Santa Monica, Venice Beach and Manhattan Beach are just three of the many beautiful beaches in Los Angeles that captivate locals and foreigners. What are the others? Let’s get to know it in this article on the TOP 15 best sandy beaches in Los Angeles.
1. El Matador State Beach
If you’ve ever wondered what to do in Los Angeles in summer, going to El Matador State Beach, the most popular in the Robert H. Meyer sandbank area, is the answer.
Its huge rocks embellish the postcard and its secret sea caves are a stimulus for explorers.
The beach parking lot is on a cliff and has picnic tables where you can admire views of the Pacific Ocean.
The attraction of this beach is completed by the nearby seagrass forest and the possibility of spotting migratory whales in migration season.
Best Hotels Near El Matador State Beach
Westlake Village Inn is a beautiful 4-star hotel at 1943 Agoura Road, Westlake Village, 14 miles north of the beach.
It is an emblematic boutique hotel with more than 50 years of history. Its rooms with fireplaces have WiFi, cable TV, refrigerator and gourmet coffee maker.
Some of its services are a Mediterranean-style outdoor pool, hot tub, fitness center, Mediterranean restaurant and bicycle rental. In the lobby there is coffee, water and lemonade service courtesy of the hotel.
Restaurants Near El Matador State Beach
The Sunset Restaurant is at 6800 Westward Beach Road, Malibu, with seafood and American food. It is a small beach place with spectacular sunsets attended by bilingual Mexicans.
Its dishes include risotto, fish tacos, clams and tuna tartare. Some desserts are lemon and raspberry tarts.
2.Westward Beach
Zuma Beach Country Park, west of Point Dume, has a three-mile stretch of beach near the Pacific Coast Highway, making it easily accessible.
It is known for its wide sandy area with lifeguard services, volleyball courts, swings, surf classes and a large parking lot. It also has restrooms, showers, a restaurant and a snack bar.
Westward Beach is a good place to spot sea lions, seals, dolphins, and whales.
Best Hotels Near Westward Beach
Hyatt Regency Westlake is at 880 South Westlake Boulevard, Westlake Village. A 3-star Mediterranean-style hotel with an outdoor pool and hot tub, 6 minutes’ drive from Los Robles Greens Golf Club.
The rooms have a balcony, private bathroom, air conditioning, flat screen TV and coffee maker.
The Bella Terraza restaurant has a cozy dining patio and serves a daily breakfast buffet.
Best Restaurants Near Westward Beach
At 23750 Pacific Coast Highway (Malibu) is Ollo, an American food restaurant with some Mexican dishes. It offers chilaquiles, ceviche, eggs benedict, wild salmon, filet kabobs, and tasty garlic mashed potatoes. It also serves pizzas (with regular flour and gluten-free) and pasta.
The attention is careful and the prices are reasonable.
3. Malibu Lagoon State Beach
Malibu Lagoon State Beach is among the top 5 beaches in California for its good surfing waves, nearby wetland, picnic area, and Malibu Pier. It is located at the confluence of Malibu Creek with the ocean.
The wetland is crossed by several dirt trails traveled by hikers, bird watchers and ornithologists, who study the more than 200 avian species of the place.
Those interested in flora and fauna can take guided tours that include the history of the Chumash, a tribe that lived in the area several centuries ago.
Another nearby attraction is the Adamson House built in 1929, home to the Malibu Lagoon Museum.
Best Hotels Near Malibu Lagoon State Beach
Hampton Inn & Suites Agoura Hills is a 3-star establishment at 0255 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills, 16 km from Malibu Lagoon State Beach.
Its rooms have air conditioning, private bathroom, flat screen TV, refrigerator, coffee maker, microwave and WiFi.
The hotel has an outdoor pool, gym, hot tub, and daily buffet breakfast service.
The Suite Shop offers snacks and drinks 24 hours a day. Westlake Golf Course is 6 minutes’ drive away.
Restaurants Near Malibu Lagoon State Beach New!
Just half a mile from Malibu Lagoon State Beach, off Pacific Coast Highway, is Malibu Farm Pier Café, a place to enjoy a burger and cold drink.
The atmosphere is cosily decorated, illuminated and set to music, with beautiful views of the sea and the sunset. It offers a variety of breakfasts, brunches and late lunches.
4.Manhattan Beach
Nice beach on the outskirts of the city of Los Angeles with 3.2 km long to walk, jog, swim, surf and play volleyball.
