Photos by: Talal Ammouri (@designdevelopllc)
Sana'a Cafe has become one of California’s most thoughtful and inspiring coffee destinations, blending rich cultural tradition with a modern design approach. With seven locations open and six more on the way, the brand continues to grow while honoring its origins and its mission to create warm, welcoming spaces.
The West Hollywood location is especially meaningful to us at Tesselle. The team selected our Marikka Selva Cement Tiles, designed by Karin Jeske, for both the walls and the floors, creating an immersive environment where pattern, geometry, and materiality come together with intention. The handcrafted texture and rhythmic motif of the tile bring harmony to the entire café, shaping a visual identity that is cohesive yet never overpowering.
Sana'a Cafe describes its design philosophy as an effort to create a space that feels immersive without overwhelming. Modernism is blended with oriental design principles to create flow. Arches, curves, soft contrasts, and shifting zones give the café a sense of balance and movement. The geometry references heritage, the palette conveys calm, and the layout creates a natural rhythm that supports conversation, reflection, and daily life.
This layered approach mirrors the beauty of Sana'a Cafe’s coffee. Yemen is known as the birthplace of the world’s first coffee, and its beans are prized for natural sweetness and low acidity. Sana'a Cafe elevates this heritage with premium organic blends infused with aromatic spices that add depth, warmth, and a truly unique profile. The result is a coffee experience unlike any other, where history, craft, and flavor come together.
Inside the West Hollywood café, the tile installation helps ground this narrative. The Marikka Selva pattern adds structure without rigidity and texture without distraction. It supports the flowing layout and enhances the serene atmosphere that the design team envisioned. Guests can settle into their own corner of the café, each space offering its own subtle variation in feeling and tone.
Developer Talal Ammouri captured the installation with incredible clarity and artistry, highlighting the way natural light, shadow, and geometry interact with the tilework and the space as a whole. His images reveal the thoughtful balance of materials and the inviting character that defines the café.
Sana'a Cafe is more than a place to grab a drink. It is a gathering place shaped by culture, craft, and intention. We are proud to have our tiles featured in a space that celebrates heritage while embracing modern design.
Learn more at https://sanaahousecafe.com/ and follow the café at @sanaacafe.hollywood and @sanaa_cafe.