An independent streak prevails

Nestled between the mega malls of the Beverly Center and the Grove is the defiantly different one-mile strip of L.A.’s 3rd Street. Weekends buzz with street-side dining at the numerous cafes and restaurants, while its one-of-a-kind shops (no chain stores in sight) provide an eclectic and unique array of fashion, gifts, housewares and crafts.

Cafe society

Not just a cafe but a complete food emporium, Joan’s on Third, (8350 W. 3rd St., [323] 655-2285, www.joansonthird.com) is an area institution with its delectable selections of great omelets, salads, sandwiches and baked goods, as well as gourmet food ingredients to take home. There is always a line outside for a table at the very hip Toast (8221 W. 3rd St., [323] 655-5018, www.toastbakerycafe.net), while atmospheric Little Next Door (8142 W. 3rd St., [323] 951-1010) provides an organic-trending menu with a French flair.

Fine dining

An L.A. dining institution, AOC (8022 W. 3rd St., [323] 653-6359, www.aocwinebar.com) serves great wines and inventive small plates. Ortolan (8338 W. 3rd St., [323] 653-3300, www.ortolanrestaurant.com) orchestrates fine French cuisine. Step behind the Little Door (8164 W. 3rd St., [323] 951-1210, www.thelittledoor.com) for a hidden world away from L.A. with its romantic European setting and favorite signature dishes like grilled rib-eye and steaming tagines of couscous royale. Wednesday and Thursday late nights host an art lounge with painters, poets and musicians.

Fashion

With their extensive range of vintage and new designers, the attentive staff at the renowned Polkadots & Moonbeams (8367 (vintage) and 8381 (modern) W. 3rd St., [323] 651-1746 and [323] 655-3880, www.polkadotsandmoonbeams.com) will find brand new looks for all ages and figures. For fun, young and flirty, there is House of Petro Zillia (8218 W. 3rd St., [323] 782-0424, www.petrozillia.com), and for upscale casual there is Noodle Stories (8323 W. 3rd St., [323] 651-1782).

Get crafty

The newly opened Hands-on 3rd (8377 W. 3rd St., [323] 655-0515, www.handson3rd.com) provides classes as varied as sewing, hat making and organic gardening. The Button Store (8344 W. 3rd St., [323] 658-5473) sells every button imaginable from antique to modern, while the Knitter’s Studio (8118 W. 3rd St., [323] 655-6487, www.knitculture.com) can provide a good yarn as you try to decipher a knit one from a purl one.

Traveling light

For armchair traveling, Traveler’s Bookcase (8375 W. 3rd St., [323] 655-0575, www.travelbooks.com) has a wide selection of guide books and travel fiction. Flight 001 (8235 W. 3rd St., [323] 966-0001, www.flight001.com) makes air travel more bearable with groovy and utilitarian luggage and accessories.

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