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The End of an Era in Laguna Beach: Driftwood Kitchen and The Deck Announce Closure

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The End of an Era in Laguna Beach: Driftwood Kitchen and The Deck Announce Closure

For more than a decade, Driftwood Kitchen and The Deck have been part of the Laguna Beach experience. Sitting side by side along Sleepy Hollow Lane with the Pacific just steps away, the two restaurants became known not only for their food, but for the setting, atmosphere and sense of place that made them distinctly Laguna.

Now, the longtime Laguna Beach restaurants are preparing to close their doors later this year, marking the end of a chapter for one of the city’s best-known oceanfront dining destinations.

The announcement comes just months after the unexpected death of Chef Rainer Schwarz, the co-owner and executive chef behind both restaurants. Schwarz died in April 2026 following a solo vehicle collision in Dana Point. He was 59.

A Laguna Beach Dining Tradition

Driftwood Kitchen opened in 2014 after taking over the former Beach House location, which had operated at the site for 45 years. Schwarz and business partner John Nye transformed the space into a coastal restaurant centered around fresh seafood, an open-air atmosphere and sweeping views of the Pacific.

Next door, The Deck offered a more casual experience directly along the sand. Together, the restaurants created two distinct experiences within the same oceanfront setting: Driftwood Kitchen for a more elevated dining experience and The Deck for a relaxed afternoon, sunset dinner or drink by the water.

Over the years, both became part of the fabric of Laguna Beach, welcoming locals and visitors who came as much for the setting as they did for the food.

The Legacy of Chef Rainer Schwarz

The closing carries particular significance following Schwarz’s death earlier this year.

Schwarz and Nye originally came together through their work in hospitality before developing The Deck and eventually transforming the former Beach House into Driftwood Kitchen. In a statement following Schwarz’s death, Nye reflected on their original goal of building the restaurants around people, food and the Laguna Beach community.

Local coverage following his death highlighted not only his culinary career, but his role in shaping Laguna Beach’s dining scene and the relationships he developed throughout the community.

That history is part of what makes the closure feel bigger than the loss of two restaurants. It represents the closing of a place that became woven into the everyday rhythm of Laguna Beach.

More Than a Restaurant

There are certain places in coastal communities that become part of the identity of the neighborhood.

The Deck’s location directly on the sand made it a quintessential Laguna Beach experience, while Driftwood Kitchen offered an elevated oceanfront setting just steps away. Both restaurants captured something that is difficult to replicate: the ability to sit beside the Pacific and feel completely connected to the landscape around you.

That sense of place is one of the qualities that continues to define Laguna Beach.

The city has long attracted people who value its coastline, natural surroundings, walkability, art and distinctive local businesses. Restaurants like Driftwood and The Deck became part of that lifestyle, creating places where residents could gather and visitors could experience the community from the water’s edge.

What Comes Next for the Space?

For now, the focus is on the restaurants’ remaining time in Laguna Beach. A specific final closing date has not been publicly confirmed in the sources currently available, and the restaurants’ websites remain active.

What eventually happens with the oceanfront properties will be something to watch.

Laguna Beach has a long history of restaurants evolving, changing hands and giving new concepts an opportunity to occupy some of its most coveted locations. The property that became Driftwood Kitchen itself has already experienced that evolution, transforming from the longtime Beach House into the restaurant that became a new local landmark.

Whatever comes next, the location’s combination of oceanfront access, proximity to downtown Laguna Beach and its connection to the beach makes it an especially significant piece of the local landscape.

A Changing Laguna Beach

The closure of Driftwood Kitchen and The Deck is also a reminder that Laguna Beach is constantly evolving.

Businesses come and go, longtime establishments eventually reach their final chapter and new concepts take their place. Yet the elements that make the community special remain: the coastline, the village atmosphere, the arts, the architecture and the connection between the city and the Pacific.

For those who have spent time at Driftwood Kitchen or The Deck, the announcement is undoubtedly a nostalgic one. For longtime Laguna Beach residents, it is another piece of the city’s history moving into the past.

And for those discovering Laguna Beach today, it is a reminder that the places that define a community are often the ones worth appreciating while they are still here.

Driftwood Kitchen and The Deck may be entering their final chapter, but their place in Laguna Beach’s story will remain.

Sources and Further Reading

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