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After more than a year of silence along the Pacific Coast Highway, one of Malibu’s most iconic restaurants is finally welcoming diners back. Duke’s Malibu will officially reopen on March 13, marking a major milestone in the community’s recovery after the devastating Palisades Fire and the mudslides that followed.
For nearly 30 years, Duke’s has been the place where Malibu shows up to celebrate birthdays, watch sunsets, host out-of-town guests and, yes, sip a Mai Tai within earshot of the waves. Named for legendary Hawaiian surfer and Olympic swimmer Duke Kahanamoku, the beachfront restaurant has been a staple along this stretch of coast since opening almost 30 years ago.
The past year, however, has been anything but business as usual. The restaurant closed in early January 2025 as the Palisades Fire swept through Malibu, destroying more than 6,800 structures across the region. Duke’s itself survived the flames, in part because its large parking lot served as a staging area for firefighters and first responders battling the blaze.
But the relief didn’t last long, as just weeks later, heavy rains caused mudslides along the burn scar. Debris rushed down Las Flores Canyon and into the property, sending roughly four feet of mud into the restaurant and forcing what ultimately became a year-long closure.
“It’s hard to put into words what this moment means,” said Jimmy Chavez, the general manager of Duke’s Malibu, in a statement announcing the reopening. “When the fires came through and then the mudslides hit, we weren’t sure what the future held. But this place means too much to our team, to this community, and to everyone who’s made memories here over the years. We’re just grateful to be opening our doors again.”
The cleanup and rebuilding process turned out to be far more extensive than anyone initially expected. Furniture, kitchen equipment, refrigeration, plumbing and much of the interior had to be replaced after the debris flow filled the building with mud. “The recovery process was more intense than anything we’d been through before,” Chavez said. “We had mud everywhere and it took months just to clear it out and assess the real damage.”
The result is essentially a refreshed version of the beloved restaurant. The interiors have been rebuilt while maintaining the laid-back, oceanfront atmosphere that longtime guests expect—same views and aloha spirit, just with a fresh start.
The reopening also arrives in time for a milestone year. Duke’s Malibu will celebrate its 30th anniversary later this year, continuing a tradition of beachfront dining at the site that stretches back more than a century, beginning with the Las Flores Inn in 1915. For now, the restaurant will ease back into service with limited hours, open Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 7 pm while staffing ramps up. Expanded hours are expected soon.
In the meantime, one of Malibu’s most beloved gathering spots is officially back in action—and ready for sunset reservations again.