Chinatown's Café Tondo is the sidewalk party of the summer - Review - Los Angeles - The Infatuation

"Bathed in a neon pink glow, the former Oriel in Chinatown was known for being among the film noir-iest spots in town. Café Tondo, the casual CDMX-themed spot that replaced it, somehow ranks even higher on the moodiness index. Not quite a restaurant (there’s just a handful of snacky dishes like empanadas and chicken milanesa) and not fully a bar (they’ve got five wines, a couple vermouths, and some beer), Tondo is a nighttime cafe in the strictest sense—a place where chain-smoking graphic designers and people dressed like 1970s character actors commune over spritzes and bikini sandwiches. You can pop by for pastries during the day, but to experience Tondo's scene in full feral splendor, show up for a late-night hangout where everyone spills onto the sidewalk and flirts with gildas and cheladas in hand to a soundtrack of Mexican bolero songs and metro trains rumbling overhead. photo credit: Brant Cox RESERVE A TABLE" - Brant Cox