Point Dume
Best for. Walkers and watchers who want the finest view on the Malibu coast, a headland bluff with tide pools below and, in winter and spring, migrating whales offshore, rather than a big easy day on the sand.
Best spot. The bluff trail up to the Point Dume overlook at the western end, reached from Westward Beach, for the cliffs, the sea lions on the rocks below and the long look back over the bay.
Know this. The cove and parking are small and fill early, so this is a morning beach, and for room, facilities and reliable swimming Zuma a short drive east is the easier choice.
Point Dume is the most beautiful corner of Malibu, and it asks a little discipline in return. This is the great headland that closes the western bay, a sandstone bluff with a nature preserve on top, tide pools at its foot and a cove tucked under its eastern flank. The view from the overlook is the finest on the coast, a clean sweep back across the water with sea lions hauled out on the rocks below and, between winter and spring, grey whales passing offshore. The quiet luxury here is the walk and the watching, not a long lazy day on a wide beach.
Know what it is and what it is not. The cove is small and the parking smaller, so this is a morning beach, claimed early and best left before the lot fills and the magic thins. If you want space, facilities and an easy swim for a group or children, this is not the place and Zuma a short drive east is. If you want the long flat sand for a real walk, Westward Beach sits directly below the point and runs for a generous stretch, the practical companion to the scenic headland above it.
The honest caveats are access and modesty of facilities. There is little here beyond restrooms and the trail, so bring what the day needs, and the water, while calmer and often clearer in the lee of the point, is the cool Pacific with rocks to mind. Come early, walk up to the overlook for the view that makes Point Dume famous, drop down to the cove or along to Westward for the swim, and you have the most scenic few hours on the Malibu coast, with none of the crush of the busier beaches.
Where to eat near Point Dume
Point Dume has no beach club, which suits a headland kept as a preserve. The nearest polished tables are a drive east into central Malibu, on or near the water. Hours, access and any minimum spend are set by each venue and to be confirmed.
Photo: Nobu Malibu via GoogleNobu Malibu
The celebrated oceanfront dinner of the coast, a Japanese room on a deck over Carbon Beach a drive east of the point. It is a destination evening rather than a beach club, the natural close to a day spent walking the headland and watching the water. Book well ahead, and treat it as the polished end to the day rather than a step from the sand.
Photo: Malibu Farm Pier Cafe via GoogleMalibu Farm Pier Cafe
A relaxed daytime room out on the Malibu Pier in central Malibu, a drive east of Point Dume, good for breakfast or lunch with the water below the deck. It is the easy casual table on the way to or from the headland rather than anything near the cove itself. Confirm hours and any wait when you arrive.
Closer to the point there is little beyond what you carry in, which is part of the appeal, so pack a picnic for the cove and save the polished table for the drive home. The full directory gathers the oceanfront venues across the coast, each confirming its own hours, dress and minimum spend when you enquire.
West Malibu, off the PCH
Point Dume sits at the western end of the Malibu bay, off the Pacific Coast Highway and reached through the residential streets above Westward Beach, about an hour from central Los Angeles depending on the traffic. A car is the realistic way to arrive, as public transport along this coast is very limited.
The Westward Beach lot below the point is small and paid and fills very early on warm days, after which roadside options are scarce and tightly enforced. Come in the morning, park below the point, and walk up to the bluff and along to the cove from there.
Photo: Jonathan via GoogleBook a beach club
Tell us your dates and party size and we will help arrange a table or a sunset dinner near Point Dume in Malibu. We reply by email.
We are an independent editorial resource. Booking requests are passed to venues and operators, and some may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Prices, availability and opening status are set by the venue and are to be confirmed at the time of booking.
Common questions about Point Dume
Is Point Dume good for swimming?
It can be, with care. The headland shelters the cove so the water is often calmer and clearer than the open beaches, but it is still the cool Pacific with rocks to mind and only limited seasonal patrols. For an easy, well guarded swim with room to spare, Zuma a short drive east is the better choice.
Is parking hard at Point Dume?
Yes, and it is the main thing to plan around. The Westward Beach lot below the point is small and paid and fills very early on warm days, with little roadside space and brisk enforcement nearby. Arrive in the morning, or treat it as an early walk before the crowds.
Can you see whales at Point Dume?
Often, in season. The bluff overlook is one of the best places on the Malibu coast to watch for grey whales passing offshore between winter and spring, along with sea lions on the rocks below. Bring binoculars, walk up early, and treat any sighting as a matter of luck rather than a guarantee.
What is the difference between Point Dume and Westward Beach?
Point Dume is the headland, the cove and the bluff trail, scenic and small. Westward Beach is the long flat sand running directly below the point, with more room and the main parking. Most visitors park at Westward, walk the bluff at Point Dume for the view, then drop back down for the swim.
Does Point Dume have facilities?
Only the basics. There are restrooms and the bluff trail, but little else, so bring water, shade and supplies for the day. For full facilities, a snack bar and plenty of parking, Zuma a short drive east is the equipped alternative.
