West Hollywood Cafe Turns Parking Lot Into Sandy Paradise

On the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Sweetzer Avenue, a parking lot has been transformed into a warm, sandy respite: Beach Nation.

At Beach Nation, there's beach, palm trees, canopies, pillows, and wooden lounge chairs to relax in. To accompany the beach scenery is a menu that features coffee, tea, juices, sandwiches, and salads. Eventually, beer and wine will also be a part of this plot of paradise.

The cafe is another project of Thomas Schoos (O-Bar), who designed it with Paul Kalt and Robert Azizinian, to bring the aura of beach life to the city (though the Pacific Ocean is only about 10 miles away). Schoos tells the Los Angeles Times that his restaurant is about the "nature of California" and stems from a memory of his first trip to Zuma Beach 20 years ago. Though the new establishment replaced the very popular Irv's Burgers and its small parking lot, many in this predominately-gay neighborhood are thankful for an interesting new dining option and not another Starbucks or bank branch.

Beach Nation, located at 8289 Santa Monica Boulevard, already soft-opened and begins evening hours Wednesday.