Zinqué has built its identity around the idea of a neighborhood gathering place, pairing French-inspired dishes with a café and wine bar atmosphere designed to welcome guests throughout the day. The family-owned restaurant first opened in Venice Beach in 2011 and has since expanded to multiple locations, bringing its Parisian-inspired concept to neighborhoods across Southern California and internationally.
The concept was founded by French entrepreneur Emmanuel Dossetti, who sought to bring the atmosphere of traditional Parisian cafés to Southern California. The business has remained family-owned and operated as it has grown, with its owners continuing to take an active role in shaping the brand.
Mickey McIlroy, creative director for the brand, describes it as “a Paris meets SoCal bistro, café & wine/cocktail bar.” The concept blends European bistro culture with a SoCal setting, offering guests a relaxed environment for everything from a morning coffee to an evening meal.
Drawing inspiration from zinc countertop bars and European neighborhood gathering places, Zinqué developed a format that combines a café, bistro, and wine bar under one roof. Its spaces are designed to accommodate guests working remotely, meeting friends, enjoying a casual meal, or lingering over drinks. The goal is to create an inviting atmosphere that feels like a home away from home where guests feel at home.
The restaurant’s all-day format is central to its identity. Opening at 7 a.m. and staying open late, Zinqué serves breakfast and coffee in the morning before transitioning into lunch and full-service dining at night.
Zinqué’s menu reflects its all-day approach, featuring French-inspired dishes, small plates, craft cocktails, and a curated wine selection. La Colombe coffee drinks anchor the morning service, while the menu offers options throughout the day. One standout is Le Bowl, which the team identifies as the restaurant’s most popular dish, describing it as “Easily, Le Bowl. A SoCal favorite.”
Since opening its original Venice Beach location, Zinqué has continued to expand into different communities. Its locations have included West Hollywood, Downtown Los Angeles, Century City, Malibu, Newport Beach, and Westlake Village. The brand has also extended its reach to a Paris outpost, and the team opened a sister restaurant, Massilia DTLA.
The company’s growth has involved adapting to different neighborhoods rather than replicating the same restaurant design at every address. While Zinqué maintains recognizable design elements across its locations, each space is intended to have its own character and reflect its surroundings.
“Whenever we open a new location, there are similar design elements, but never a cookie-cutter approach. Every location has something unique & different,” McIlroy shared.
And despite its expansion, Zinqué remains family-run, with its owners involved in decisions ranging from adding new dishes to updating restaurant playlists. McIlroy noted that customers are often surprised by how closely the owners remain connected to the details of the business.
Zinqué has also adapted its physical spaces as its neighborhood presence has evolved. In Venice, the restaurant relocated to a larger space on Lincoln Boulevard in 2021 after losing its previous lease. The move offered an opportunity to develop a more expansive café and marketplace concept while continuing to serve the community where the brand began.
Its West Hollywood location, at 8684 Melrose Avenue, recently hosted a What Now Accelerate event on Tuesday, October 13. Sponsored by inKind, the gathering brought together 37 attendees representing 25 businesses, providing restaurant operators and businesses serving the hospitality industry an opportunity to connect and build professional relationships.
As Zinqué continues to operate across multiple markets, its concept remains rooted in the everyday role of a neighborhood café: a place where guests can stop by for a quick meal, spend time with friends or colleagues, and make themselves comfortable throughout the day.
