On St. Paul and Water streets, between the Inner Loop and Main, hulking brick factories once housed Rochester’s venerable clothing companies and tool-and-die shops. This is where the city became a manufacturing center of national repute. A hundred years later, the St. Paul Quarter was the first city neighborhood to convert these factories into loft apartments, tech startups and a growing number of bars and restaurants.

The early-evening crowd can find martinis and dinner in the quarter’s eclectic eateries. St. Paul also is home to an impressive collection of dance clubs like Liquid Nightclub, Club Klymax and the Liquor Room, and Rochesterians come here to let loose to salsa, techno or the live offerings of touring bands. Tucked behind St. Paul on a tiny side street not far from the river, Water Street Music Hall brings rising stars and established bands with a loyal following.

Restaurants

Eateries in the St. Paul Quarter may not be as plentiful as other neighborhoods, but what they lack in numbers they make up for in variety. Sienna Contemporary Grill & Bar serves regional American cuisine in an upbeat, contemporary setting. Eat at the bar or in the downstairs dining room at Tapas 177 Lounge; you’ll find wild game and seafood on the menu. Lively Caribbean flavors mark the lunches and early dinners served at L.J.’s II Jamaican Cuisine. Pane Vino Ristorante has moderately priced Italian, an extensive wine list and a view of the Genesee River. Toasted Head Bar & Grill offers gourmet dinners and late-night drinks. Table Seven Bistro & Lounge has wood-fired pizza. Open for breakfast and lunch, Lacagnina’s Deli has hot and cold sandwiches and a daily soup special.

Main thoroughfares: St. Paul and Andrews streets
Parking: Genesee Crossroads Garage (69 Andrews St.), meters on St. Paul and Andrews (free after 5). Some surface lots, but check the signs: Tow-away zones are strictly enforced.

Bars

The Club at Water Street: Dancing, live entertainment. 204 N. Water St.; 325-5600
Club Klymax: Live comedy, reggae, hip hop. 40 St. Paul St.; 232-8690
Liquid Nightclub: Dancing. 169 St. Paul St.; 325-5710
The Liquor Room: Late-night bar. 155 St. Paul St.; 454-7750
Table Seven Bistro & Lounge: Bar and bistro. 187 St. Paul St.; 232-4305
Tapas 177 Lounge: Dancing and dining. 177 St. Paul St.; 262-2090
Toasted Head Bar & Grill: Casual bar. 187 St. Paul St.; 232-4305
Water Street Music Hall: National and regional bands. 204 N. Water St.; 325-5600

Live music: The Club at Water Street; Club Klymax; Tapas 177; Water Street Music Hall