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Local Positioning: East 3rd Street

A guide to eating, shopping and art in the Arts District

By Oliver Gettell

Metromix
October 29, 2008

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(Credit: Oliver Gettell)

Downtown L.A. is Los Angeles in microcosm, a collection of mini-neighborhoods, each with their own distinct personality. The Historic Core is home to trendy loft dwellers, the Financial District bustles with bargain hunters, and South Park entertains Angelenos via L.A. Live and the Staples Center. In the shadow of these high-profile neighbors, a low-key bohemian enclave has taken root on the eastern edge of Downtown, in what was once an industrial wilderness. Welcome to the Downtown Arts District.

Sci-Arc Gallery

960 E. 3rd St. - Los Angeles

213-613-2200

Founded by some of L.A.'s greatest architects (Ray Kappe, Ahde Lahti, Pritzker Prize winner Thom Mayne), the Southern California Institute of Architecture is an educational and cultural beacon. The route to the school's gallery (to the left and down the loooong hallway) offers a peak at students hard at work. In addition to exhibitions of completed projects, SCI-Arc also hosts a number of lectures and symposiums that are free and open to the public.

Cafe Metropol

923 E. 3rd St. - Los Angeles

213-613-1537

Brick walls and high ceilings frame this hip, Euro-inspired corner cafe. The menu could benefit from editing, but it's hard to argue with soups, salads, egg dishes, sandwiches and good coffee. Street art aficionados should take a moment to admire the graffiti wall next door.

Raggedy Threads

826 E. 3rd St. - Los Angeles

213-628-1234

Downtowners on the hunt for funky clothes can skip the trek to Melrose; this boutique has all the staple items, including rock tees, motorcycle jackets, vintage dresses and Western shirts. Bonus: The store's soundtrack often features music by local bands.

Bloom's General Store

716 Traction Ave. - Los Angeles

213-687-6571

What would a community be without its own general store? Bloom's is particularly dear to Arts District residents because its founder, the late Joel Bloom, helped shape the neighborhood into a livable place. His namesake market endures, providing locals with a place to pick up all the essentials: toothpaste, batteries, Cup Noodles, cat food, smokes, even magazines and DVDs.

Blue Dahlia Cafe

738 E. 3rd St. - Los Angeles

213-613-0621

This cozy cafe welcomes wine connoisseurs and neophytes alike for a glass and a nibble. (Or more than a nibble—the stuffed, Barolo-braised short-rib burger is a house specialty.) The interior is industrial-chic, and the charming back patio is ringed with trees. For the e-mail-obsessed, there’s free Wi-Fi during the week.

e3rd Steakhouse and Lounge

734 E. 3rd Street - Los Angeles

213-680-3003

A creative twist on the traditional steakhouse from the folks behind Zip Fusion Sushi (the eastern outpost of which is two doors down). E3rd caters to night owls with a late-night menu and full bar. As is often the case in these parts, a rotating art display features work by local artists.