September 12, 2019

Sophie Goineau Channels a Parisian Brasserie in a Malibu Setting at Porta Via Palisades

Custom Linea P bar chairs covered in Elmo Nordic leather pull up to the brass-faced bar, topped with Bianca Oro at Porta Via Palisades; the shelving is American Walnut. Photography by Nancy Neil Photography.

Melding influences that include a West Coast marina, an English tea house, and a Parisian brasserie might sound complicated, but for Sophie Goineau, it was a breeze. Her interiors for Porta Via Palisades—a bistro tucked into Palisades Village, Rick Caruso’s multi-use village concept between Malibu and Santa Monica— effortlessly integrate Ralph Lauren sconces that look like fishing poles, delicate cane and greenery, and classic French touches such as the black-and-white marble floors.

“I used a rich palette of past memories and rich experiences,” Goineau says, but “all the textures and materials have to speak to each other.” And so the walnut table tops offer straighter variations of the chevron oak walls, which play off high-gloss wainscoting below. A commissioned portrait of the roseate spoonbill bird by Tomek Sadurski adds a touch of whimsy. “And because the restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner,” Goineau says, “I used a skylight to add playful, natural light and an organic, beachy feel,” that allows diners to relax and eat whichever meal they feel like. “After all, brunch is the new dinner.”

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The terrace of Porta Via Palisades is lined with custom banquettes of cherry wood and brass, with Pedrali tables topped in custom walnut or marble and Cane-Line chairs through Les Jardins. Photography by Nancy Neil Photography.
Dining chairs are Joseph Hoffman + Joseph Franck’s 1925 design by Ton through Design Within Reach; the Pedrali tables, sourced via Interra Design, are topped with custom walnut with brass inlays. Photography by Nancy Neil Photography.
Banquettes inside are covered in a bright blue cotton-linen; the ceiling fan is by Modern Forms and the Calacatta and Nero Marquina tiles from REX. Photography by Nancy Neil Photography.
The walls at Porta Via Palisades are clad with chevrons of solid white oak, with custom sconces by Ralph Lauren. Photography by Nancy Neil Photography.
A logo mosaic in front combines Calacatta Gold and Nero Marquina with Luxor Gold stone by Walker Zanger. Photography by Nancy Neil Photography.

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