The Mission

While there are a few Mexican eateries in the vicinity of Old Town, you'd have a much better chance of tracking down a gourmet burger or a plate of sushi. So for that reason alone, The Mission fills a welcome niche in this 'hood. While the menu is a broader, more modern take on Latin cuisine, the real highlights are simple pleasures like street tacos and bacon-wrapped hot dogs. And even if you're only going to knock back $15 cocktails, the atmosphere here is certainly dark and sexy enough to encourage lingering.