One step inside PleasureMed in West Hollywood and you’re immediately smitten.
What Is PleasureMed? Los Angeles' New Cannabis Consumption Lounge
With a dispensary storefront downstairs, a California-inspired restaurant upstairs, and an al-fresco cocktail lounge on the other side, there’s literally something for everyone at PleasureMed. Beyond that, stoners from all walks of life can conjoin and celebrate the fact that they can smoke weed and order food, at the same damn time!
Our reservation was at 7:30pm, and we couldn’t help but notice the fresh plants surrounding the perimeter of the space. Let’s not forget the high ceilings, the checkered marble floor, and the undeniable decor that made you feel like you’re entering a movie. Even their bathrooms each had their own unique story! And you can only find out by going inside.
PleasureMed Founder Brian Robinson On The Consumption Lounge Design
I had the pleasure of running into the business’ founder Brian Robinson, who confirmed everything I was feeling at the time. Not only was I captivated by the beauty of the space, but it was the amazing hospitality and customer service that greeted us upon arrival.
“The whole thing, the design here was really to help people feel like they escaped,” Robinson states. “Have this place where it feels like you could be on holiday or you could be hanging out with friends. Just in the cannabis culture of people sharing and chatting. You never know who you're going to talk to or meet.”
Robinson is no stranger to owning or running a business, having acquired the space after the success of the Pleasure Chest located right next door. Pleasure Chest, created by Robinson's uncle in 1971, is an iconic adult boutique brand; its New York locations have been featured on shows like Sex And The City, while its easily-recognizable Los Angeles store spans 6,500 square feet.
Much like its sibling brand, PleasureMed is committed to community engagement. 4 percent of profits are to be dedicated to a range of LGBTQIA+ and social justice reform nonprofits in L.A., with an additional 1 percent being distributed to nonprofit organizations nominated by patrons and employees.
Which Experiences Are Available At PleasureMed? Dispensary, Irie Restaurant, And Hind Cocktail Bar
Now, Robinson makes his debut into the cannabis and hospitality sector, building PleasureMed from the ground up. On the first-level dispensary floor, designed by Studio UNLTD, visitors are welcomed into a grand light-filled space, inspired by the apothecaries of Havana, with soaring 13-foot coffered ceilings. Intricate checkered marble flooring under dramatic ivory beaded chandeliers leads to an extensive dispensary space displaying a variety of cannabis strains and products, with a focus on local and family-owned producers.
The exterior of the property features a 67’ x 30’, 4-minute 3D video art experience that has been exclusively created by Robinson and Optical Animal to illuminate the side of the PleasureMed building. Titled The Jaguar’s Eye, the showstopping piece takes viewers on a journey from the microscopic to the cosmic, finding familiar forms among a diverse cast of characters, environments, flora, and fauna. This projection will welcome new displays on a rolling basis from local artists and serve as a larger-than-life canvas, on the iconic Route 66 highway.
On the second level, guests find the destination restaurant Irie. A staircase with an intricate mural by Pablo Sison - Scenic Supervisor for NBCUniversal whose work has also been seen in series like HBO's Hacks and at MGM Resorts - leads visitors up from the dispensary. Named after the Jamaican word for "everything is alright," this 135-cover restaurant offers a highly curated, farm-to-table menu with ingredients sourced from the best purveyors in the country. Bespoke elements within Irie include custom carved dining-booths with a walnut finish and a marble-topped bar with copper facing featuring fluted glazing, elegantly underscoring the grandeur of the space.
Diners are greeted by "cannaseurs," similar to sommeliers, who can recommend cannabis strains and products with expert knowledge. They guide patrons through Irie's menu of offerings. Private rooms that seat up to 15 guests are also available.
Located directly behind the dispensary space lives the cheekily-named outdoor bar and lounge, Hind. Accommodating up to 45 people, pleasure-inspired craft cocktails (both alcoholic and zero proof) are served alongside dishes from Irie. The intimate space designed for socializing features custom white oak table tops and deeply veined leathered marble.
What Kind Of Food Does PleasureMed's Irie Restaurant Serve?
What goes better than cannabis and food?!
Robinson assured me they had great vegan options on the menu, even recommending the Hidden Pearl Lion’s Mane Cakes. These are crab cakes made of mushrooms, which naturally became the highlight of the evening. I’m still drooling about that dish!
“I couldn’t wait for everyone to come in, because I know what we’ve put into it,” Robinson explains. “I know the food's amazing. It’s as fresh as it can be, farm to table. It’s delicious. I couldn’t wait to share it. That's been my feeling the whole time. Especially the new people that come in: ‘Wow, I didn't expect a weed lounge to be like this.’ Or ‘I’ve never seen a dispensary like that.’ Or “I didn't expect the food to be tasty. I thought it’d be macaroni and cheese and stoner food, but this is really fresh, really good food.’”
For those who were looking to medicate, the cannaseurs or “flight attendants” came to serve you the menu of cannabis products to choose from. We chose Pure Beauty’s The Pink Box, which contained three mini pre-rolls, perfect to spark up throughout the night.
Having been open for only a few months, one thing’s for sure: business was booming! Located right on Santa Monica Boulevard in the heart of WeHo, PleasureMed’s bright neon sign reigns high above the rest, the perfect oasis to treat yourself after a long week of work. For L.A. residents: we all wish we could smoke and eat like we’re in Amsterdam. And now we can!
PleasureMed is located at 7715 Santa Monica Boulevard in Los Angeles. For more about PleasureMed, visit pleasuremed.com.
(C) Ashley Randall @ashleyrandallphoto
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Written By:
Shirley Ju is a journalist, media host, and seasoned music industry professional. She is the founder of Shirley's Temple, a podcast series with a focus on mental health, where her guests include Trippie Redd, Chanel West Coast, Ricky Williams, Blac Chyna, and more. Shirley's work has been featured in publications such as Variety, Complex, Nylon, Flaunt, and REVOLT; she can also be seen doing exclusive interviews for leading urban news source VLADTV, featuring a platform with 5 million subscribers. Find out more about Shirley at @shirju on Instagram and Twitter, and on LinkedIn.
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Featured image: THE JAGUAR'S EYE 3D mural on the exterior of PleasureMed, created by Brian Robinson and Optical Animal (C) Ashley Randall @ashleyrandallphoto