Along the coast there are separate routes for pedestrians and cyclists. Its pier, the oldest on the US Pacific coast and declared a State Historic Landmark, is a popular spot for sunset watching and fishing.
At the end of the pier is the Roundhouse Marine Research Laboratory and Aquarium, a free site with more than 100 marine animals from Southern California, including specimens from Santa Monica Bay, whose collection includes octopuses, sharks, moray eels, lobsters, starfish and sea cucumbers, snails and sea urchins.
Best Hotels Near Manhattan Beach
Wave Hotel Manhattan Beach is a 3-star accommodation at 900 North Sepulveda Boulevard, with outdoor pool and sauna, 1.6 km from Manhattan Beach Pier.
The rooms have air conditioning, private bathroom, flat screen TV with cable and pay channels, seating area, fridge, hairdryer, electric kettle, ironing kit and free Wi-Fi.
Best Restaurants Near Manhattan Beach
At 120 Manhattan Beach Boulevard is Rock’N Fish, a seafood restaurant and American food restaurant.
The combination of food, service, atmosphere and price, is convenient. The popcorn shrimp and crab bread appetizer is very tasty and the main dishes based on fish and shellfish are very well thought out. There are wines for all budgets.
5. El Pescador State Beach
It is another of the beaches in Los Angeles in the Robert H. Meyer beach area, being the westernmost in the area. Parking and the beach are right off the Pacific Coast Highway.
Its sandbank is quieter than those around it, so you can settle in a pleasant corner. At the bottom of the cliff is a grotto surrounded by rocks and tide pools with rich marine life.
Bird watchers can see California brown pelicans, sandpiper, gulls and double-crested cormorants.
In El Pescador state beach there are no places to sell food, so you will have to bring lunch and a snack.
Best Hotels Near El Pescador State Beach
Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village is a luxurious 4-star resort with an outdoor pool, full-service spa, 2 restaurants and ocean views. It’s at 2 Dole Drive, Westlake Village.
Its elegant suites are equipped with sophisticated furniture, flat screen TV and free Wi-Fi.
Among its services, it has an indoor pool and the restaurants Mercato Italiano and ONYX, the latter a Japanese place with sushi made from fresh local ingredients.
Best Restaurants Near El Pescador State Beach
At 29575 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, is Spruzzo’s, a pizzeria, bar and Italian restaurant with a great atmosphere.
From the terrace there are nice views of the ocean and the pastas are served in generous portions. The food is varied and the prices are reasonable.
6. Venice Beach
Venice (Los Angeles) is a district of the city of Los Angeles famous for its bohemian atmosphere and countercultural atmosphere.
Venice Beach is one of the most popular in Los Angeles, both for residents of the Californian city and for tourists.
Venice Beach is perfect for year-round sunbathing and because it’s lined with a colorful and vibrant 2.5-mile promenade lined with bars, restaurants, and shops.
You can rent a bike and ride around Santa Monica, less than 6 km to the northwest. There is also a skating rink, a pier and an extensive system of canals, testimony to the early 20th century when Venice pretended to be the Venice of America.
Best Hotels Near Venice Beach
At 8 Dudley Avenue, facing the beach of Venice Beach, is the Cadillac Hotel , a 2-star accommodation that operates in an Art Deco-style building built in 1914.
The hotel features a rooftop patio that offers spectacular views of Santa Monica Bay and is surrounded by restaurants, bars, and shops.
Among its services are bicycle rentals to explore the long Venice Beach promenade and go to the entertaining area of the Santa Monica Pier, a 6-minute pedal ride away.
The rooms have private bathroom, flat screen TV and hair dryer.
Best Restaurants Near Venice Beach
Tocaya Orgánica is at 1715, Avenida del Pacífico, Venice, a restaurant specializing in snacks and Mexican and Latin food. A perfect place to eat tacos, burritos, fajitas and various salads.
The food is prepared with healthy products, whose prices are affordable compared to other restaurants.
7. Leo Carrillo State Beach
This beach was named in honor of Leo Carrillo (1880-1961), a member of an old Hispanic family who was a civil servant, vaudeville artist, conservationist, and journalistic cartoonist.
His work at the California Parks and Beaches Commission allowed him to acquire real estate and other spaces from the state that are now part of the public heritage.
Leo Carrillo State Beach is easily accessible due to its location near the Pacific Coast Highway and the Mulholland Highway. It has tide pools, caves and reefs. It is called the “cinema beach” because of its popularity among people in the film industry.
In this sandy area you can sunbathe, swim, fish and practice surfing and windsurfing. High tide forms tide pools that are exposed at low tide with their population of sea creatures such as crabs, anemones and mussels.
