For those who don’t know the area, they might think when it comes to shopping in Malibu it’s a ghost town. But, surprisingly, this 27-mile coastal oasis offers a plethora of retail choices.

From high-end couture to down-home beach casual — and this applies to home decor as well as clothing — you’re sure to find what you need, or desire, at a range of price points.

Many of Malibu’s shopping areas are much more than simply a collection of stores–they are something to experience with their art galleries, home decor, fitness classes, outdoor urban spaces to relax, and more.

Many stores are also located conveniently close to several residential areas and are filled with a mix of unique and high-end options for clothing, home goods, and children’s retail.

Malibu also boasts a number of incredible restaurants with everything from a casual breakfast bar to an upscale, linen napkin dinner.

Most of the shopping areas include outdoor spaces for people to gather and chat, children to run around and even street performers to set up shop.

Check out some of the best places for shopping in Malibu.

Malibu Country Mart

3835 Cross Creek Rd., Malibu, CA 90263, 310-456-7300

This 65-store retail center, located on Civic Center Drive, is a great place to gather with friends or to walk and shop at your own pace.

The outdoor vibe is cool, casual, and inviting, with plenty of places to sit and watch your children enjoy the large playground while enjoying fare from Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf or do a little retail shopping.

In a somewhat odd configuration, the Malibu Country Mart is split in two by Cross Creek Road, with places like Starbucks, Oliver People’s, Mary’s Kitchen, Ron Herman, LeTarte Swimwear, and other stores located southeast of the road.

On the northwest side, you’ll find Room at the Beach (beach home decor), Sunlife Organics (smoothies), and Bleusalt (clothing), among others.

The Malibu Country Mart also features a free and spacious parking lot, which is nice because parking can be limited at times throughout Malibu.

Restaurants include John’s Garden, the long-time Tra di Noi, Taverna Tony, and Lucky’s. You can also catch a fitness class at 5 Point Yoga.

Whether you’re looking for a cool spot to read a book in the shade or want to walk and talk with friends while browsing sales racks, shopping in Malibu at the Mart is a wonderful place to go.

Malibu Lumber Yard

3939 Cross Creek Rd., Malibu, CA 90265, (310) 456-7395

The Malibu Lumber Yard is a unique place to shop, with its wooden walkways and glass aquarium panels for all to see.

While the Lumber Yard is smaller than Malibu Country Mart, it makes up for it with charm and presence. You can find plenty of spaces to sit and relax and there are ping pong tables to strike up an impromptu game.

Stores include Alice + Olivia, James Perse, and Maxfield. Restaurants include Strange Family Vineyards tasting room and Cafe Habana, which is owned by Rande Gerber, husband to supermodel Cindy Crawford.

Your children will love taking dance classes at DanceStar, a dance studio located on the second floor of Malibu Lumber Yard.

Point Dume Village

29211 Heathercliff Rd., Malibu, CA 90265, (310) 457-2310

This shopping center lies near the entrance to Point Dume and features a small range of shops, restaurants, a hair and nail salon, and grocery store Pavilions. You can eat at Lily’s Cafe, which has the best burritos in town.

Malibu Colony Plaza

Pacific Coast Highway & Webb Way, Malibu, CA 90265

Malibu Colony Plaza is a cozy shopping center that sits at the entrance to Malibu Colony at Webb Way and PCH. The Plaza has a brick patio seating area with a fountain, and space for people to relax in the sun. There’s a Ralph’s grocery store here as well as the Malibu Vitamin Barn.

There’s a Becker’s Surf and Sport that rents surfboards, and you can find your perfect Rip Curl wetsuit. If eating ice cream in the shade is your thing, check out Malibu Yogurt and Ice Cream. If you’re hungry, check out Ollo for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, or Bui Sushi.

Malibu Village

3822 Cross Creek Road, Malibu, CA 90265

Malibu Village is a small grouping of shops and eateries that wrap around the Malibu Country Mart on the southeast side of Cross Creek Road.

The shops here include stores like Fred Segal, Sephora, and Lululemon.

Marmalade Cafe is a great place to eat and is full of sweet-smelling fresh baked goods. There’s also Broad Street Oyster Co. and Joules & Watts Coffee Roasters.

Eastern Malibu

On the eastern side of Malibu, you can find Zuma Jay’s, a surf shop owned by longtime Malibu resident and former mayor Jefferson Wagner. There’s also the Malibu Cigar Lounge, for those who want to find a great smoke.

Western Malibu

If you’re looking for a small and unique place to shop, the Pinnacle Boutique is your best bet. They sell trendy women’s clothing, including swimwear, kimonos, clothing, and shoes.

Trancas Country Market

30745 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265

This fairly newly remodeled shopping center is also located in Western Malibu, and features a Vintage Grocers for grocery shopping, a Starbucks, the casual clothing store Nati, and several dining spots.

Garden spots Sea Lily Malibu, and Trancas Canyon Nursery are also located here.

Shopping in Malibu Wrap-Up

By no means does post this cover every single available store in Malibu, but it gives an overview of the variety of retail and other types of shops here. There are always new shops opening, some long-timers closing, and others getting facelifts.

If we missed your store, send us a message and we’ll be happy to add it to this post.