About 2 weeks before our wedding last Fall I tagged along on a work trip with Chris to The Surfrider in Malibu. This iconic hotel has been on my bucket list for years and an opportunity to experience it on a stunning 80 degree October day sounded like the exact pre-wedding stress relief I needed.

If you are not familiar The Surfrider is located directly across the street from the Malibu Pier and iconic Surfrider Beach. It is quintessentially California with bleached woods, low slung outdoor sofas, breezy linens, and palm fronds as far as the eye can see. The highlight of the hotel is the guest only rooftop deck with its panoramic ocean views and a menu to keep you inspired for months to come.

From Santa Barbara we rode the Pacific Surfliner South to Camarillo and then took an Uber into Malibu. Typically we would drive however part of Chris’s work trip included taking the train with his co-workers who live in the Midwest. We arrived early in the day and made ourselves comfortable on the aforementioned rooftop deck with Surfer Coffee and some lunch (guacamole and poke bowls). The service was impeccable, the food was so fresh, and the Surfer Coffee (made with MCT oil) was so special that 6 months later it is still talked about in our house. Chris had work meetings to get to so I opened my laptop to wrap up a few last minute wedding needs before heading across the street to Malibu Pier for a glass of wine at the iconic Malibu Farm.

Once I made my way back to the room I was surprised with a bottle of champagne and card from the hotel wishing us a happy early wedding celebration, so thoughtful! I decided to fully enjoy a quiet afternoon before our dinner and took a long shower before making my way to the patio with a book. The patios all have a table with chair and also a hammock which is where I chose to spend my time. The bougainvillea was in full bloom right in front of the balcony and I could hear the waves crashing on the beach across the street. It was the perfect spot to totally unwind before a group dinner on the roof deck.

Once Chris returned we got ready for dinner, opened the bottle of bubbles and had a glass on the patio of our room as the sun set. We made our way to the roof deck for a pre-dinner glass of champagne with his colleagues before being seated for a family style dinner. Every bite was incredible; fresh and inspired. The highlight for me was absolutely the flourless chocolate cakes they brought out for us to enjoy. They were so rich, so decadent that I ended up taking 1 full cake home with me.

After a night of sleep (PRO TIP: the hotel & rooms are amazing, the one thing that is not so amazing and absolutely not the hotel’s fault is the noise from PCH below, pack ear plugs or use the ones provided in room!) I grabbed a quick rooftop breakfast before getting in an Uber and catching the train home.

I absolutely cannot wait to return for a longer stay. It’s just a quick 75 minute drive from Santa Barbara and Malibu is home to incredible shops, restaurants, and beaches.

XO, Niki