Not every sip or bite has to be mind bending. In summer, a good glass of lemonade can more than suffice. Café Vida, an eco-friendly, California-influenced Mexican restaurant in downtown Culver City that built on the backs of branches in Pacific Palisades and El Segundo, features reclaimed wood, chalkboard menus, and a sizable non-alcoholic beverage menu. The establishment celebrates juices, “all natural super food” smoothies and an array of refreshing lemonades. They feature mint, chia seeds and beet juice, but my preference is for their summery, well-balanced Watermelon Lemonade ($3.95).

Staffers squeeze lemonade in-house and blend with equal parts watermelon juice, which is infused with rosemary for a savory twist. Café Vida serves the agave-sweetened mix on the rocks with a sprig of supplemental rosemary, a wedge of tart lemon and fresh mint leaves.