Restaurant color palettes

A restaurant's colors show up on the sign, the menu, the walls, the uniforms and social media. These 12 palettes are organized by type of cuisine and the atmosphere you want, from fast food to fine dining, with their hex codes.

Classic red and cream

For pizzerias, trattorias or traditional home-style cooking.

Mediterranean: olive and terracotta

For Mediterranean, Spanish or Greek cuisine.

Fine dining black and gold

For chef-driven or evening restaurants with dim lighting.

Mexican: pink, yellow and green

Vibrant colors inspired by Mexican food and folk art.

Bistro: wood and bottle green

Warm and cozy; for bistros and neighborhood eateries.

Seafood blue and white

Evokes the sea; for seafood restaurants and ceviche spots.

Fast food orange and gray

Eye-catching and visible from afar; for burgers or chicken.

Japanese: red, black and cream

Understated with contrast; for sushi, ramen or Nikkei cuisine.

Healthy green and white

For salads, bowls, juice bars or vegetarian food.

Grill: charcoal and embers

For steakhouses, barbecue and grilled meats.

Latin home cooking: mustard and terracotta

Warm and family-style; for Latin American comfort food and diners.

Modern pastel brunch

For brunch spots, breakfast places and dessert shops.

Tap a color to copy its hex code. The pencil icon opens the palette in the editor so you can change it.

Which colors whet the appetite?

Red, orange and yellow are linked to food and energy, which is why they're everywhere in fast food. Green suggests fresh and healthy, and dark shades suggest calm and long, lingering meals. Choose based on your service style: fast and eye-catching, or slow and elegant.

Lighting changes your restaurant's colors

A terracotta wall looks very different under warm light than under cool white light. Warm light (around 2700–3000 K) is recommended for dining rooms because it flatters both food and skin. Test paint samples on site, by day and by night, before you decide.

Menu and sign: few colors, lots of contrast

On the menu, use dark text on a light background and save color for headings and featured prices. On your sign, two high-contrast colors read better from the street than four similar ones. Make sure the name is readable from a distance and at night.

Colors in these palettes

Floral white Champagne Fire engine red Cranberry Linen Alabaster Raisin black Smoky black Warm white Mexican pink Light brown White Alice blue Prussian blue Graphite Oatmeal

Frequently asked questions

What color should you paint a small restaurant?

Light, warm shades like cream, sand or off-white make the space feel bigger. You can add color on one wall, the chairs or the details.

Why do so many fast food restaurants use red and yellow?

They're highly visible colors linked to energy and speed. They help people recognize the restaurant from far away.

What colors work for an upscale restaurant?

Deep shades like black, bottle green, navy blue or burgundy, paired with wood, gold or brass and warm lighting.