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In the heart of Los Angeles’s Chinatown, Café Tondo has emerged as a vibrant all-day gathering place — serving coffee in the morning, small plates in the evening, and wine late into the night. The project, led by Creative Director Abraham Campillo of Mouthwash Studio alongside Locale Partners (Mackenzie Freemire, Alex Tan, Ben Mingo, and Mike Kang), was designed to revive the fading concept of “third places” with an atmosphere rooted in warmth, hospitality, and connection.

Design Rooted in Memory and Continuity

The interiors and exteriors, crafted by Aunt Studio, unfold as a series of interconnected spaces layered with the building’s eclectic past — from French bar to acupuncture clinic to mechanic shop. Rather than erase this history, Aunt Studio co-founders Noam Saragosti and Juhee Park embraced it. “We took a strategic approach: deciding what to embrace, what to subtract, and where to intervene,” they explained. Scuffed floors, painted brick, and exposed ceilings were preserved, while a continuous thread of earthen red plaster ties the spaces together, creating a dialogue between memory and transformation.

Craft, Culture, and Daily Ritual

Light floods in through expansive windows, illuminating custom furniture by OMBIA Studio, handcrafted in Mexico with nods to cantina culture. Tabletops feature textured ceramics curated by Isabella Marengo of Bugambilia, while deep navy accents unify the rooms. As the day progresses, Café Tondo transforms: mornings of coffee and quiet conversation give way to live jazz, boleros, salsa nights, and a rotating residency by Mexico City’s DJ Escuby.

A Menu That Tells a Story

At the culinary helm is Chef Luis Luna of Guadalajara, whose experience at Enrique Olvera’s Damian and Xokol informs a menu designed as a narrative of place and memory. His small plates draw inspiration from across Latin America, anchoring an evening program that encourages guests not only to dine but to linger, connect, and feel at home.

Café Tondo is more than a restaurant — it is a cultural gathering space, layered with history, designed with intention, and fueled by flavors that celebrate both tradition and tomorrow.