{"id":150513,"date":"2025-08-16T12:47:21","date_gmt":"2025-08-16T12:47:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/150513\/"},"modified":"2025-08-16T12:47:21","modified_gmt":"2025-08-16T12:47:21","slug":"cafe-tondo-los-angeles-review-all-day-latin-american-buzz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/150513\/","title":{"rendered":"Caf\u00e9 Tondo Los Angeles review: all-day Latin American buzz"},"content":{"rendered":"

The space occupied by Oriel<\/a> in Chinatown is now a cool Mexico City<\/a>-inspired day-to-night cafe and bar. Called Caf\u00e9 Tondo,<\/a> the Downtown LA spot’s been brought to life by Abraham Campillo, co-founder of the multi-disciplinary design firm Mouthwash Studio<\/a> partners, along with Mackenzie Freemire, Alex Tan, and Ben Mingo; Mike Kang of Locale Partners;<\/a> and chef Valeria Vel\u00e1squez. This creative group of artists and designers \u2013 behind campaigns for brands ranging from Nike to Thom Browne <\/a>\u2013 has brought new life to this swath of converging urban streets, from lingering meals by day, to dancing into the wee hours after the sun sets.<\/p>\n

Wallpaper* dines at Caf\u00e9 Tondo, Los Angeles<\/p>\n

The mood: a Mexico City caf\u00e9 with DTLA urban grit<\/strong><\/p>\n

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Caf\u00e9 Tondo)<\/p>\n

Look for the neon-lit Streamline Moderne building underneath the elevated Metro line, across the street from Homeboy Industries, for this transportive caf\u00e9 designed by Aunt Studio<\/a>. The six distinct rooms \u2013 each layered with scuffed floors, painted brick, exposed wood and metal ceilings \u2013 remain intact, with new elements of earthen red plaster surfaces embedded with traditional Mexican tiles, niches for artworks, ceramics and artefacts handpicked by Campillo, who drew inspiration from Casa Mexicana, the design and architecture book by Tim Street-Porter.<\/p>\n

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Caf\u00e9 Tondo)<\/p>\n

The space also features custom wood tables, chairs and stools handcrafted in Mexico by Christina Moreno\u2019s OMBIA Studio<\/a>, incorporating playful details such as a wine bottle holder built into a table leg and skirted metal bar stools, along with a curved red velvet curtain partition for private events.<\/p>\n

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Caf\u00e9 Tondo)<\/p>\n

The food: all-day Latin American buzz<\/strong><\/p>\n

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Caf\u00e9 Tondo)<\/p>\n

This is the first head chef position in the US for chef Vel\u00e1squez, who hails from Bogot\u00e1, Colombia. But her pedigree includes stints at Amass in Copenhagen<\/a> and Rosetta in Mexico City. The Mexican capital inspires her menu. In the morning you’ll find a bar pastry case holding pan de elote. For a heartier breakfast, order masa pancakes with piloncillo caramel or chilaquiles piled high with fresh avocados, alongside a Michelada, if you’re in need of a hair-of-the-dog cure.<\/p>\n

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Caf\u00e9 Tondo)<\/p>\n

The menu is a reflection of the communities that shaped Vel\u00e1squez’s path as a cook, including day-to-night offerings of slow-simmered beef bone broth infused with herbs and spices, empanadas, tortas, lime-squeezed chicken milanesa and steak frites with chimichurri. At night, a wash of red lighting transforms the atmosphere, and the front patio is packed with revellers after hours who want to dance and drink under the stars to live jazz bands, DJs and salsa.<\/p>\n

Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.<\/p>\n

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Caf\u00e9 Tondo)<\/p>\n

Caf\u00e9 Tondo<\/a> is located at 1135 N Alameda St, Los Angeles<\/a>, CA 90012 United States<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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