November 20, 2025
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Gasolina Cafe Owner, Sandra Cordero, to Open New Tapas Bar in Santa Monica

Tapas bar expected to open late spring in former Heroic Italian space at 516 Santa Monica Boulevard 

Sandra Cordero, the owner of Gasolina Cafe in Woodland Hills, is all set to make a move to Santa Monica with a brand new tapas bar named Xuntos. 

The upcoming restaurant is expected to offer a variety of snacks and natural wine, along with classic tapas dishes from northern Spain and some California Spanish specialties.

Unlike Gasolina Cafe, which is an all-day cafe with wine bar touches and plenty of paella, Xuntos will be a more sophisticated establishment with a limited menu featuring Spanish delicacies like skewers of octopus, fried squid, and croquettes, paired with Spanish and California wines. The restaurant will take over the closed former Heroic Italian location at 516 Santa Monica Boulevard and feature a split-level space with a bar, banquette seats, tables, and two small mezzanines.

As reported by Eater Los Angeles, Cordero, Xuntos is expected to open by late spring of this year, making her one of the latest entrants to LA’s current Spanish trend. However, the Spaniard is no stranger to cooking the food of her native country in LA, having run Gasolina Cafe for years before the influx of newcomers and out-of-town outfits arrived.

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