Review: Paradise Cove Beach

Give us the wide-angle view: what kind of beach are we talking about?
Paradise Cove Beach is a tiny, public/private beach tucked beneath the cliffs of Malibu. It's mostly under the auspices of the Paradise Cove Beach Café, who provide all the amenities, but you can access the beach for free if you want to swim or surf.

How accessible is it?
Parking at Paradise Cove Beach is tricky. If you eat at the Paradise Cove Beach Café (where you must spend at least $30), four hours of parking is $6 on weekdays and $8 on weekends. Otherwise, parking is $35 on weekdays and $50 on weekends.

Decent services and facilities, would you say?
People come to Paradise Cove Beach to rent the fenced-in beach terraces ($495/weekday, $795/weekend day), double beach beds ($30/$60), or chaise lounges ($30/$60). Beach towels are included, but anything else you want to bring—wine and beer are allowed—is up to you.

How’s the actual beach stuff—sand and surf?
Once you're in your chaise lounge or happily set up in your terrace, the water is clear enough to swim. The Café used to block surfing and the pier, but both of those areas are now open to the public.

Can we go barefoot?
Since it's a privately maintained, Paradise Cove's sandy beach is both clean and clear of debris.

Anything special we should look for?
You can rack up quite a bill at the Café, but you can visit and still maintain your budget if you're willing to be nimble with parking and you bring your own gear.

If we’re thinking about going, what—and who—is this beach best for?
The real reason to come to Paradise Cove is to access the private terraces, beach beds, and lounges. If you can pony up the cash, it's one of the most relaxing spots in Malibu.