This Chic Ranch With Its Own Beach Club Is the Best Way to See Both Sides of Malibu

Some go to Malibu for beaches and celebrity spotting, others for hiking and wine tasting up in the Santa Monica Mountains. But if you’re looking for all of the above in one trip, there’s really only one place to stay in the iconic Southern California city, and that’s Calamigos Ranch.

The 250-acre ranch is home to bungalows, cottages, and estate rooms, decorated with Malibu-made home accessories in calming pastels, creams, and earth tones. Its 600-square-foot single bungalows have been recently renovated and include private outdoor patios and gardens, oversized bathrooms with both indoor and outdoor showers in addition to freestanding bathtubs, living areas, and luxurious king-size beds.

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Guests have their pick of three pools on property, including a serene, adults-only option with a Jacuzzi and a lively all-ages pool area with cabanas and bar service. The spa beckons guests relaxing by the adult pool, but those who want to take their treatment to a new level can opt for an outdoor massage among the on-site vineyards.

Meanwhile, two pickleball courts and hiking trails — some winding past vines and waterfalls — keep guests busy from sunrise to sunset. Resident cows and horses are also waiting to be greeted.

The House Bar, which opened this past summer, is the place to gather for craft cocktails, local wines, and beer beside fire pits for daily happy hour, while the Ranch Club restaurant serves breakfast and dinner menus focused on local ingredients. The property is one of the area’s most popular wedding venues and can be spotted in many TV series and films, including recent Netflix hits Love Is Blind and You.

Malibu Cafe draws the Los Angeles crowd with its live music, seasonal cocktails, wine tastings, barbecue plates, lawn games, and a lake with paddleboats, so even guests should make reservations.

Perhaps the best feature of all, however, is Calamigos Beach Club. About a 10-minute drive from the ranch, the beach club includes parking (a premium beachside amenity in this area), an ocean-view restaurant and lounge on the Pacific Coast Highway, a sand volleyball court, and beachfront access, where guests can chill in a lounger beneath an umbrella with food and drink service or organize a paddleboard lesson and get out into the Pacific Ocean. There’s hardly a better way to feel like a celebrity — even in Malibu.