Aunt Studio Weaves a Story of Place at Café Tondo

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Summary

  • Café Tondo’s design, led by Aunt Studio, embraces the building’s history, blending old and new elements
  • The interior features original scuffed floors and exposed brick, linked by new earthen red plaster
  • Custom furniture and textured ceramics add a warm, handcrafted feel

Nestled within the heart of Los Angeles’s vibrant Chinatown, I find myself at Café Tondo – a charming all-day haven that transitions seamlessly from morning brews to evening vinos. Spearheaded by Creative Director Abraham Campillo of Mouthwash Studio, alongside Mackenzie Freemire, Alex Tan, Ben Mingo, and Mike Kang of Locale Partners, this café steps up to fill the void left by disappearing “third places”. With a heartfelt ethos centered around warmth, generosity, and a genuine “my house is your house” hospitality, Café Tondo offers more than just a cup of coffee or wine – it’s a welcoming sanctuary where everyone feels at home.

The design by Aunt Studio beautifully blends and unveils various interlinked areas, each retaining remnants of its previous lives as a French bar, acupuncture clinic, and mechanic shop. Instead of wiping away these pasts, the design respectfully incorporates them. As co-founders Noam Saragosti and Juhee Park describe, they adopted a thoughtful method: choosing what to preserve, what to eliminate, and where to make improvements. Original features like weathered floors, painted bricks, and visible ceilings continue to tell the story, while subtle additions such as an unobtrusive red earthen plaster line seamlessly connect the spaces. The outcome is not a complete overhaul but a delicate layering that preserves the essential structure and fosters a gentle conversation between recollections and transformation.

Sunlight streams through generously-sized windows, illuminating unique furniture crafted by OMBIA Studio – each piece individually made in Mexico, showcasing elements inspired by cantina culture and local traditions. Ceramic tableware from Isabella Marengo of Bugambilia adorn the tables, adding a touch of texture. Blue accents are used throughout to bring harmony to the spaces. As day transitions into night, the ambiance effortlessly transforms into jazz, bolero, salsa evenings and a residency by DJ Escuby from Mexico City.

Café Tondo’s experience is centered around Chef Luis Luna from Guadalajara, whose training at Enrique Olvera’s Damian and Xokol has influenced a menu that reflects the narrative of location, recollection, and the future. This eatery showcases Latin American cuisines, ranging from Mexico to South America, with Chef Luna’s tapas forming the core of an event schedule filled with salsa nights and live music performances. The ambiance encourages guests not only to eat but also to stay, mingle, and feel a sense of belonging.

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2025-09-10 11:25