Spanish Sunshine Hits First Street in Livermore

     In downtown Livermore, a fresh culinary breeze blows that smells unmistakably of Spain, warm, rustic, and deeply satisfying. For diners seeking something bold, authentic, and a little off the beaten path, the arrival of L Campo is making waves. Nestled at 2059 First Street, this newcomer bears the mark of Torsten Schulz, a chef whose résumé includes a Michelin star and whose vision has landed squarely in the East Bay.

For Schulz, creating L Campo is more than opening another restaurant; it’s a revival of a name he used back in Spain, transplanted into California wine country. The word “Campo” means “The Field” in Spanish, and the title hints at the deep connection he is weaving between local ingredients, Old World technique and genuine Spanish flavor. He says his aim is to keep things as authentic as possible outside of Spain, but still really simple and rustic.

Walk into L Campo and you’ll feel like you’ve wandered into a Spanish country estate transported to Livermore. The plates arrive with generous spirit but no over fuss: tapas, paellas, charcuterie, cheeses, churros. The kitchen leans heavily on local producers, with Livermore’s own olive and wine folks providing inspiration and raw materials. Schulz notes that this region, with its vineyards and olive trees, reminds him of Spain’s own countryside and gives him the freedom to work with quality.

At the same time, he doesn’t shy away from bringing across some Spanish imports that are faithful to the source: ham from Spain, specialty rice that’s perfect for paella, olive oils with provenance, and chocolate with real craftsmanship. That mixture of local harvest plus Spanish heritage gives L Campo its identity.

Getting the restaurant open wasn’t simply a matter of planting a flag. Schulz got his start in cooking back in 1992, after an apprenticeship at age 16, thanks in part to his sister steering him in that direction, a move he says he didn’t foresee but grew into. He spent years traveling and working in kitchens around the world including Spain, Germany, China, Italy, England, Greece, Portugal, and across the U.S., picking up techniques, sensibilities, and a wide palette of flavors.

One of the surprising things about L Campo is the decision to open in Livermore rather than a more obvious big city locale. But Schulz sees the advantage. The Tri-Valley has the raw materials that matter: agriculture, vineyards, and olive oil production. It’s a place where he can work with freshness, accessibility, and authenticity rather than being trapped in expensive big city real estate and menus that signal more than serve.

From the soft opening on August 25 of this year, L Campo has been quietly building a following. So what does that mean for the diner? It means instead of just grabbing a standard entrée and sides, you’re invited to linger. Order several tapas, perhaps a Spanish style octopus, chorizo and shrimp sauté, or a local olive medley. Move into a shared pan of paella with saffron and seasonal produce. End with churros or a rich chocolate dessert. Then browse the little market section of the restaurant where Spanish pantry goods sit side by side with California grown products.

It’s not just about the food. It’s about an experience: slow, thoughtful, rustic but refined. The kind of place where you might sip a Livermore Valley wine while musing how its floral notes mirror something Spanish as the sun sets behind vineyards beyond First Street. If the Bay Area food scene sometimes feels exhausted by trend chasing, L Campo offers something refreshingly grounded.

Yes, opening a new restaurant in this climate always carries risk. But Schulz has the credentials, the vision, and a location that offers space to breathe. For Livermore locals and curious food fans alike, L Campo may well become the place you bring friends who want more than just a nice dinner, you bring them to a story, a setting, a place where the past of Spanish farmhouse cooking meets the vine rich future of this region.

So go ahead, take the stroll down First Street, pull up a seat, and let L Campo surprise you. You may just find yourself tasting Spain without leaving California.

Fore more information: L Campo