Cafe Tondo designed to "fill the void" of social spaces in Los Angeles
An LA-based team comprised of Mouthwash Studio and Aunt Studio has designed Mexican restaurant with ample patio space underneath a railway in the city's Chinatown neighbourhood.
Modelled on a casual Mexico City cantina, the interiors for Cafe Tondo created with Aunt Studio are intended to be inviting and act as a community hub.
The project is a collaboration between Mouthwash Studio partner and Cafe Tondo creative director Abraham Campillo; Mouthwash Studio partners Mackenzie Freemire, Alex Tan, and Ben Mingo; Mike Kang of Locale Partners; and chef Valeria Velásquez.
"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."
The restaurant is open through the day and night, and serves coffee, wine and small plates alongside a program of live jazz, boleros, salsa and DJ sessions in the evenings.
The team hopes that Cafe Tondo "fills the void left behind in the disappearance of 'third places' – a space that fosters connection and invites you to linger a little longer".
Custom furniture designed by OMBIA Studio and handcrafted in Mexico fills the space, and the ceramics were also sourced from Mexico by Isabella Marengo of Bugambilia.
Benches and stools with velvet-upholstered cushioned tops and wooden bases populate the entry foyer, which is wrapped by glass on three sides.
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.
Slender metal-framed bar stools are topped with frilly off-white cushions, while wooden tables and dining chairs offer more formal dining options.
From the exterior, bands of neon red lighting circle above the entrance and bathe the outdoor seating areas in a red glow at night.
A portion of the indoor dining area also opens onto the patio via glazed panels that concertina up to the ceiling.
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.
Other recent additions to LA's dining scene include restaurant Muse, with interiors dressed in earthy caramel tones, and pizzeria Wildcrust that's informed by Milanese modernism.
The photography is by Sean Davidson.
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