Malibu beach days with toddlers, though, are like signing up for a Tough Mudder. Make sure to stop off at John’s Garden for a breather. The tiny sandwich shop inside the Malibu Country Mart might not serve our absolute favorite sandwiches in the neighborhood, but it does have prime real estate adjacent to the shopping mall’s massive outdoor playground.

John's Garden in Malibu has evolved from its humble beginnings in 1955 as a door-to-door produce delivery service to a beloved local eatery at the Malibu Country Mart since 1975. Originally a fruit stand founded by John Musante and his sons, it now offers a range of fresh sandwiches, salads, soups, and shakes under the stewardship of Boyan Kinov, who took over in 2013 after working there for five years. Alongside his brother Kalin and friend Ivo Spirov, Boyan continues the tradition of serving high-quality, health-conscious meals, including modern additions like acai bowls and healthy drinks.

Down in the thick of Malibu’s central square, a hidden away salad and sandwich joint is the real place to see celebrities, the scions of healthy eating. The Chinese salad here is renowned throughout Malibu, but you can also get hearty sandwiches here like prosciutto and caprese or a BLTA, as well as grain bowls, vegetarian and vegan sandwiches, and fresh juices and smoothies. Stick around the Malibu Country Mart for epic people watching, or take your brunch down to the beach for a meal with a view.

Picnic to Go: En route to the beach, stop and pick up food at John’s Garden at the Malibu Country Mart. They offer an extensive sandwich and salad menu, as well as smoothies, milk shakes and snacks that are all easy to tote on the go. While you wait for your food to be prepared, the kiddos can blow off some steam from the drive at the fun playground located just outside the order pick-up window.

This secret snack shop has been running for years, and yet many people still don't know about it. With outdoor picnic tables that are perfect for a sunny day, they serve sandwiches, salads, and soups, with the Ivo Style Burger being one of their specialty items. They also have a fantastic gift shop that will guide you toward your wallet.

Why You Need To Go: Malibu’s town center, the Malibu Country Mart, is home to countless boutiques, cafes, and restaurants. It’s also where you’ll find the best sandwiches in Malibu. John's Garden first opened its doors at the Malibu Country Mart in 1975 as a fruit stand, and with time, it evolved into one of Maibu’s best lunch stops.

For years now John’s Garden has been known in Malibu as one of the best, if not THE best sandwich spot that the city has to offer. It was without question that something from the menu at John’s Garden would make it onto this list. The only question, a difficult one albeit, was which item we would choose to put on here.

John’s Garden: I’m a big fan of this sandwich shop (pictured below on the right), which is located in Malibu Country Mart. They have a great selection of sandwiches, salads, bowls, and burgers, with plenty of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options. There’s also smoothies and juices, as well as ice cream milkshakes.

Head over to the Country Mart and grab a sandwich from John’s Garden. Their sandwiches are piled high with all of your favorite sandwich stuffers and definitely worth the drive. Don’t worry, if you don’t like sandwiches, John’s Garden has a variety of salads, soups, and smoothies to satisfy your hunger.

Tucked away in the Malibu Country Mart shopping mall, John’s Garden has been feeding the Malibu community for over 40 years. This is the perfect place to go if you’re looking for fresh and healthy sandwiches, salads, soups, and juices. Plus, you’ll appreciate that nothing on the menu is over $20!

Later, you can have gourmet yet affordable meal at Marmalade Cafe, a classic sandwich from John’s Garden, or stop by the new Burgerfi for a quick, delicious meal. For your juice fix, Sunlife Organics has it all. Or, if it is five o’clock (somewhere), stop by Cafe Habana for a margarita!

Located on Malibu's Country Mart, John's Garden is just feet from the shopping center's playground. This is a great spot to spend the day with the kids in the sun. The restaurant is next to a kids' playground with swings, slides, and a sand area.

Whether it’s a business that has been there since I was a child (like the Malibu lunch staple John’s Garden) or a newer restaurant to surface (like Lucky’s,) Malibu is filled with hidden gems and places to fall in love with.

JOHN’S GARDEN has been around forever too, is walking distance from First Point, and has super epic healthy sandwiches, juices, salads, and snacks. A true one-stop shop and has something for everyone.