Dive Bars and Hidden Gems in Arts District

The Arts District has its share of well-photographed spots, but the places locals actually return to tend to be quieter about it. Here are the bars and under-the-radar restaurants worth knowing, from a genuine old saloon to a bookstore that earns its own category.

Eat Drink Americano (923 E 3rd St) is a gastropub that manages to be both a reliable neighborhood bar and a place that takes its kitchen seriously. Craft beer, boutique wine, locally sourced food, a patio, and brunch all in one room. It takes reservations and offers takeout and delivery, which makes it easier to work into a week.

Tony's Saloon (2017 E 7th St) is the closest thing the Arts District has to a true dive that has aged into something a little better than it started as. Pool, Ping-Pong, craft cocktails, regular music nights, and a patio. It kept its old-school feel while giving people enough reason to stay.

Loqui (818 E Third St) is a budget-friendly taqueria with a devoted local following, which is a real thing to earn in Los Angeles. It does takeout and delivery, but the reviews suggest plenty of people prefer to show up in person. Hard to argue with that.

baroo (905 E 2nd St, Suite 109) sits in a strip mall and turns out Korean-inflected cooking with locally sourced ingredients and a modern approach. The room is small, so book ahead. It is one of the most consistently well-regarded spots in the neighborhood and earns that reputation without much fuss.

Croissant Taiyaki is an affordable Arts District restaurant with a 4.9-star rating across several hundred reviews, which is the kind of number that makes you pay attention. Details are limited, but it takes reservations and offers takeout and delivery. The rating alone makes it worth finding.

Hayato (1320 E 7th St) is a small counter on East 7th Street serving omakase-style Japanese meals, both raw and cooked. Under a hundred reviews means it is still relatively quiet, but the people who have been think very highly of it. Reservations are required.

Hennessey + Ingalls (300 S Santa Fe Ave) is one of the better art and architecture bookstores in the city, with a large inventory covering design, photography, and fine art. It is not a bar or a restaurant, but it belongs on this list because it is exactly the kind of place that flies under the radar for people who would genuinely love it. Worth a long browse.