The Sunset Restaurant
Malibu
Restaurant in Malibu, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
The Sunset Restaurant is a practical Malibu pick for an easy beach-adjacent meal, especially when the occasion needs atmosphere without a complicated booking plan. Choose it for dates, family meals, and casual celebrations; compare Geoffrey's for a more polished oceanfront choice or Malibu Seafood for a simpler seafood stop.
About The Sunset Restaurant
For a Malibu meal planned around straightforward timing, The Sunset Restaurant is worth considering when the priority is clearly listed daily hours. The restaurant is in Malibu, the dress code is smart casual, and the schedule runs daily, with later closing on Friday and Saturday.
The main reason to keep it on a Malibu shortlist is simplicity. The hours cover daytime and evening windows, with Monday through Thursday listed from 11:45 AM to 8:30 PM, Friday from 11:45 AM to 9:30 PM, Saturday from 10:30 AM to 9:30 PM, and Sunday from 10:30 AM to 8:30 PM. Approach it as a practical Malibu option rather than a restaurant to choose for a specific cuisine, menu format, price point, awards, or chef profile.
Best for planning around hours and dress code
Use this for a Malibu meal where timing and a smart-casual setting matter. Diners focused on awards, chef reputation, price point, or a tightly defined cuisine style may want to compare other options. For another Malibu option, compare it with Geoffrey's; for other nearby reference points, consider Malibu Seafood, Paradise Cove Beach Café, Lily's Malibu, or The Malibu Cafe.
The planning case is practical: check the posted hours before you go, especially if your meal depends on a specific day or time. Friday and Saturday are listed with the latest closing time, while Sunday through Thursday close earlier.
Know Before You Go
- Good for: A direct Malibu meal with smart-casual dress and daily posted hours.
- Less ideal for: Diners choosing by awards, chef reputation, price point, or a specific cuisine promise.
- Timing move: Note the daily schedule: Monday through Thursday 11:45 AM–8:30 PM, Friday 11:45 AM–9:30 PM, Saturday 10:30 AM–9:30 PM, and Sunday 10:30 AM–8:30 PM.
- Area planning: Pair it with broader Malibu planning through our full Malibu restaurants guide, our full Malibu hotels guide, or other Malibu planning resources.
Planning details
- Location
- 6800 Westward Beach Rd, Malibu, CA 90265
- Reservations
- Book on OpenTable
- Website
- thesunsetrestaurant.com
- Phone
- +1 310 589 1007
The take
The Take
The Vibe
The Sunset Restaurant foregrounds the ocean as an integral element of the dining experience: sunlight, horizon and tide shape how the room feels. The tone is calm and refined rather than loud or frenetic, with an elegant, sit-down approach to coastal dining. The location on Westward Beach gives the place a relaxed quality—less crowded than the main strip—so the focus stays on the water and the progress of light. Overall the restaurant reads as serene and elegant, an ocean-facing spot that privileges quiet attention to the view and the passage of evening.
Best For
This is primarily an evening destination: the copy centers the experience on watching the sun descend and letting courses unfold against changing light. It naturally suits date nights and special occasions where the view and timing of the meal matter as much as the food. Its placement on a quieter stretch of beach also makes it a good pick when you want a composed, scenic dinner away from denser, more touristy clusters of restaurants.
Ordering Tips
Plan to arrive before sunset and start with a drink to settle in—the write-up explicitly recommends arriving early to watch the light change and pacing courses to the sky. Given the kitchen’s coastal focus, highlight seafood and composed seasonal dishes; the menu notes signature items such as King Wild New Zealand Salmon and Pumpkin Tortelloni, which read as worthy choices. Expect a sit-down, well-paced service rather than fast counter-style dining, and let the timing of the meal align with the evening light.
Venue details
Ambiance
Relaxed patio atmosphere with scenic ocean vistas and cozy upstairs dining areas.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
View
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Leisurely
- Capacity
- Medium
Signature Dishes
- King Wild New Zealand Salmon
- Pumpkin Tortelloni
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 6800 Westward Beach Rd, Malibu, CA 90265
Planning details
Location
6800 Westward Beach Rd, Malibu, CA 90265 · Directions
Also consider
If You Can't Get In
Try Geoffrey's for a more dressed-up Malibu meal, or Malibu Seafood when the better move is a simpler, seafood-focused stop. Paradise Cove Beach Café is the cross-shop for a beach-day plan with more activity around the meal.
Restaurant context
How It Compares
The Sunset Restaurant is the easier celebration pick when the goal is a relaxed Malibu meal near the beach rather than a splurge. Geoffrey's is the stronger choice for a more polished occasion, while The Sunset Restaurant makes more sense when comfort, timing, and a less formal feel matter more than ceremony.
For value and casual energy, Malibu Seafood and Lily's Malibu are better cross-shops, especially if the meal is meant to be quick or low-commitment. Paradise Cove Beach Café is the closer peer for a beach-day meal with a bigger scene, but The Sunset Restaurant is the cleaner pick for a calmer date or family dinner.
The Malibu Cafe fits a different plan: larger, more activity-led, and better when the group wants an outing rather than a coastal restaurant meal. If the question is where to take out-of-town guests in Malibu without overplanning, The Sunset Restaurant is one of the simpler answers.
Explore Malibu
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full The Sunset Restaurant guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare The Sunset Restaurant
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| The Sunset Restaurant | Malibu | No published awards |
| Lily's Malibu | Malibu | No published awards |
| Paradise Cove Beach Café | Malibu | No published awards |
| Geoffrey's | Malibu | No published awards |
| Malibu Seafood | Malibu | No published awards |
| The Malibu Cafe | Los Angeles | No published awards |
How The Sunset Restaurant Malibu compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How should I plan timing for The Sunset Restaurant?
If your preferred time matters, plan ahead rather than wing it, especially on Friday and Saturday, when the posted hours run later than other days. For any visit, check the current schedule before you go.
What should I wear to The Sunset Restaurant?
The dress code is smart casual. Keep it neat but relaxed for a Malibu meal.
What are alternatives to The Sunset Restaurant in Malibu?
Other Malibu options to consider include Geoffrey's, Paradise Cove Beach Café, Malibu Seafood, Lily's Malibu, and The Malibu Cafe. Choose among them based on the type of Malibu outing you want and the current hours for your preferred time.
Is The Sunset Restaurant good for a special occasion?
It can make sense for a straightforward Malibu occasion if the posted hours and smart-casual setting fit your plans. For occasions centered on a specific cuisine, chef, tasting-menu format, price point, or award recognition, compare options carefully.
