Paradise Cove Beach Café

"Do a quick search for restaurants in Malibu and you’ll find that most of them make a fuss about ocean views and beachfront patios. They aren’t lying. But there’s only one place in Malibu where you can eat with your feet in the actual sand, and that place is Paradise Cove. Sure, the gigantic bar food menu isn’t exactly memorable and the pricey parking lot might make your blood boil on a busy weekend, but the joy of watching your parents and other out-of-town friends realize they’re eating chilaquiles or eggs benedict on the Malibu Coast is worth the hassle. Order a piña colada no matter the hour." - brant cox, arden shore, sylvio martins, cathy park

"The family-owned Paradise Cove Beach Cafe’s history goes back to the 1950s. This comfy beach shack with chair lounges available for rent and a full restaurant starts operating in the early hours by serving cinnamon french toast and a barbecue pork Benedict for breakfast and coconut shrimp, burgers, sandwiches, and live Maine lobster for lunch and dinner." - Eater Staff

"This beach cafe remains pretty touristy, but at the end of the day, eating your meal with your feet in the actual sand is why you’re here. The menu reads somewhere between cruise line dinner and community pool snack counter, but in general, everything tastes good and the portions are massive. Did we mention your feet are in the sand? " - brant cox, nikko duren, sylvio martins

"At this point, your toddler has enough scrapes and bruises to land a walk-on role in CSI. If you aren’t looking to add to the collection, head to Paradise Cove, where the floor is composed of Earth’s natural knee pads: sand. While you focus on taking down giant barbecue chicken quesadillas and a couple of Bloody Marys, your two-year-old trapeze artist can flip and fling to their heart’s content. Bring swimsuits, too—the beach is right there for a quick post-meal swim. " - brant cox

"With a slight warming trend on the horizon, it’s always good to take advantage of the holidays in SoCal by eating at a beachside restaurant. Open since 1998, Paradise Cove Beach Cafe is ideally situated on the beach. After ordering seared scallops, chilled oysters, or black mussels mariniere, simply walk 10 feet to wade in the Pacific Ocean or settle in the sand. — Mona Holmes, reporter" - Eater Staff