Lime in the Coconut

Located in the heart of downtown Chula Vista, family-owned restaurant Lime in the Coconut serves tropical food & drinks inspired by various cultures across the Pacific. I designed a series of murals for their bar wall, bathrooms, and exterior that elevate their immersive vacation vibes.

This project was funded in part by the Create Chula Vista Arts Grant, which meant I was tasked with communicating the tropical theme of the restaurant while also representing Chula Vista’s historical and cultural heritage. The plants featured in the bar wall and bathrooms, including fan palms and hibiscus, thrive in both far away tropical climates and our very own Southern California. On the exterior, eye-catching lemons, oranges, mangoes, and pineapples (and of course, limes and a coconut!) represent some of the staple fruits of Chula Vista’s beloved Latino and Filipino communities while also paying homage to the city’s history as a citrus production epicenter.