Best Hotels Near Leo Carrillo State Beach
Calamigos Guest Ranch and Beach Club is a 5-star hotel on Latigo Canyon Road, Malibu, 11 km from Leo Carrillo State Beach. It is on an 80-hectare ranch with rooms with a balcony or patio and all the comforts of establishments in its category.
It is made up of cabins, bungalows and rooms. For dining and drinking there is the Malibu Café, Leo’s Lobby Bar, Pizza Lounge/Bar and the Pool Studio. It has pool tables, ping pong and offers bicycles on loan.
Restaurants Near Leo Carrillo State Beach
Neptune’s Net is an American fare, snacks and seafood restaurant at 42505 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu. It serves fried calamari, fresh lobster, king prawns, fried fish and other seafood, all accompanied by onion rings.
8. Will Rogers State Beach
Will Rogers State Beach is between the Pacific Coast Highway and Santa Monica Bay.
Among its services are lifeguards, areas for diving, fishing and surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing. It has a large parking lot, nets to play beach volleyball, restrooms and restaurants.
It is named after Will Rogers (1879-1935), a cowboy, vaudeville artist, humorist, commentator, and actor, one of the stars of silent movies during the birth of the film industry in Los Angeles.
Best Hotels Near Will Rogers State Beach
At 1920 Santa Monica Boulevard, 5.3 km from Will Rogers State Beach, is the Gateway Hotel Santa Monica , a 3-star establishment with rooms with air conditioning, private bathroom, flat-screen TV, compact refrigerator, hair dryer and Wifi.
The hotel is surrounded by restaurants, bars and shops. Their gym is open 24 hours.
Restaurants Near Will Rogers State Beach
Domingo’s Italian Deli is an Italian restaurant at 17548 Ventura Boulevard. Their pastas, lasagnas, sandwiches, salads and pizzas are authentically Italian.
The sandwiches are terrific and the food is old-fashioned, with great service, including the artisan sauces that can be purchased to go.
9. Santa Monica State Beach
Santa Monica Beach is one of the most picturesque and emblematic in Los Angeles, both for its spectacular views and its magnificent facilities.
Its pier is perhaps the most famous in California, one that marks the end point of the legendary US Route 66 and has the no less famous Pacific Park, a park installed in 1916.
The beach is 4.8 km long and is perfect for walking, running, surfing, swimming and playing beach volleyball.
Best Hotels Near Santa Monica State Beach
Ocean Park Hotel is a budget 2 star accommodation at 2680 32nd Street, Santa Monica. It is less than 5 km from the pier with rooms with private and shared bathrooms, equipped with extra-large double beds, fan, flat screen TV, refrigerator, microwave and WiFi.
The hotel has a launderette and free parking. Nearby attractions include the Penmar Golf Course (2 miles), the Santa Monica Museum of Art (2 miles), and the Venice Beach neighborhood (4 miles).
Restaurants Near Santa Monica State Beach
Inside a fish market at 1000 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica, is Santa Monica Seafood, a large place to eat seafood at good prices.
The black pasta with squid ink, the fried squid, the grilled prawns and the fish tempura are exquisite.
10. Abalone Cove Shoreline Park
Gem on the rugged Palos Verdes coast known for its network of well-maintained trails, endless tide pools, and spectacular views.
Near the beach there are places for a picnic and on a walk to Punto Portugués you can admire the beauty of the landscape. A portion of the Abalone Cove Trail intersects with the popular California Coastal Trail.
When the tide goes out, the ocean leaves natural pools where you can swim with small octopuses, hermit crabs, anemones, sea hares and species of shells.
Best Hotels Near Abalone Cove Shoreline Park
Terranea – LA’s Oceanfront Resort is a 5-star beachfront hotel at 100 Terranea Way, Rancho Palos Verdes. It is on a 41-hectare private estate on the Palos Verdes Peninsula with magnificent panoramic views of the Pacific and Santa Catalina Island.
It has impressive gardens, an outdoor fireplace in a beautiful natural setting, a spa, a fitness center and luxurious and comfortable rooms.
Among the available entertainment are golf, diving, kayaking and marine fauna sighting.
Restaurants Near Abalone Cove Shoreline Park
Catalina Kitchen is a restaurant on Terranea Way, Rancho Palos Verdes, with an excellent selection of dishes and friendly service. It has a la carte food and a buffet.
