Pura Vida – Malibu
I didn’t have time nor the patience to feel hungry after every poor lunch in the area
It was a good job this opened because if not I don’t know what I would have done. An example of what operates well here in Los Angeles and California — a sleek and up-market, all-day café offering lots of healthy stuff to eat. But not only is it nutritious, the options on the menu don’t depress you for the rest of the day. I came here for breakfast and lunch so often that the staff began to recognise me — impossible to remain hidden. “Hi! You were here yesterday, back again? Would you like a card to stamp on your next visit? By the way I really love your bag, it looks like Chrome Hearts, so nice.” They even remembered what I was wearing! It seemed pretty hard for the staff to put a foot wrong.
Pura Vida is another new addition to Cross Creek Ranch in Malibu. Slowly, slowly, they are opening it up — adding shops, concept stores and whatever else they think will grab the Malibu elite’s attention. Because I visited around Christmas time in 2025, they even made the effort to put up a Christmas tree outside. I sat there and ate my sandwich whilst watching the installation taking place. It wasn’t the Connaughty tree standing outside The Connaught Hotel, nor the famous Claridge’s technical showstopper, but hey, they tried.
Originally from Florida, they brought the beach vibes to the West Coast. It is a chain, but I didn’t dwell on the negativity that can bring, because there practically wasn’t any. The branding, aesthetics and entire concept were a winner for me. It sat amongst a lot of bad eggs in this shopping area (Howdy’s springs to mind) and I found myself avoiding the others in favour of this. Instinctively I went around trying to suss them out, but I didn’t have time nor the patience to feel hungry after every poor lunch in the area. More often than not, it’s a let-down. Pura Vida, on the other hand, promised good, healthy and satisfying food.
The avocado was always the brightest green, soft and ready to eat. The salads were fresh, bursting with vibrancy, hearty and dressed with just the right amount of dressing. As somebody who is not very interested in salads, I found them surprisingly nice. Going back to avocado again (it’s Los Angeles), the Avo on toast has had a lot of practice. It’s not that difficult to put together, but you can tell the kitchen appreciates the importance of it. You know you are in America when you get pancakes served with boiled eggs on the side with maple syrup. Sweet and salty to the max. OK, this was adventurous, and I didn’t get it, but still everything that came out of the kitchen delivered. The pain au chocolat wouldn’t make the French frown, and the juices, morning shots and beverages were up there with the food. What really stood out was the ciabatta bread for the club sandwich — seeing those addictive air holes was the stamp of approval I needed. I had gathered enough proof to confirm that Pura Vida is your bodyguard, your saving grace to protect you from the rest of the horror lurking nearby.
La Reine Gourmande is a professionally trained chef, former dancer, and lifelong food obsessive with a deep passion for haute cuisine and global gastronomy. She has dined her way through the world’s top restaurants while honing her culinary skills at L’École Ferrandi in Paris and the Ashburton Cookery School in the UK. Blending her love for food and fashion, she offers a unique perspective on what to eat — and what to wear — on your next culinary adventure.
