Iconic Malibu Restaurant Duke's Malibu to Reopen After 14-Month Closure

The landmark coastal restaurant on Pacific Coast Highway suffered extensive damage from mudslides following the Palisades fire.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 11:59pm

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Duke's Malibu, a popular oceanfront restaurant on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California, will reopen on Friday after a 14-month closure due to mudslide damage following the Palisades fire over a year ago. The restaurant had to undergo extensive repairs, renovations, and a full rebuild after four feet of mud flooded the property, requiring the replacement of walls, equipment, furniture, plumbing, and flooring. The newly renovated Duke's Malibu will reopen with a limited menu but plans to gradually increase staffing and operations as customer demand returns.

Why it matters

Duke's Malibu is an iconic and long-standing restaurant along the Malibu coastline, celebrating 30 years in operation this year. Its reopening marks the return of a beloved local landmark that was heavily impacted by the Palisades fire and subsequent mudslides, highlighting the ongoing recovery efforts in the region as other similarly emblematic restaurants along Pacific Coast Highway also work to rebuild and regain their footing.

The details

Duke's Malibu, which first opened in Malibu in 1996, withstood the Palisades fire that tore through the area over a year ago, suffering only smoke damage. However, the restaurant was then hit by devastating mudslides from heavy rain, which sent four feet of mud into the property and required extensive repairs, cleanup, and a full renovation. The restaurant had to tear down its walls to ensure no mold was growing, and replace its equipment, furniture, plumbing, and flooring. The proximity to the water also led to unforeseen construction delays, as the waves hitting the building at high tide required additional repairs.

  • The Palisades fire occurred over a year ago.
  • Duke's Malibu closed for 14 months due to the mudslide damage.
  • Duke's Malibu is scheduled to reopen this Friday, March 12, 2026.

The players

Duke's Malibu

An iconic oceanfront restaurant on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California, celebrating 30 years in operation this year.

Jimmy Chavez

The general manager of Duke's Malibu.

Calvin Holladay

The chef at Duke's Malibu who is returning for the restaurant's reopening.

Lily Castro

The owner of Lily's restaurant in Malibu, who saw a 50% drop in business following the Palisades fire.

TS Restaurants

The company that owns Duke's Malibu.

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What they’re saying

“The mud just nearly wiped us out.”

— Jimmy Chavez, General Manager (latimes.com)

“The circumstances weren't ideal, but we end up with a fully renovated restaurant at 30 years, 30 years old, which is unheard of.”

— Jimmy Chavez, General Manager (latimes.com)

“The waves hit our building at high tide. And so as you're going to repair something, you often need to repair three things.”

— Jimmy Chavez, General Manager (latimes.com)

“I think overall, it's been worth it, really special to kind of get to where we are now, feeling so great about the building. Obviously it'll be a long time before Malibu feels like it used to ... but yeah, it just feels really positive.”

— Jimmy Chavez, General Manager (latimes.com)

“Lily's restaurant in Malibu, said she saw business dip as much as 50% following the fires.”

— Lily Castro, Owner (latimes.com)

What’s next

Duke's Malibu plans to host an anniversary party this summer to celebrate 30 years of operation.

The takeaway

The reopening of the iconic Duke's Malibu restaurant, after overcoming significant damage and a 14-month closure, represents the resilience and ongoing recovery efforts in the Malibu community following the devastating Palisades fire. Despite the challenges, the restaurant's commitment to its legacy and connection to the local community is evident in its dedication to fully renovating and restoring this beloved coastal landmark.