The views of the coast are impressive and the beach invites you to take a walk to get off the food. Breakfast is delicious, especially the corn on the cob with eggs. The Sunday brunch is very complete, with sushi, crab legs and other delicacies.
11. Round Beach
Redondo Beach is one of Los Angeles County’s beach cities recognized as the birthplace of surfing in the United States and for its horseshoe-shaped pier that distinguishes it from other Californian towns with piers.
Redondo Beach is located 20 miles from downtown Los Angeles and is an exclusive home to movie and sports luminaries. From the sandbank there are marine fauna sighting tours with kayaks, paddle boards and pedal boats for rent.
The beach is dotted with numerous sand volleyball courts, some of the best maintained on the American West Coast.
Across from the sandbank runs the Marvin Braude Strand or Bike Trail, which continues to Santa Monica and Will Rogers State Beaches.
Best Hotels Near Redondo Beach
Hilton Garden Inn Los Angeles / Redondo Beach is a 3-star hotel at 2410 Marine Avenue, Redondo Beach, with an outdoor pool, a 24-hour fitness center and coin-operated laundry machines. The rooms have air conditioning, private bathroom, flat screen tv with cable channels, coffee maker, microwave, refrigerator and hair dryer.
The Garden Grille & Bar restaurant is American cuisine.
Best Restaurants Near Redondo Beach
The Slip Bar & Eatery is a restaurant with tasty beers on tap, burgers, chicken sandwiches and pizzas.
Mondays are karaoke and they have other activities throughout the week. The price / quality ratio is very convenient and there are good happy hour deals.
12. Beautiful Beach
Together with Redondo Beach and Manhattan Beach, it forms the trilogy of beach cities in the South Bay of Los Angeles County.
Hermosa Beach is popular for its adventures, water excursions and volleyball. It is between Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach, 3.4 km south of the former and 2.4 km north of the latter.
The Strand runs in front of the beach, making the sandbank a major attraction for cyclists, runners and joggers. Nearby is the famous jazz club, The Lighthouse Café.
Its services include restrooms, showers, sports equipment rental shops, sports instructors, lifeguards, restaurants, wheelchair facilities and other facilities for the comfort of visitors.
Best Hotels Near Hermosa Beach
Hotel Hermosa is a 3-star accommodation at 2515, Pacific Coast Highway, Hermosa Beach, 1.3 km from the beach, with spacious rooms with private balcony, air conditioning, bathroom, flat screen TV with satellite channels, refrigerator, coffee maker, safe, ironing kit and hair dryer.
The hotel has a year-round heated pool, hot tub, and WiFi throughout the facility.
Best Restaurants Near Hermosa Beach
Radici is an Italian cuisine restaurant with vegan options at 934 Hermosa Avenue, Hermosa Beach. It specializes in the gastronomy of northern Italy and has cozy spaces such as its bar and patio.
The sauces are handmade, with a menu that includes spaghetti pomodoro, spaghetti manicotti, cannelloni and fresh salads.
13. Topanga State Beach
Beach with good waves for surfing, bathers, divers, swimmers and sailors in kayaks and catamarans.
You can bring your own food to enjoy a picnic or enjoy a meal on the beach at the Malibu Chart House restaurant.
Topanga State Beach is between Will Rogers Beach to the east and Las Tunas to the west. It opens early in the morning and closes at sunset when the lifeguards leave.
Near the sandbank is Topanga State Park, which is part of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. A place crossed by several trails for hikers, cyclists and those who like to ride horses.
Best Hotels Near Topanga State Beach
Topanga Canyon Inn Bed and Breakfast is located at 20310 Callon Drive, a 3-star hotel in the heart of the Topanga Canyon surrounded by more than 60 km of hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding trails.
Its rooms have air conditioning, private bathroom and hairdryer. The hot American breakfast is free as is their WiFi. The beaches are less than 14 km away.
Restaurants Near Topanga State Beach
Reel Inn is a restaurant at 18661 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, specializing in seafood such as lobster tails and grilled sea bass and halibut.
The prices are reasonable and the service friendly. It has indoor and outdoor settings and parking is valet ($3).
14. Paradise Cove Beach
It is one of the beaches in Los Angeles best known for having been the location of famous films such as American Pie 2 and Charlie’s Angels. It’s also popular for the Paradise Cove Beach Cafe, owned by mystery writer Bob Morris.
The sand is clean with palm trees that provide shade and sandstone cliffs that are a decorative natural element. It has beds, sun loungers, umbrellas for rent and a terrace that can also be rented.
