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A string of new eateries have opened on the Peninsula boasting minimalist-inspired design in addition to compelling cuisine.
Hallmarks of minimalist design include clean lines, neutral color schemes and natural materials. This pared-down approach is what drew many restaurateurs to minimalism, as it provided a blank canvas to build on. Some owners were drawn to this simplistic aesthetic to allow the food and drinks to take center stage. Others used a thoughtful approach to colors and lighting to create a sense of warmth and comfort.
For each business, minimalist design is leveraged to reflect its hospitality values and enhance the guest experience. After all, minimalist design is rooted in functionality and explores what’s essential – or can be removed – in a space.
Functionality was a key consideration for Milli Cafe, which recently opened in Millbrae and offers espresso, matcha and house-baked goods.
“We strived to understand what we can provide for the community and our neighbors first and foremost,” said owner Kevin Lee.
Since July, Milli Cafe has filled the gap for a specialty cafe along Broadway. Speciality drinks include a seasonal s’mores caramel mocha, charcoal latte and cold brew crema. Formerly a jewelry store, the space features white walls, black furniture and gold-accented lighting fixtures.
The space pays homage to the history of the location with a jewelry display case converted into a pastry case and hexagon floor tiles and triangular counter tiles meant to simulate diamonds. Lee describes minimalist design as a blank canvas to showcase the cafe’s food and drinks.
Further down the Peninsula, cafe and bakery Temp & Time in Menlo Park blends minimalism with Japanese design touches. Serving up roll cakes, burnt Basque cheesecakes and tea beverages, Temp & Time opened in November 2024. Owners Suzie and Kay (who prefer to keep their last names private) have long admired Japanese design for its balance of simplicity and warmth. Bringing their vision to life proved to be a creative exercise for the team. Designing Temp & Time ended up being a two-year process, with an early iteration resembling an office.
After connecting with an interior designer who studied art in Japan, the compact cafe transformed into a clean, simple and welcoming space the owners are proud of. This includes touches of greenery, warm accents and furniture from Asia such as the tables, chairs and lighting fixtures, as well as the roof and wall paneling.
“The design helps create an atmosphere where people feel comfortable settling in,” Kay said. “Many customers come in not just for drinks and desserts, but to sit, study, work or spend time with friends.”
Other eateries, like Horsefeather in Palo Alto, approach design challenges with intentionality. Located in a former gym with no existing restaurant infrastructure, owner Justin Lew set out to create an atmosphere that could transition from daytime brunch and lunch service into a nightlife destination.
Lew describes the space as being substantial but not overdesigned, rather than strictly minimal. Founded in San Francisco in 2016, Horsefeather characterizes its food and drink offerings as California comfort cuisine with pan-Asian and Latin influences.
Lew single-handedly designed the space, taking cues from the American Arts & Crafts movement, Brutalism and Danish modern design.
“The palette came from those design references: walnut, stone, glass and brass – materials that wear in, not out,” Lew said. “The lighting is soft and architectural. Seating is built for comfort and structure. We introduced greenery in a restrained way to support the natural materials, and we’re continuing to (add) layers as the space settles.”
Open since the summer, Lew considers Horsefeather Palo Alto a more refined version of the original San Francisco location, while sharing elements such as blue booths, brass and geometric woodwork.
Intentionality was also a design throughline for Menlo Park fine-dining restaurant Yeobo, Darling. Both its menu and interior reflect the Korean and Taiwanese heritage of owners Michael and Meichih Kim, formerly of Michelin-starred Maum.
The duo worked with Los Angeles-based design firm Preen to add cultural touchpoints that imparted elegance and minimalism. This includes sheer curtains that draw inspiration from private dining rooms in South Korea and Taiwan, custom tables with silverware drawers also seen in South Korean dining establishments and leather slings for guests to store their belongings. Since opening in June, guests have been enthusiastic about the curtains and soft lighting, though they remark on the compact spacing between tables.
“The closeness of the tables is an intentional part of the experience, and it nods to some of our favorite restaurants in New York,” Michael Kim said. “We want our guests to sit close to each other to encourage spontaneous conversations and connections.”
Fellow Menlo Park newcomer Café Vivant embraces minimalism through its design and cuisine. Café Vivant is the first restaurant by New York-based wine professionals Jason Jacobeit and Daniel Jung, who also operate Somm Cellars next door. Open since October, the owners are thrilled to be part of the zeitgeist of new restaurants along Santa Cruz Avenue.
Specializing in heritage poultry, Café Vivant’s chickens arrive as a premium product.
“We treat the birds in a minimalist way, with skill and detail, while also preserving and enhancing the flavor and distinctiveness they already have,” Jacobeit said. Menu offerings include heritage chicken nuggets, pharaoh quail and whole birds for two, such as the Delaware Chicken and French Pearl Guinea Hen.
Jacobeit and Jung worked closely with a longtime creative partner to ensure the retail and restaurant areas each have their own aura yet remain meaningfully connected. San Francisco-based Studio BANAA was the architect for the project. The result is a 5,000-square-foot space featuring a griddled ceiling and unified millwork throughout, providing a consistent material use and a glass-enclosed fine and rare wine room that offers views of the retail to restaurant space.
Ultimately, minimalism resonates with the owners as a reflection of their hospitality ethos.
“From an aesthetic perspective, we deliberately edit things out and question, ‘Does this add to the guest experience?’” Jacobeit said. “Let’s leave everything you need and nothing you don’t.”
Milli Cafe, 299 Broadway, Millbrae; Instagram: @a.milli.cafe. Open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Temp & Time, 1438 El Camino Real, Menlo Park; 650-833-8768, Instagram: @tempandtimecafe. Open Wednesday to Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.
Horsefeather, 855 El Camino Real Suite 151, Palo Alto; 650-648-4845, Instagram: @horsefeather.pa. Open Monday from 4-9 p.m., Tuesday to Thursday from 11 a.m to 9 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Yeobo, Darling, 827 Santa Cruz Ave., Menlo Park; 650-665-7799, Instagram: @yeobodarlingrestaurant. Open Tuesday to Thursday from 5-9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 5-9:30 p.m.
Cafe Vivant, 720 Santa Cruz Ave., Menlo Park; 650-557-2244, Instagram:@cafevivant. Open Tuesday to Thursday from 4:30-8:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 4:30-9 p.m.
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