The Malibu Inn holds a special place in Southern California coastal history. It was established in 1920, and sits directly across Pacific Coast Highway from the Malibu Pier. At one point it was owned by legendary rocker Neil Young and known as the Crazy Horse Saloon.
Yet if you’re like many people, you’ve driven by it countless times and not stopped.
Now there’s new reason to check it out, as the place has just gotten a facelift, a new chef—and a tagline, “Vintage mood. Epic food.”
Hundreds of people converged on the location to celebrate in a grand opening bash that featured a set by Gavin Rossdale, culminated in one of his band Bush’s biggest hits.
The crowd: a mix of people who rarely go west of La Brea swirled with locals who can navigate PCH in their sleep, dressed in their finest hippie/cowboy/beachy chic. Ladies favorite Gerard Butler made the rounds as servers brought out sliders, bacon wrapped hot dogs – yeah, that’s right – popcorn shrimp, ahi tuna tartare and mushroom quesadillas. Cuba Gooding, Jr. was heard commenting that he was glad the Inn was back and better than ever.
But the big attraction was Rossdale, sans wife Gwen Stefani, but spotted arriving early with their two adorable kids in tow (with the nanny.) It’s been years… Wait, can it really be more than 15 years since Bush, fronted by Rossdale hit the US charts and became an alternative rock sensation? When he concluded his short set—which included an evocative cover of “Landslide”– with the hit “Comedown,” the crowd sang along with every word.
It seemed no one wanted to come down off their cloud of music nostalgia, a perfect mood for a place meant to evoke nostalgia.
It’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and until 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday (10 p.m. closing other days) and features a happy hour from 4-7 p.m. weeknights with 50% off appetizers, well drinks, draft beer and house wine. Brunch on weekends runs from 9-3 and features bottomless bellinis and mimosas. Then, it’s off to the beach, but be careful crossing PCH.
The Malibu Inn, 22969 PCH, Malibu (310) 456-1160, www.themalibuinn.com
