Selaya Riviera Cafe Bringing Mediterranean Flavors to Jacksonville FL

JACKSONVILLE, FL – A new European-style café is heading to San Marco this fall. Selaya Riviera Cafe, led by Chef Scott Alters and his wife, beverage director Gabrielle Alters. The café is preparing to open in the first or second week of October at 2006 San Marco Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32207, according to Chef Scott, who spoke with Business Debut. We came across the story first on What Now Jacksonville.

The concept is rooted in the French and Italian rivieras, specifically from Cinque Terre to Marseille. The goal is to provide a relaxed yet gastronomic setting where visitors may experience Mediterranean cuisine all day long.

The inside features a warm palette of burnt orange and aqua, quartzite bar tops, and oak wood accents. The design will be finished with photos of the riviera in places like Nice, Marseille, Genoa, and St. Tropez.

The café can accommodate 100 guests indoors.

Menu Highlights

The menu will feature house-baked bread (served with herbes de Provence), cured Italian meats, sandwiches, and spreads like roasted red pepper, olive tapenade, and pesto, according to Chef Scott.

French soups like soupe de poisson, chickpea salads, and traditional Niçoise salad are served to guests. Dinner dishes, such as braised short rib daube Provençal, cold calamari salads, or braised shrimp, will be made to be shared. The restaurant will also serve socca (a chickpea flatbread) and chickpea fritters, staples of the Nice region.

“We want to really evoke the kind of communal or sharing style of Mediterranean dining,” Chef Alters said.

Chef Alters’s wife will curate the beverage program, which will include Mediterranean wines, natural and up-and-coming European options, and creative cocktails that go well with the food.

Owner’s Local Roots

This is the second Jacksonville venture for the Alters. Rue Saint-Marc, their debut project, introduced sophisticated French gastronomy to the San Marco area.

Following their partnership with Rue Saint-Marc, the Alters are now working with David and Matthew Medure of Medure Brothers Culinary Concepts Restaurant Group on Selaya Riviera Cafe. Their joint goal is to give Jacksonville a distinctive culinary identity.

Operating Hours

Lunch will be available from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monday to Saturday, followed by a midday menu and happy hour until 5 p.m. Dinner will start at 5 p.m. and go until 9 p.m. On certain evenings (Friday-Saturday), there's also a late-night menu available until midnight.

Stay tuned for updates and their social media accounts that may also drop before the official opening.