Best Outdoor Dining Restaurants in LA Arts District (90021)
8 hand-picked restaurants, AI-analyzed and critic-validated
Essential Picks
#1
Bestia
9.1
A defining Arts District destination for house-cured charcuterie, blistered pizzas, and deeply flavored pastas from chefs Ori Menashe and Genevieve Gergis. The menu is bold and technique-forward, and the industrial dining room hums late into the night. Reservations are tough for a reason: the kitchen stays reliably excellent at scale.
Must-Try Dishes:
Bone marrow gnochetti with spinach and brown butter, Saffron tagliatelle with crab, uni, and chiles, Spicy lamb sausage pizza
What makes it special: A benchmark Arts District Italian kitchen with a top-tier salumi and pasta program.
Notable Picks
#2
Damian
8.8
A Michelin-recognized Arts District dining room from chef Enrique Olvera that leans modern without losing the thread of Mexican tradition. The kitchen excels at precise seafood and live-fire proteins, with polished service and an urban, greenhouse-like space that feels special for nights out. Reservations can be tough, but the payoff is a tightly executed, destination-level meal.
Must-Try Dishes:
Duck carnitas tacos, Rockfish ceviche, Banana leaf flan
What makes it special: Olvera’s refined, California-seasonal take on contemporary Mexican cooking.
8.7
Chef Junya Yamasaki’s progressive Japanese cooking centers on pristine California seafood and vegetables kissed by binchotan and a wood-fired stove. The former bank setting and long cypress counter create a calm, almost ceremonial izakaya-meets-kaiseki energy that still feels approachable.
Must-Try Dishes:
Monk’s chirashi sushi, Daily sashimi selection, Whole lobster katsu burger
What makes it special: Modern Japanese seafood and grill work rooted in SoCal seasonality.
8.6
A London-born Iranian kebab house that landed in the Arts District with a candlelit, garden-like dining room and a coal-fired focus. Expect refined mazeh spreads, expertly grilled skewers, and rice-bread pairings that feel both traditional and scene-ready. It’s the neighborhood’s most polished Persian experience right now, best enjoyed family-style.
Must-Try Dishes:
Koobideh Kebab Platter, Kashk-e Bademjan (smoky eggplant dip), Sangak with herb butter & torshi
What makes it special: Coal-grilled Iranian kebabs and luxe mazeh in a Persian-garden setting.
A sprawling moto-clubhouse-turned-restaurant where the food holds its own against the spectacle. Expect solid modern American comfort—breakfast through dinner—served in a high-energy warehouse setting that stays lively well into the evening.
Must-Try Dishes:
Bike Shed Burger, Steak & Eggs, Breakfast Burrito
What makes it special: A full-scale restaurant embedded inside a genuine moto social club.
#6
kodo
8.2
Vibes:
Girls Night Out Approved
Trendy Table Hotspots
Group Dining Gatherings
Instagram Worthy Wonders
A Japanese-American izakaya in a converted firehouse, balancing sushi, robata, and binchotan mains with a serious cocktail program. The space is minimalist and design-forward, and the menu rewards groups who want to share across hot and cold sections.
Must-Try Dishes:
Wagyu katsu with onion ponzu, Uni pasta with shiso and nori, Spicy tuna crispy rice
What makes it special: Design-centric izakaya with live-fire cooking and sushi under one roof.
#7
Afuri
8.1
Tokyo-born AFURI brings its bright, citrus-lifted yuzu shio ramen to the Arts District in a sleek, counter-service space with a full bar. The broth stays clean and aromatic, and the menu opens up into izakaya snacks that make it easy to turn a ramen run into a hang.
Must-Try Dishes:
Yuzu shio ramen, Buta gyoza, Karaage chicken
What makes it special: Signature yuzu-infused ramen that tastes light but satisfying.
Worthy Picks
7.8
A long-running Persian lunch counter beloved in the garment and warehouse corridors for reliable kabob plates and rice dishes. Expect straightforward, comforting flavors—charred koobideh, saffron chicken, and solid tahdig. It’s not about ambiance; it’s about getting a satisfying, halal-leaning meal fast.
Must-Try Dishes:
Boneless Chicken Kabob Plate, Beef Soltani, Tahdig
What makes it special: Dependable Persian kabobs at true workday prices.