Split image with "Poppy & Claro at Fifty West" on an orange background at left; at right, a modern café interior with curved seating, plants, and a large window.

Poppy & Claro

California Ingredients, Artisan Spirit

San Jose, CA


SERVICES

Verbal ID
Visual ID
Collateral Design
Website Design

The Brief

Poppy & Claro was envisioned as both a premium tenant amenity and a true neighborhood destination within Jay Paul Company’s downtown San Jose development. Our team led the brand strategy and identity development for the concept, shaping everything from its foundational story and culinary narrative to its visual identity, menu system and website. The goal was to create a restaurant brand that felt elevated yet approachable—one that could move effortlessly from morning coffee and casual daytime dining to aperitivo hour, private events, and evening gatherings.

A collage of restaurant menus and stationery featuring bold, abstract botanical patterns in earthy tones, with the name "Poppy & Claro" displayed on several pieces.
A minimalist branding element featuring a delicate white hand-drawn poppy illustration centered on a solid ochre-colored background.

Inspired by the interior vision of architect Cass Calder Smith,  where poppy-inspired hues and locally sourced claro walnut millwork anchor a space grounded in California’s ingredients, artisans, and sunlit ease. The identity balances a sense of nostalgia with a fresh, contemporary perspective, reflecting a restaurant experience rooted in seasonal dining, thoughtful design, and a relaxed yet refined approach to hospitality.

A high-resolution interior photograph used in restaurant website design to showcase a bright, airy dining space with floor-to-ceiling windows, mid-century modern furniture, orange chairs, and decorative potted plants.
A minimalist brand graphic on a deep maroon background with the text "CALIFORNIA GROWN" and "GLOBALLY INSPIRED", perfect for a restaurant website design section emphasizing local ingredients.
A close-up, professional food photograph of a seasonal breakfast bowl containing dark grains, cream, and orange edible flower petals, reflecting a "globally inspired" menu.
An outdoor restaurant patio featuring grey tables and orange chairs under large white umbrellas, highlighting a sun-drenched California dining atmosphere. Furniture Detail: A detail shot of cognac leather restaurant chairs and textured stone
A lifestyle photograph of a guest holding a branded coffee cup with a flaky croissant balanced on top, ideal for a restaurant website design focusing on the "sunlit ease" of morning cafe service.
A detail shot of cognac leather restaurant chairs and textured stone countertops, emphasizing the "elevated yet approachable" interior design.
A vibrant orange brand graphic with botanical poppy silhouettes and text reading "FROM EARLY BITES TO GOLDEN HOUR COCKTAILS", used as a visual transition element in restaurant website design.
A large, textured abstract painting with thick impasto brushstrokes hanging near a window, paired with a modern spherical gold light fixture.
A premium burgundy paper takeout bag featuring the Poppy & Claro logo in vibrant orange, showcased on a restaurant website design to highlight a cohesive and elevated brand identity.
A striking restaurant entrance featured in a restaurant website design, showing a glass door set into a massive, natural-edged dark wood slab with a gold-leaf Poppy & Claro logo.
An oval wooden exterior sign for Poppy & Claro at Fifty West with black 3D lettering and a bright orange border, mounted on a light stone building.
Sage green restaurant business cards for the San Jose location featuring minimalist serif typography, displayed in a restaurant website design portfolio to showcase meticulous brand collateral.
A professional portrait of Executive Chef Christopher Littman in a branded white chef's coat, used in restaurant website design to build personal connection and highlight artisan expertise.
A digital flat-lay arrangement of a drink menu, signature cocktail list, and abstract brand coasters, illustrating how a restaurant website design translates physical branding into a digital gallery.
A sunlit table setting featuring a gourmet pizza topped with burrata and mortadella, alongside a toasted panini, intended for a restaurant website design gallery.
Three smartphone screens displaying restaurant website design elements, including a Happy Hour promotion with abstract patterns, a cocktail photo, and a botanical-themed breakfast menu.
A person using a laptop to view the Poppy & Claro restaurant website design, which features a clean layout, serif typography, and high-quality interior photography.

Photography Credit: Michelle Pattee