Malibu Beach Inn

David Geffen's recently refreshed Malibu property is all about the privilege of staying right on Carbon Beach.

• The spectacular beachfront setting in Malibu with a private beach club
• The modern art collection that adorns the hotel
• The Carbon Beach Club restaurant with a deck overlooking the ocean and views of Malibu Pier

David Geffen spent two years and more than $10 million dollars modernizing the three-story Malibu Beach Inn, which commands a prime spot on the beach just south of the Malibu pier. Art from Geffen’s own collection hangs on walls throughout, so you can sip margaritas in your flip-flops with an endless summer outlook of the Pacific to the west and a wall of David Hockney’s views of L.A. to the east.

What the 47 rooms lack in space (they range from 400 to 600-square-feet), they make up for in location, as every room has a beachfront balcony. After a renovation in early 2017, the rooms evoke a charming beach house with a palate of soft greys, blues and white complimented by teak wooden accents. Pops of color, in statement artwork and heavy coffee table books (like Slim Aarons’ appropriate “Poolside”), add a touch of quirkiness to the relaxed ambiance. Many of the rooms have fireplaces and sound-proof doors to keep the noise of the highway out so you can leave your terrace door open and hear the sound of the crashing waves. Yes, you’d have more space if you rented your own house but you might not have such great service.

Here, you are an instant member of Malibu’s only beach club. After all, this is where celebrities like Pamela Anderson, Matthew McConnaughey, Cindy Crawford, Adam Sandler and Mel Gibson relax by the sea. Carbon Beach (a.k.a. Billionaire’s Beach) is technically not a private beach (though moguls, including Geffen, did wage a local battle to try to make it so). There are hard-to-find public access points from the highway, but most days homeowners and hotel guests seem to have it to themselves. And the beach is the star attraction. The inn has no pool, no gym, not even bathtubs in the guestrooms. Whether you are in the lobby bar or the privacy of your room, you won’t be able to take your eyes off of the surf just steps away.The concierge will set you up with a chaise on the sand (where your laptop may still tap into the hotel’s WiFi), arrange surfing lessons and book you a table at the hotel’s own restaurant (inside or out on the terrace) or at beachfront restaurant Geoffrey’s, where being a friend of Mr. Geffen’s gets you preferential seating.

Travelers who want to stay on a true beach in Malibu and don't mind that even the suites do not have bathtubs and there's no pool. For the nearest coastal spot with great tubs (they even come with rubber ducks) and poolside pampering, head south down Highway 1 to Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica.