Best Places for Dinner in the LA Arts District
Photo Deliciousness Credit: Manuela Restaurant
The Arts District is a hotspot of local flavor to savor when it comes to dinner options:
Manuela
907 E 3rd St
Named after Manuela Wirth, one of the co-founders of art gallery Hauser & Wirth, Manuela serves seasonal, Southern-inspired cuisine with a California twist. Featuring artwork curated from Hauser & Wirth’s collection, the restaurant blends a gallery-like experience with amazing, food, an open kitchen, an outdoor patio with a garden, and even a chicken coop. Enjoy Southern-inspired dishes and farm-to-table ingredients, including fresh seafood, house-made charcuterie, wood-grilled meats, cornbread, fried chicken, and more.
Cha Cha Chá
812 E 3rd St
Opened in 2021 by Mexico City restaurateur Alejandro Marín, the Los Angeles counterpart to the popular Mexico City restaurant Terraza Cha Cha Chá serves bold, modern Mexican cuisine in a stylish and buzzy rooftop setting with great views of downtown. Menu highlights include tuna tostadas, grilled octopus, tacos, wood-fired meats, mezcal / tequila-based cocktails, and signature margaritas.
De La Nonna
810 S Santa Fe Ave
Known for its incredible pizzas, De La Nonna started as a pop-up before opening its permanent location in 2021. Founders Patrick Costa, Dustin Hogue, and Steve LaFountain wanted to create a welcoming space inspired by the warmth of an Italian grandmother’s kitchen. With an open dining space, communal tables, string lights, and an inviting outdoor patio, this popular spot specializes in naturally leavened, square-shaped pizzas with a light and crispy crust. Also serves seasonal small plates, fresh salads, and house-made pastas.
Bavel
500 Mateo St
Opened in 2018 by chefs Ori Menashe and Genevieve Gergis, the husband-and-wife duo behind the acclaimed Italian restaurant Bestia, Bavel draws diverse inspiration across their shared Moroccan, Turkish, Georgian, and Egyptian heritages. With a lush, plant-filled interior, Bavel showcases contemporary Middle Eastern cuisine, with popular items that include freshly baked pita, hummus variations, wood-grilled meats, seafood, and vibrant vegetable dishes.
Camélia
1850 Industrial St
Opened in mid-2024, Camélia is the latest venture by chef-owner Charles Namba and owner-wine and sake director Courtney Kaplan, the team behind the acclaimed Echo Park establishments Tsubaki and OTOTO. Their extensive travels in France and Japan, combined with Namba's experience in French kitchens, inspired them to create a restaurant that blends French cuisine with Japanese ingredients and techniques. Menu highlights include ham katsu croque madame, abalone and shrimp pot pie, and koji-roasted chicken with seaweed-infused sauce. The raw bar features items like crab with caviar, buckwheat honey butter, and purple yam blini, and more.
Yess Restaurant
1709 E 7th St
Opened in May 2023, Yess is the brainchild of Chef Junya Yamasaki, formerly of London's acclaimed Koya, and his sous chef Giles Clark. A progressive Japanese menu emphasizes local, seasonal ingredients prepared with traditional techniques. Housed in a historic 1920s former bank building, Yess' open kitchen is equipped with a custom-built wood-fired stove and charcoal grill, surrounded by a long cypress counter that offers diners an intimate view of the culinary process.
Everson Royce Bar
1936 E 7th St
Opened in late 2015, with chef Matt Molina, a James Beard Award winner and former chef at Osteria Mozza, Everson Royce Bar (ERB) is a welcoming neighborhood bar with exceptional food and drink and an expansive outdoor patio. Highlights include the Single Burger, featuring prime chuck beef, Tillamook cheddar, Dijonnaise, and a brioche bun, served with a pickle on the side. Other popular items are the buttermilk biscuits and fried chicken. The bar's beverage program complements the food menu with a curated list of cocktails, wines, and spirits.
Yangban
712 S Santa Fe Ave
Opened in 2022 by husband-and-wife chefs Katianna and John Hong, Yangban offers an acclaimed, genre-defying menu that blends Korean and American culinary traditions. Signature dishes include Golden Prawn Toast, Fried Wagyu Stuffed Pepper, and Matang Goguma Custard Pie for dessert. Redesigned in 2023, the re-imagined space features new furniture, chic lighting, and sleek design elements. In January 2025, Chef Katianna Hong was announced as a contestant on Season 22 of Bravo's "Top Chef," highlighting her culinary expertise and bringing further recognition to Yangban.
Bestia
2121 E 7th Pl
Opened in 2012 by husband-and-wife team Chef Ori Menashe and Pastry Chef Genevieve Gergis, Bestia was born from their shared dream of creating a unique dining experience. Despite initial skepticism about its location in a then-underdeveloped Arts District, the restaurant quickly gained acclaim. The pioneering success of Bestia led the duo to open additional establishments, including Bavel in 2018 and Saffy's in 2022.
Bestia offers a modern, rustic take on Italian cuisine, emphasizing house-made charcuterie, wood-fired pizzas, and freshly made pastas. The menu showcases Chef Menashe's interpretations of Italian classics, while Pastry Chef Gergis complements the savory offerings with inventive desserts. Housed in a converted warehouse, Bestia's open kitchen design allows diners to observe the culinary team in action. Adorned with fig trees and cacti, the lush courtyard also a popular hangout.
Damian
2132 E 7th Pl
Opened in 2020 with Chef Jesús "Chuy" Cervantes, Damian is the brainchild of renowned Mexican chef Enrique Olvera, celebrated for his acclaimed restaurants in Mexico City and New York City. Housed in a stunningly restored former warehouse, Damian’s menu puts a modern spin on Mexican cuisine, using seasonal California ingredients and Pacific coast flavors. Standouts include fish tempura tacos with kimchi, dry-aged branzino, and a corn tamale with corn crema and caviar. The drink menu focuses on artisanal spirits, featuring small-batch tequilas and mezcals that enhance the bold flavors.
Ditroit Taqueria
2117 Violet S
Ditroit is a laid-back outdoor spot in LA’s Arts District, serving up top-notch Mexican street food from a back-alley window. It’s the casual sibling to the upscale Damian, both from Chef Enrique Olvera. The menu keeps it simple but flavorful, with tacos like suadero and pork carnitas, plus other classics with a modern spin. The space is colorful and inviting, with murals and picnic tables that make it perfect for a relaxed meal.
Girl and the Goat
555 Mateo St
Opened in July 2021, this is the first expansion of Chef Stephanie Izard's acclaimed Chicago restaurant, Girl & the Goat. Chef Izard, renowned for her win on "Top Chef" and a James Beard Award recipient, brings her innovative culinary style to the West Coast with a globally inspired, eclectic menu of bold-flavored small plates designed for sharing. Signature dishes include confit goat belly, sticky glazed pork shank, and duck tongues with crispy wontons. The Los Angeles menu also incorporates seasonal California produce, resulting in unique creations like local opah fish with tomatoes, pickled raisins, pickled peppers, and salsa verde.
Bike Shed Moto
1580 Industrial St
Founded by Dutch and Vikki van Someren, Bike Shed Moto Co. originally began as a pop-up motorcycle show in London (yes, that London in the UK!) in 2013, celebrating custom bike culture with food, art, and community. In April 2022, the van Somerens expanded their vision to the U.S., opening an expansive 30,000-square-foot space in the LA Arts District that welcomes both riders and non-riders. Housed in a renovated 1945 red brick warehouse with with retro-modern art by LA-based British artist Conrad Leach, the 325-seat full-service restaurant offers a diverse menu with something for everyone across reakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. Popular dishes include the Deviled Eggs, Chicken Sandwich, and Bike Shed Burger. For plant-based diners, the Vegan Truffle Burger and Green Pea & Mint Hummus are among the favorites.
Father’s Office
905 E 2nd St #105 a A renowned gastropub with locations in Santa Monica, Culver City, and DTLA, Father's Office gained prominence under the ownership of Lou Moench from 1986 to 2000, becoming influential in the craft beer movement and pioneering smoke-free bars in California. In 2000, Chef Sang Yoon acquired the establishment, introducing a gourmet menu highlighted by the now-famous "Office Burger", which features dry-aged beef, caramelized onions, Gruyère and Maytag cheeses, applewood-smoked bacon compote, and arugula, served on a soft roll.
Opened in 2020 and the largest of its three venues, the Arts District outpost maintains the brand's signature industrial-chic design and celebrated menu offering, plus an extensive selection of over 50 craft beers on tap, plus curated wines and house cocktails.
Wurstküche
800 E 3rd St Founded in 2008 by cousins Joseph Pitruzzelli and Tyler Wilson, Wurstküche was inspired by the duo's love for gourmet sausages and craft beers. Specializing in "exotic grilled sausages," Wurstküche offers a diverse menu ranging from traditional bratwurst to adventurous options like rattlesnake and rabbit with jalapeño peppers. Each sausage is served on a freshly baked roll with a choice of toppings, complemented by Belgian-style fries and a variety of dipping sauces. The beverage selection includes a curated list of German and Belgian beers.
Zinc Café & Market
580 Mateo St. Zinc Cafe & Market is a cherished establishment with multiple locations across Southern California, known for its vegetarian cuisine and inviting atmosphere. Zinc set up shop in the Arts District in 2014, bringing its relaxed, veggie-focused vibe the neighborood in a clean, minimalist space with lots of natural light and greenery. The menu is all about fresh, plant-based dishes, with favorites like the Mushroom and Asparagus Omelette, Grilled Vegetable Sandwich, and Margherita Pizza. Recently, they’ve added some high-quality proteins, like grilled organic chicken, marinated steak, and seasonal fish, giving diners more options while keeping things fresh and simple.
Pizzeria Bianco
1320 E 7th St
A renowned pizzeria with locations in Phoenix, Arizona, and Los Angeles, California, Pizzeria Bianco is known for its wood-fired pizzas that keep things simple but use top-notch ingredients. The menu offers a mix of appetizers, salads, and six signature pizzas, including the classic Margherita and the Wiseguy, made with house-smoked mozzarella, fennel sausage, and roasted onions. Bianco’s focus on fresh, locally sourced ingredients—like his daily-made mozzarella—has made it one of most acclaimed pizzerias in the country.
Come Home to Creativity & Connection
Combining upscale living, innovative work environments, and a thoughtful mix of retail and activated community space, Alloy is a vibrant hub in the heart of the Arts District. Contact us or stop by in person to learn more about apartment availability, move-in specials, and more.
