You’re driving up the PCH, the salt air is hitting your face, and you see that nondescript olive-green building tucked between the road and the Pacific. If you blink, you’ll miss it. Most people do. But that’s kind of the point of the Little Beach House in Malibu. It isn’t trying to be the flashy, neon-lit version of Los Angeles that you see in movies. It’s the Soho House version of a backyard hang, provided your backyard happens to sit on the sand of Billionaire’s Beach.
Honestly, it's a bit of a paradox.
Malibu is famous for being exclusive, but this specific spot takes that gatekeeping to a level that feels both effortless and intensely curated. It opened back in 2016 in the old Nikita space, right next door to Nobu. While the main Soho House in West Hollywood is all about the "see and be seen" rooftop energy, the Little Beach House is quiet. It’s small. It’s basically the cozy, coastal cousin that doesn't care if you're wearing a suit. In fact, if you wear a suit, you’ll probably feel like a total weirdo.
The Reality of the "Malibu Only" Membership
Getting in isn't just about having a black card. Soho House founder Nick Jones designed this specific location with a "locals-first" mentality, which created a massive stir when it first launched. You can't just waltz in with a standard Every House membership and expect a table on a Saturday afternoon.
There is a specific "Malibu Plus" or "Malibu Only" tier.
Why? Because the building is tiny.
If every Soho House member in Southern California decided to grab a spicy tequila cocktail at the Little Beach House on the same sunny Tuesday, the floor would literally cave into the ocean. To prevent that, they implemented a rule: unless you have the specific Malibu add-on, you generally can’t access it. This has led to some pretty hilarious (and frustrating) situations where high-powered agents from CAA find themselves turned away at the door because they only have the "West Hollywood" access. It creates a hierarchy within a hierarchy.
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The application process is notoriously opaque. You need a proposer and a seconder. You need to be "creative." But more than that, you need to fit the vibe of Carbon Beach. It’s less about how many followers you have and more about whether you're the kind of person who knows which surfboard wax to use or which local florist is actually good.
What the Interior Actually Feels Like
Forget marble floors or crystal chandeliers.
The aesthetic here is "upscale beach shack." We’re talking reclaimed wood, soft linens, and contemporary art that looks like it was curated by someone with a very expensive eye for minimalism. There are two main levels. The downstairs is mostly for lounging and dining, while the upstairs terrace is where everyone wants to be.
It’s open-air. You can hear the waves crashing directly beneath the floorboards. On a high tide, you can actually feel the spray if the wind catches it right.
The Art Collection
The art isn't just filler. Soho House has a massive global collection, but the Little Beach House in Malibu features works that reflect the coastal surroundings. You'll see pieces by local California artists, often focusing on light, space, and the Pacific. It doesn’t feel like a museum; it feels like a very wealthy friend’s living room. A friend who happens to have a really great eye for abstract expressionism.
Eating and Drinking at the Water's Edge
The menu is predictable in the best way possible. You know what you're getting.
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The Soho House staples are all there—the "Dirty Burger," the chopped salad, and the calamari. But they lean heavily into seafood here because, well, look at the view.
- The Salmon Crudo: Fresh, light, and perfectly salted.
- The Zucchini Fritti: A mountain of crispy greens that you’ll swear you’re only going to eat "a few" of before finishing the whole plate.
- The Eastern Standard: Their signature gin and lime drink that somehow tastes better when you're looking at a sunset.
Service is famously "relaxed." This is a polite way of saying it might take a minute. If you’re in a rush to get to a meeting in Santa Monica, don't come here. This is a place for long, three-hour lunches that turn into four-hour sunset sessions. The staff are usually young, attractive, and wearing Birkenstocks or clean white sneakers. They aren't hovering. They expect you to be chilling.
The Controversy of Accessibility
Let's talk about the elephant in the room: the California Coastal Commission.
California has very strict laws about beach access. The sand is public. The air is public. But the Little Beach House in Malibu sits on a stretch of Carbon Beach that has historically been a battleground between wealthy homeowners and the public’s right to walk the shore.
The House doesn't "own" the beach, but they certainly gatekeep the access to it from the road. This has led to years of tension. Critics argue that these private clubs essentially privatize the coastline by creating a barrier that only the wealthy can cross. While you can walk along the wet sand in front of the club, you aren't getting up onto that deck without a wristband or a member ID.
It’s a stark reminder of the wealth gap in Los Angeles. You have people struggling to find parking on the PCH just to see the ocean, while twenty feet away, someone is sipping a $22 cocktail in a plush armchair.
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Navigating the Rules (They’re Strict)
If you do manage to get a guest pass or join a member, there are rules. Break them, and you’ll get a very quiet, very firm tap on the shoulder.
- No Photos. This is the big one. They will put a sticker over your phone camera. Do not try to take a selfie. Do not try to photograph your food. They want the celebrities who frequent the spot—and there are many—to feel like they aren't in a zoo.
- No Phone Calls. You can’t sit at the bar and bark orders at your assistant. If you need to take a call, you head to the designated areas (usually near the entrance or the restrooms).
- The Dress Code. It’s "creative soul." No corporate suits. No gym clothes. It’s a weird middle ground where you need to look like you didn't try, but your "not trying" outfit probably cost more than a month's rent.
Why People Actually Pay for It
You might wonder why anyone pays thousands of dollars a year for a place where the service is slow and you can't even take a photo of the sunset.
It’s the quiet.
Malibu is beautiful, but it’s also loud. The PCH is a nightmare of traffic and sirens. Public beaches are crowded. The Little Beach House provides a literal sound barrier. Once you’re inside, the roar of the highway disappears, replaced by the rhythm of the ocean. For a certain type of person—a screenwriter finishing a draft, an actress hiding from the paparazzi, or a founder decompressing—that silence is worth the membership fee.
It's about the lack of friction. You don't have to worry about who is watching you or if someone is going to ask for a "quick pic."
Practical Insights for the Aspiring Visitor
If you’re determined to experience the Little Beach House in Malibu, you have to play the long game. This isn't a "book on OpenTable" situation.
- Network with Creatives: The membership committee looks for people in film, fashion, music, and tech. If you’re in finance or law, you better have a really interesting side hustle or a very influential friend.
- The Guest Policy: Every member can bring up to three guests. If you know someone, ask them to grab a mid-week lunch. It’s much easier to get a table on a Wednesday at 2:00 PM than it is on a Friday night.
- The "Under 27" Loophole: If you're young, the membership is significantly cheaper. Soho House loves "young creatives" because they provide the energy that keeps the older members feeling relevant.
- Parking is a Nightmare: Just use the valet. Don’t even try to park on the PCH. You’ll end up walking half a mile and arriving sweaty, which is not the vibe.
The Little Beach House isn't perfect. It can feel elitist, and the "locals only" policy can feel a bit exclusionary. But as a piece of California real estate and a masterclass in atmosphere, it’s hard to beat. It captures that specific, hazy Malibu dream—the one where the sun is always setting, the wine is always chilled, and the world outside the olive-green walls just doesn't exist for a while.
Actionable Next Steps
If you want to experience the Malibu beach club lifestyle without a Soho House membership, start by exploring the public access points on Carbon Beach. There are "hidden" walkways open to the public that allow you to walk the sand right in front of the ultra-exclusive houses. For a dining experience with a similar view but no membership required, Nobu Malibu (next door) or Moonshadows further down the coast offer that same over-the-water feel, provided you book a reservation weeks in advance. If you're serious about joining Soho House, focus on building a portfolio that highlights your creative contributions to your industry before seeking out a proposer within your professional network.