Beaches are great, but the ones in L.A. are missing one big thing — and we're not talking about warm water. (That's for wusses.) No, the appalling lack of booze on our beaches is something a place like Miami would never put up with. In fact, to our knowledge, the only place in Los Angeles where you can drink with your feet in the sand is Paradise Cove Beach Cafe. Yes, when the wind is coming from the wrong direction, it smells a bit like a sewer. And yes, it is a bit of a shitshow; come too late in the day on a sunny weekend and even the valet is often all out of spaces. But if you manage to ditch your car and push through the mobs of tourists eating inside, you'll find a small bar outside where you can order from a limited menu and (here's the key) get a bottle of wine or beer to take with you to your beach towel. Forget the annoyance of trying to get here. Forget the fact you just used a valet at the beach. It really doesn't get any better than this. —Sarah Fenske

28128 Pacific Coast Hwy., Malibu, 90265. (310)457-2503, paradisecovemalibu.com.

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