About Café Zoë
A Brief History
In the spring of 2008, after considering a career change, owner Kathleen came upon a random shop for sale in a neighborhood location that resonated to her the idea of “community.” After spending time with the previous owner and his staff, she purchased the café and renamed it, Café Zoë, after her daughter. The tag line for the shop became “a place for peace, hope and community.”
From the beginning, Café Zoë has always sought to be an “extension of your living room,” from the cozy environment and comfy chairs to the friendly, engaging baristas. We’re not your average modern hipster coffee shop. There is a lot of artwork and posters on the walls, eclectic jewelry on display from local artists, and a generally “at home” kind of vibe. We have always kept our prices low with quality and quantity high.
With the café’s central location, we have been able to become a community hub where people can meet up with friends or business partners, get some work done, or spend quality time with loved ones. Parents can enjoy a latte and a little down time while their children play on the back patio in the playhouse. Kids can come hang out and wait for their rides after school. Young people can come find a quiet corner to read or study for a while. Couples can enjoy a coffee retreat.
We are also proud to have become one of few local intimate live music venues between San Francisco and San Jose. In Summer 2016, we acquired a beer and wine license for Café Zoë and we were able to extend our hours. We began to include trivia and game nights, and most importantly live music. We have hosted many local acts and watched many of our musician friends develop their sound and have hosted many touring acts.
Ten years later, we pride ourselves on the coffee and all of the “so much more.” We hope to be a place of comfort and joy to all.
Frequently Asked Questions about Café Zoë: Our vibe, policy, and character
What is Cafe Zoe?
Cafe Zoë is a community coffee cafe serving brewed coffee, espresso drinks, quick breakfast items and a full lunch We are also open on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights, serving beer and wine, and featuring a variety of fun events and live music. Check out this great article that the Menlo Park Almanac wrote about us when we first opened! Though we have evolved since that time, the piece still provides good insight into what we're all about.
What's so unique about Cafe Zoe?
Everything! Cafe Zoe is the antithesis of the cookie-cutter "corporate" coffeehouses you can find in most towns. From the very beginning in 2008, Cafe owner, Kathleen Daly, envisioned her new establishment to be a comfortable and inviting gathering place for the surrounding communities. Her vision was that Cafe Zoe should be as cozy as a living room, but with ample space and an ambiance that accommodates conversation, creativity, art and music - a place for people to get to know each other and interact about things that matter to them. Cafe Zoe, named after Kathleen's daughter, has evolved into "a place for peace, hope and community" - which exactly what Kathleen envisioned. She even included that sentiment on the Cafe's sign and logo!
Can I bring my kids to Cafe Zoe?
What's general vibe at Cafe Zoe?
Warmth, friendliness, community awareness. Cafe Zoe has become a community hub where people can meet up with friends or business partners, get some work done, or spend quality time with loved ones. We have upbeat, engaging baristas and the work of local artists on display -- artwork, posters, eclectic jewelry and more. We keep our prices low but our quality and quantity high.
What kind of menu does Cafe Zoe offer?
I have some dietary restrictions. Can you accommodate them?
Your food sounds great! Do you cater events?
What kind of music does Cafe Zoe host?
I'm interested in performing at Cafe Zoe. How do I inquire about this?
What are some of your other special events and attractions?
Anything else I should know about Cafe Zoe?
