Duke's Malibu

About Duke's Malibu

Duke's Malibu has been sitting on this stretch of Pacific Coast Highway since 1996, and in thirty years it has accumulated the kind of institutional authority that most restaurants never achieve and cannot manufacture. Named for Duke Kahanamoku — the Hawaiian swimmer and surfer whose image is synonymous with the sport's golden era — the restaurant brings an unapologetically Hawaiian sensibility to Malibu's beachfront dining scene, and the combination has proven remarkably durable.

The room is built around its views: over 300 feet of windows facing the Pacific, delivering a panorama that changes hour by hour as the Malibu light shifts. Hula pie — macadamia nut ice cream in an Oreo cookie shell, finished with hot fudge and whipped cream — has been a signature since opening and shows no signs of being removed. The fresh fish programme is genuinely committed; the kitchen works with local boats and takes the Hawaiian tradition of treating fish with respect seriously. The coconut shrimp appeals to everyone and has earned its place on a menu that could otherwise have rested on its views alone.

For a team dinner, Duke's offers something precious: a room that makes everyone happy without making anyone feel they are compromising. The menu accommodates dietary variety. The price point, while not cheap, is fair for what Malibu beachfront delivers. The service is professional without being stiff. And the views — the Pacific at whatever stage of the sunset the evening has reached — provide a shared experience that no PowerPoint presentation could manufacture.

Duke's occupies rank #6 in the Malibu restaurant hierarchy, above the casual end of the spectrum and below the true fine dining of Nobu. That position is exactly right.

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