A Cafe de Olla Recipe That's Made for Gathering

"Since it opened in July, Cafe Tondo has quickly become a Los Angeles hotspot, offering conchas and coffee in the morning and drinks and dancing later in the day, beneath the glow of red neon lights. Co-founder Abraham Campillo owns another business in the neighborhood, the design company Mouthwash Studio, and had noticed local frustration at the lack of third spaces, despite the city's "perfect weather," he says. "Rather than complaining, we wanted to do something about it.""

"It hosts bolero night, jazz night, and DJs, with crowds partying on the sidewalk. Being open for 15 hours every day is logistically challenging, Campillo notes, but it's essential for creating the kind of dynamic, welcoming community space that he wanted. The drinks at Cafe Tondo reflect that position, with just as much emphasis on coffee as on beer and wine."

Since opening in July, Cafe Tondo rapidly became a Los Angeles hotspot, offering conchas and coffee in the morning and drinks and dancing later under red neon lights. Co-founder Abraham Campillo owns design company Mouthwash Studio and noticed local frustration at the lack of third spaces, prompting the creation of a long-hour, mixed-use venue. Cafe Tondo operates most days from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. and until 2 a.m. on weekends, hosting bolero, jazz and DJ nights with sidewalk crowds. The menu emphasizes both coffee and alcohol, including a Mexican café de olla prepared without infusing grounds into syrup to avoid a burnt taste.

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