Best Hotels Near Paradise Cove Beach
14 km from Paradise Cove Beach, at 30100 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills, is the Sheraton Agoura Hills Hotel , 3-star accommodation with spacious rooms and suites equipped with air conditioning, flat screen TV, refrigerator, coffee maker and WiFi.
Located off Highway 101, less than a mile from Lake Lindero, featuring an outdoor pool, fitness center, gift shop, and H2O Sea Grill, California specialty restaurant.
Restaurants Near Paradise Cove Beach
Paradise Cove Beach Café is an iconic beachside spot with hearty food platters. It is a perfect place to have a glass of wine or drink an ice cold beer while snacking on seafood and ribs, facing the sea.
Prices are on the high end, but the size of the portions makes the food cheap. Clams and tuna salad are very good.
15. Nicholas Canyon Beach
Los Angeles County beach less crowded than most Malibu sands. It is almost a mile in length perfect for surfing, windsurfing, body surfing, body boarding, diving and swimming.
It has a parking lot for 150 vehicles, a picnic area with several tables and a staircase that goes down to the beach. On the sandbank there is plenty of space for sunbathing, beach entertainment and bathing.
Near the beach, a Chumash native village was recreated with replicas of houses, work tools, canoes and other utensils of daily life of this Amerindian tribe that inhabited central and southern California.
Chumash Village is maintained by the Wishtoyo Foundation and tours are coordinated through the organization’s website.
Best Hotels Near Nicholas Canyon Beach
Malibu Country Inn is located at 6506 Westward Beach Road, Malibu, 10 km from Nicholas Canyon Beach and 1.6 km from Zuma Beach. It is a 3-star hotel with a swimming pool and free Wi-Fi.
Its comfortable rooms with fireplaces and suites have ocean or mountain views and are furnished with classic furniture. They have a balcony, patio, air conditioning, private bathroom, flat screen TV with cable channels, refrigerator, coffee maker and hair dryer.
Restaurants Near Nicholas Canyon Beach
Brent’s Delicatessen & Restaurant is a restaurant at 2799 Townsgate Road, Westlake Village, with a menu of Deli, American and Kosher food. It is a paradise for lovers of deli specialties with a varied menu of dishes in a cozy atmosphere.
What is the best beach in Los Angeles?
Several of the beaches included in the selection qualify to be designated the best in Los Angeles. Probably the most famous and one of the best beaches is Zuma Beach, famous for being the location of popular TV series like Baywatch and movies like Unseemly Proposal and Planet of the Apes.
The parking lot and the beach are so big that it is difficult not to find a place. It is also one of those preferred by surfers.
What are the most beautiful beaches in Los Angeles?
Beaches such as Santa Monica State Beach and Manhattan Beach combine the charm of its waters and sands with the appeal of its picturesque piers, monuments of maritime architecture.
In others, such as El Matador State Beach, Paradise Cove Beach and El Pescador State Beach, the cliffs give the landscape a special attraction, being stupendous natural viewpoints.
Dunes and cliffs give Point Dume State Beach a striking desert skyline.
What beaches to see in Malibu?
Zuma Beach, Point Dume State Beach, El Matador State Beach and Paradise Cove Beach are must-see beaches in Malibu due to their natural beauty, the possibility of practicing various sports and their level of services, including showers, food, drinks and lifeguard personnel.
Malibu beaches to see: Another beach worth seeing in Malibu is Surfrider Beach, which owes its name to the spectacular waves for surfing, which is why it is frequented by the best surfers on the West Coast of the United States and the world.
Where is Malibu beach located?
Malibu has qualities that make it head the ranking of the most desirable places in Los Angeles County and the Californian coast, including its various entertainment centers, natural parks, warm climate and its endless beaches.
The Pacific Coast Highway allows easy access to its beaches, including Paradise Cove Beach, Zuma Beach, El Matador State Beach, Surfrider Beach and Point Dume State Beach.
Los Angeles beach map
Beaches in Los Angeles : Playa del Rey
Playa del Rey is a coastal and beach community within the city of Los Angeles. It is a wide sandy area with courts to play volleyball and a bicycle path. Across the street is a grassy park, basketball courts, and playground. The best public parking lots are near the park and at the north end of Pacific Avenue.
How do you see the list of the best 15 beaches in Los Angeles California? Have you been to any? If so, we invite you to share your experience and this article.
See also:
- We leave you our complete guide on what to do in Los Angeles in 1 day
- Read our guide on the 30 Los Angeles tourist places to visit
- These are the 25 best free things to do in Los Angeles
