  Among the possible superalgebras that contain the AdS$_3$ isometries, two
interesting possibilities are the exceptional $F(4)$ and $G(3)$. Their
R-symmetry is respectively SO(7) and $G_2$, and the amount of supersymmetry
${\cal N}=8$ and ${\cal N}=7$. We find that there exist two (locally) unique
solutions in type IIA supergravity that realize these superalgebras, and we
provide their analytic expressions. In both cases, the internal space is
obtained by a round six-sphere fibred over an interval, with an O8-plane at one
end. The R-symmetry is the symmetry group of the sphere; in the $G(3)$ case, it
is broken to $G_2$ by fluxes. We also find several numerical ${\cal N}=1$
solutions with $G_2$ flavor symmetry, with various localized sources, including
O2-planes and O8-planes.
