MARILYN MONROE AND BOB DYLAN’ MOTEL STEPS

In Malibu, California, we find this iconic motel that was the refuge of the most famous celebrities for years. Today, it has been transformed into a trendy hotel with ‘mid-century’ references.

Touring the famous Pacific Coast Highway by car, from Southern California to North (or the opposite) is a must-do trip once in your life. The coastal landscapes and the views towards the Pacific Ocean are sublime and seduce any lover of nature. On the edge of this road, in Malibu, you discover a small hotel with no pretensions but with a long history. Built in 1947, what used to be the Malibu Riviera Motel was the favorite place of Marilyn Monroe and Bob Dylan. In fact, it was here that the latter wrote the album Blood on the Tracks on one of his visits.

Located very close to the magnificent natural reserve Point Dume, the hotel is located in an area where there are many easily accessible activities: surfing or beaching, or hiking and biking through the canyons, among others. The design studio Folklor of Los Angeles -which also commissioned the famous Gjelina restaurant and the hotel The Line-, has just renewed it as the Native Hotel, which has only 13 bungalow-style rooms with private balconies and hammocks to relax outdoors . There is no television or air conditioning. Here the idea is to sleep with the sound of frogs and the ocean breeze.

The rooms were decorated with an eclectic but reduced selection of objects, furniture and accessories to reinforce the feeling of well-being: a good mix of Turkish carpets, Italian industrial stools from 1910 and works by local artists. All the spaces stand out for their mid-century aesthetics and their atmosphere, both cool and refined. In the lobby, guests check-in, have a coffee or can buy some of the products for sale from designer Jill Lindsey. Rustic elements such as the stone fireplace and wooden beams are combined with industrial details such as the concrete floor and Italian desk of 1870, as well as some mid-century furniture such as Jerry Johnson chairs. In the wellness center, you can enjoy sessions of massages, acupuncture, yoga or reiki. At the Hotel Native, the proposal is simple: escape the intensity of modern life in a cozy environment with the beach at your fingertips.