1. It was ignited by a shared nostalgia of South American taverns.
Correa and Castillo began working together in 2022, when Castillo was the chef de cuisine of Llama San, which closed in June of last year. In November 2025, Correa also decided to close the Llama Inn after 10 years, and he decided to approach Castillo about collaborating on a new concept together. Both began to dream of the taverns they grew up going to in South America. Correa grew up in Lima, Peru, while Castillo was born and raised in Santiago, Chile.
“The Latin American tavern is a huge inspiration in terms of service and hospitality, and we really want to show you how we eat in South America,” says Correa. They describe these taverns as more than just places to eat, but true third spaces — the kind of place to celebrate a birthday or just as easily grab a pint with a friend.
As the product of a unique mix of Italian and Spanish influences that began to surface in South American cities in the 1930’s, these taverns, which were often owned by immigrants, tended to specialize in particular offerings, depending on the ownership or staff. In Santiago, for instance, one might find pansotti covered in salsa di noci, made by an immigrant from the Italian coast of Liguria on the same table as a flaky empanada. These establishments are also often called bodegóns.
Together, Correa and Castillo settled on the name Cafe Bar J.F. following an encounter Correa had while in Madrid after stumbling onto an old cafeteria titled “Café Bar.” Correa recalls, “It was probably built in the ’50s or ‘60s, with a large Coca-Cola sign, and the letters half falling apart.” They both then added their initials to make it more personal. “He’s Francisco, and surprisingly, I’m also Juan Francisco,” he notes.