{"id":302631,"date":"2025-11-23T23:23:10","date_gmt":"2025-11-23T23:23:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/302631\/"},"modified":"2025-11-23T23:23:10","modified_gmt":"2025-11-23T23:23:10","slug":"cafe-tondo-designed-to-fill-the-void-of-social-spaces-in-los-angeles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/302631\/","title":{"rendered":"Cafe Tondo designed to “fill the void” of social spaces in Los Angeles"},"content":{"rendered":"

An LA<\/a>-based team comprised of Mouthwash Studio and Aunt Studio has designed Mexican restaurant<\/a> with ample patio space underneath a railway in the city’s Chinatown neighbourhood.<\/p>\n

Modelled on a casual Mexico City cantina, the interiors for Cafe Tondo<\/a> created with Aunt Studio<\/a> are intended to be inviting and act as a community hub.<\/p>\n

\"RestaurantThe entry foyer of Cafe Tondo is filled with casual seating<\/p>\n

The project is a collaboration between Mouthwash Studio<\/a> partner and Cafe Tondo creative director Abraham Campillo; Mouthwash Studio partners Mackenzie Freemire, Alex Tan, and Ben Mingo; Mike Kang of Locale Partners<\/a>; and chef Valeria Vel\u00e1squez.<\/p>\n

“In Mexican culture, making someone feel welcome goes beyond food or drink,” said Campillo. “It’s about warmth, generosity, and creating a space where people feel seen. The same spirit goes into every detail at the cafe.”<\/p>\n

\"BenchFurniture is custom-designed by OMBIA Studio, and the ceramics were sourced by Isabella Marengo \u2013 all from Mexico<\/p>\n

The restaurant is open through the day and night, and serves co\ufb00ee, wine and small plates alongside a program of live jazz, boleros, salsa and DJ sessions in the evenings.<\/p>\n

The team hopes that Cafe Tondo “fills the void left behind in the disappearance of ‘third places’ \u2013 a space that fosters connection and invites you to linger a little longer”.<\/p>\n

\"DiningWarm colours and soft textures are used in the dining area<\/p>\n

Custom furniture designed by OMBIA Studio<\/a> and handcrafted in Mexico fills the space, and the ceramics were also sourced from Mexico by Isabella Marengo of Bugambilia<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Benches and stools with velvet-upholstered cushioned tops and wooden bases populate the entry foyer, which is wrapped by glass on three sides.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\"MW.S<\/p>\n

Glass bricks divide “small and cosy” MW.S office in Los Angeles\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

A central portal leads through to the main dining area and bar, where painted brick walls, dark wood shelving and mirrored panels are all found.<\/p>\n

Slender metal-framed bar stools are topped with frilly off-white cushions, while wooden tables and dining chairs offer more formal dining options.<\/p>\n

\"AA portion of the dining area opens up to an outdoor patio via concertinaed glass panels<\/p>\n

From the exterior, bands of neon red lighting circle above the entrance and bathe the outdoor seating areas in a red glow at night.<\/p>\n

A portion of the indoor dining area also opens onto the patio via glazed panels that concertina up to the ceiling.<\/p>\n

\"RedRed neon bands illuminate the outdoor patios at night<\/p>\n

The last time that Mouthwash Studio and Aunt Studio collaborated was to create the former’s offices, also in Chinatown, which features glass-block partitions and walnut bleachers.<\/p>\n

Other recent additions to LA’s dining scene include restaurant Muse<\/a>, with interiors dressed in earthy caramel tones, and pizzeria Wildcrust<\/a> that’s informed by Milanese modernism.<\/p>\n

The photography is by Sean Davidson<\/a>.<\/p>\n