and coastline views, fish from the pier, dine at its restaurants overlooking the water, watch world-class surfers at the adjacent Surfrider Beach, shop at pier boutiques, and relax on the nearby beach. It is also a spot for whale watching in season and taking in beautiful sunsets. With its views, dining, fishing, and proximity to famous surfing, the Malibu Pier offers a scenic and quintessentially Malibu experience, blending history, ocean beauty, and the relaxed glamour of the Southern California coast.

When walking the pier, mind your footing on the wooden surface and keep children close near the railings. At the adjacent beaches, ocean swimming carries risks like cold water, currents, and, at surf spots, crowded waves, so swim near lifeguards where available, be aware of conditions, and watch children closely. Use sun protection on the exposed beach and pier. Surfers and swimmers should respect each other at popular breaks. Being mindful of the ocean conditions and using common-sense caution on the pier keeps a visit safe and enjoyable.

Late spring through early fall offers the warmest beach weather, with summer the liveliest, while Malibu's mild climate makes the pier and coast pleasant year-round. Clear days are best for views, and sunset over the water is beautiful. Weekdays are more relaxed than busy weekends, and mornings are peaceful. Winter and spring can bring good whale watching offshore. For warm beach days, aim for late spring through early fall, though the pier and its views reward a visit any pleasant day along the scenic Malibu coast.

The Malibu Pier is on the Malibu coast, right by the famous Surfrider Beach, near Carbon Beach and the many beaches and coves of Malibu, the Getty Villa to the south, and the beaches of Santa Monica, with the Santa Monica Mountains rising inland. That makes the Malibu Pier a scenic stop to combine with Malibu's beaches, Surfrider's surfing, the Getty Villa, and the coastal attractions of the Los Angeles area on a Southern California visit.