Republique

Sqirl

The ricotta toast that launched a thousand Instagram accounts, yes. But Sqirl is more than that — it's a tiny, sun-drenched kitchen turning out some of the most thoughtful grain bowls and seasonal plates on the east side. Jessica Koslow's preserves are legendary for a reason. The line moves fast. The food is worth the wait.

Bestia

The restaurant that put the Arts District on the culinary map and somehow hasn't lost a step in over a decade. Ori Menashe's Italian cooking is muscular and unapologetic — house-made salumi, wood-fired pizzas, pastas that could make a Bolognese weep. The room is industrial-gorgeous, loud in the best way, and impossible to get into on short notice. Plan ahead.

The Broad

Eli and Edythe Broad's contemporary art museum is free, stunning, and houses one of the most important postwar collections in the world. Basquiat, Koons, Ruscha, Haring — all under one vaulted honeycomb roof designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro. The infinity mirror room still draws lines, but the permanent collection alone justifies the visit.