It’s amazing what a new baseball stadium can do. Since the opening of PETCO Park in 2004, the 130 blocks that make up Downtown San Diego’s East Village has reawakened. Restaurateurs, barkeeps, and artists have moved in, transforming the once derelict warehouse district into a hip, urban neighborhood.

One such restaurateur is San Diego’s own Arsalun Tafazoli. After visits to China and Japan during college, he returned to San Diego wanting something different from the city’s bar culture. He wanted to set up a restaurant/bar that people could go to when craving quality libations, good food, and good conversation without the burden of dress codes and reservations.

The result? East Village’s Neighborhood. Brandishing 27 craft microbrews on tap, a choice selection of craft bottled beers, an array of wines, and a library of rye whiskey, bourbon whiskey, and scotch, there’s plenty there to wet your whistle beyond vodka. In fact, they don’t carry the non-colored, potato-distilled spirit.

Nor do they carry ketchup. Rather, Neighborhood offers tweaked up pub grub with flavors that stand up without it. Must tries off the “Smalls” section of the menu include the Steak Tartar ($8), Sweet Potato Fries ($7), and Onion Rings ($6). From there, you can’t go wrong with any of their burgers ($10), their take on Steamed Pork Buns ($11), or any of their salad entrees ($9 to $11).

Falling under the same no-dress-code umbrella is East Village’s El Dorado Cocktail Lounge, a bar owned and opened by four Spokane, Washington transplants, three of whom are brothers. Whereas Neighborhood is about craft beers, El Dorado is about craft cocktails. Sure, El Dorado can serve up standards like jack-and-coke or red-bull-and-vodka. But the true heart of the bar beats in its craft cocktails, all of which are made with care yet without a snobby fuss. One example: The Moscow Mule, a drink made up of vodka, lime, ginger beer, and aromatic bitters served up in a mason jar.

Since turning two in 2010, El Dorado is slowly but surely stepping up its game to become a San Diego venue as well. Between Tuesdays and Sundays, visitors entering the red-walled sanctum of owners Matthew Stanton, Marshall Stanton and Ryan Koontz will more often than not either enjoy the spin styles of local and internationally renowned DJs or a live band.

East Village: just one of Downtown San Diego’s jewels beyond the Gaslamp Quarter.