A new spot for all-day meals arrives in Downtown San Jose with the opening of Poppy & Claro at 50 West San Fernando Street, right next to the San Jose Museum of Art. This restaurant fills a hole once occupied by the members-only Capital Club, which closed in December 2024. It's a welcoming venue open to everyone from office workers to museum visitors. Set to launch on Thursday, October 16, it will operate from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, complete with a social hour from 4:30 p.m. onward featuring reduced prices on drinks. The concept draws in locals and visitors alike, adding to the growing list of accessible dining options that highlight the city's evolving food scene.
The menu centers on hearth-fired creations blending California freshness with New York-style influences, especially in the pizzas. Morning selections include drip coffees and espressos from Sightglass Coffee, alongside teas and specialty beverages like matcha spritzes or the signature Claro with espresso, milk, toasted black walnut syrup, and black walnut bitters. Pastries from Manresa Bread complement dishes such as soft scrambled eggs with roasted maitakes and crushed avocado on toast, breakfast sandwiches, chilaquiles, breakfast burritos, and granola parfaits topped with toasted black walnuts. For later in the day, options range from seasonal rotating pizzas to standouts like the Truffle Shuffle with maitake and crimini mushrooms in truffle-garlic crema, or the Hot Rosa featuring red sauce, salami rosa, burrata, pistachio, Calabrian chile, and hot honey.
Chef Christopher Littman, hailing from Brooklyn, oversees the kitchen and brings a lifelong passion for pizza that began at age nine. His experience includes a pandemic-era pizza pop-up where he perfected recipes now showcased in the hearth oven. Savory highlights extend to items like seared Dijon-dill salmon, herb and garlic chicken, chile-glazed wings with fried Thai basil, flatbreads served with hummus, garlic toum, and green goddess dips, plus hearth-baked chocolate chip cookies. Burgers, salmon club sandwiches, and caramelized onion grilled cheese round out the offerings, with desserts featuring soft serve optionally enhanced by black walnut and brown sugar streusel. Beverages include California wines, local beers, and cocktails such as the Welcome Trolley made with lemongrass tequila, pineapple gomme, lime, absinthe, and sparkling wine.
This addition strengthens Downtown San Jose's appeal as a hub for diverse crowds seeking quality meals throughout the day. By emphasizing local partnerships and seasonal ingredients, Poppy & Claro contributes to the area's vibrancy, making it easier for residents and professionals to enjoy fresh, inventive food without leaving the neighborhood. As San Jose continues to expand its culinary landscape, establishments like this one invite more people to discover the dynamic energy of the city core.
Source: Eater SF
