{"id":161251,"date":"2026-02-03T02:35:11","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T02:35:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/161251\/"},"modified":"2026-02-03T02:35:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T02:35:11","slug":"community-comes-first-at-cafe-tondo-annenberg-media","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/161251\/","title":{"rendered":"community comes first at Caf\u00e9 Tondo \u2013 Annenberg Media"},"content":{"rendered":"

Under the Metro A line tracks in Chinatown sits a restful caf\u00e9. At first glance, it doesn\u2019t seem like the kind of spot that would become a late-night mainstay. But as the sun goes down, the bright red lights flicker on, and Caf\u00e9 Tondo takes on a second life as a wine bar. <\/p>\n

Since opening, Caf\u00e9 Tondo has become a gathering place. But for co-founder Abraham Campillo, that was always the point. <\/p>\n

\"AA group of friends sit down for a meal at Caf\u00e9 Tondo (Photo by Andriana Yatsyshyn) <\/p>\n

The vision for Tondo can be traced back to Campillo\u2019s youth, which he spent traveling back and forth to Mexico. There, public spaces were central to everyday life. <\/p>\n

\u201cI really valued those spaces, the organic environments you could just spend time with people in,\u201d Campillo said. \u201cThat yielded the manifestation of Tondo.\u201d<\/p>\n

That philosophy \u2014 a place where connection comes naturally \u2014 guides everything about Caf\u00e9 Tondo. <\/p>\n

The caf\u00e9 opens every day at 8 a.m., serving coffee and pastries to early risers and neighborhood regulars. There\u2019s no free Wi-Fi, a choice meant to encourage conversation over screens.<\/p>\n

\"InsideBarista preps a batch of coffee (Photo by Andriana Yatsyshyn). <\/p>\n

Campillo wanted it to be a place people could return to throughout the day. \u201cI grew up drinking coffee all day,\u201d he said. \u201cSo having a place where you can drink and order it all day with a dessert was important.\u201d <\/p>\n

As the afternoon turns into evening, the energy begins to shift. People sit roadside, catching up with friends, enjoying a glass of wine and waiting for the music to start. <\/p>\n

\"DESCRIBEPeople wait for music to start at Caf\u00e9 Tondo (Photo by Andriana Yatsyshyn) <\/p>\n

\u201cWe do feel like the value, and the reason why we exist, is to create more human connection in the nighttime,\u201d said Campillo. <\/p>\n

Music is at the core of what brings Tondo to life after dark. On Tuesdays, the caf\u00e9 hosts weekly bolero nights \u2014 a commitment Campillo says is rare in Los Angeles. \u201cI grew up with that genre, and I don\u2019t know any other place that does boleros consistently,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

\u201cParents will come to listen to boleros with their kids,\u201d Campillo added. \u201cThey\u2019ll have a caf\u00e9 and dance. It feels incredibly wholesome.\u201d <\/p>\n

\"AA jazz collective plays a set on a Sunday at Caf\u00e9 Tondo (Photo by Andriana Yatsyshyn). <\/p>\n

It\u2019s also become a hotspot for Sunday night jazz, designed for those moments when \u201cyou don\u2019t want to sit up too late, but you still want something to do with friends.\u201d<\/p>\n

Over time, Tondo has hosted high-profile artists, including Tame Impala, and Campillo hints that more special events are on the horizon. \u201cWe\u2019re known for our music,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd this is only the beginning.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Meny\"Bar Tondo menu and shishito peppers (Photo by Andriana Yatsyshyn). <\/p>\n

The selection of food and wine has evolved alongside the space itself. Since opening, the caf\u00e9 has gone through three menus and two chefs \u2014 a learning curve Campillo speaks about candidly. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you\u2019re busy from day one, it\u2019s hard to do quality at scale,\u201d he says, especially while operating as both a caf\u00e9 and a bar.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s menu is intentionally small. The food is meant to be \u201clight, easy to eat, and shareable,\u201d said Campillo. Standout dishes include shishito peppers coated with crispy onions and lime, a bluefin tuna tostada that has become a crowd favorite and a crudo featuring kanpachi. <\/p>\n

Each dish had a unique flavor profile. Campillo recommends ending the night with a caf\u00e9 de olla and a choco-flan \u2014 two dishes that nod to his upbringing. <\/p>\n

Balancing food quality with hospitality is no small task, yet Tondo does both effortlessly.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe really care about taste,\u201d he said. \u201cBut we care even more about the overall experience in [our] environment.\u201d <\/p>\n

\"BartendersCustomers order their drinks at the bar inside Caf\u00e9 Tondo (Photo by Andriana Yatsyshyn). <\/p>\n

And that shows: despite the crowds that gather at the bar, staff maintain a warm attentiveness whether guests are stopping in for a quick coffee or settling in for hours of wine and music. It\u2019s impossible to leave Tondo without a smile on your face. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe aren\u2019t trying to replicate any [style], like New York or Mexico City. Tondo is our own new thing,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

What Campillo has built is more than a caf\u00e9 or a wine bar. It\u2019s a place for community \u2014 something increasingly rare in Los Angeles. A space where people slow down, step away from the noise of the city, and enjoy a real-time connection instead. <\/p>\n

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