Paula Kramer

Paula Kramer is a Charleston restaurateur, entrepreneur, and hospitality leader dedicated to building restaurants that celebrate community, culture, and genuine hospitality. She is the co-owner of bakery and café Baguette Magic and co-owner of Kultura and Bareo alongside her husband, Chef Nikko Cagalanan. Since purchasing Baguette Magic with her sister, Samantha Kramer, in 2019, Paula has grown the business into a beloved Charleston institution with two locations, earning Charleston City Paper’s Best Bakery for five consecutive years while overseeing operations, branding, marketing, and long-term growth.

In 2023, Paula partnered with Nikko to open Kultura, a modern Filipino restaurant born from his culinary journey and their shared vision of celebrating Filipino culture through food and hospitality. What began as a 20-seat restaurant quickly gained national recognition, earning Best New Restaurant honors from Eater, Esquire, and Resy, before relocating to its current home on Rutledge Avenue in 2025. In early 2026, the pair expanded again with Bareo, a Filipino-Japanese neighborhood bar inspired by the spirit of baryo—a place where community gathers over food, sake, and conversation.

Known for her collaborative leadership style, Paula is passionate about creating businesses that are both operationally strong and deeply personal. She believes restaurants have the power to preserve culture, strengthen communities, and create meaningful human connection. Whether mentoring teams, developing new concepts, or supporting Charleston’s independent restaurant scene, her work is rooted in thoughtful hospitality and a commitment to building places where both guests and employees feel at home.