Looking for a place to take your out of town guests over the holidays? Consider some of St. Paul’s latest hotspots that have opened in the past year where you can grab great food and linger after over a decent beer, wine or cocktail. As the fast-casual trend continues to grow, some of St. Paul’s newest hotspots are order-at-the counter, which we’ve noted with an asterisk (*) in case you have a preference on whether your group wants to dine on the more casual or full-service sit down side.

CELESTE ST. PAUL HOTEL + BAR

The prettiest new cocktail lounge around, this downtown spot on the same block as the Fitzgerald Theater just rolled out last month. The quaint space is tucked just inside the main doors of the new Celeste St. Paul boutique hotel, on a historical site that was once St. Agatha’s Conservatory of Music & Arts and where the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet lived and worked. The Beaux-Arts-style building now features a bar situated in a former parlor room that while a quaint space, emits a grand feel. It’s a fun place to grab a drink, with options such as prosecco on tap and craft cocktails using spirits from women-owned or -operated distilleries and vineyards. Light fare such as flatbread pizzas, deviled eggs and snacks are available.

26 E. Exchange St., St. Paul; celestestpaul.com

*DUE FOCACCERIA

Modeled after an Italian piazza, this 30-seat indoor, 20-seat outdoor Italian eatery and market in St. Paul’s Macalester-Groveland neighborhood packs plenty of energy in such a quaint space. Dishes such as sandwiches, pizzas, meat and cheese platters play off of bread baked on site that is a cross between focaccia and schiacciata Italian flatbreads. Order at a kiosk. However, if you want to order off the carefully curated wine and beer list or have a fun Italian-inspired cocktail, you can head to the bar to place your order.

475 S. Fairview Ave., St. Paul; 651-493-8858; duefocacceria.com

ESTELLE

In one of the most anticipated St. Paul restaurant openings of the year, the newly minted Estelle doesn’t disappoint. This is where I would want to take my out-of-town guests when looking for a new cozy, neighborhood sit-down restaurant with great food, drink list and service. The 60-seat full-service dining room at the Mac-Groveland spot is serving up some fun and tasty Italian, Spanish and Portuguese inspired dishes that includes sandwiches, pastas and knife-and-fork entrees. On the bar side, which has 20 seats, a Pintxos menu of traditional Spanish plates that are small, or more on the noshing side, is available. The spot also boasts a serious drink program with a primo wine, beer and craft cocktail list.

1806 St. Clair Ave., St. Paul; 651-330-9648; estellestp.com

*FIREBOX ST. PAUL

FireBox, the Minneapolis eatery with a cult following for its barbecue and eclectic range of sides now has a St. Paul outpost. The shiny, new digs on the northwest corner of Marshall and Snelling avenues (just look for the gray building with floor to ceiling windows) offers FireBox favorites such as brisket, ribs, pulled pork and chicken wings as well as sides such as mac and cheese, collard greens and sticky rice. And bonus: the St. Paul version also serves wine and beer, including local labels such as Surly, Bauhaus, Castle Danger and Bent Paddle, as well as a menu of bar-friendly appetizers.

FireBox St. Paul: 1585 Marshall Ave., St. Paul; 651-414-9986; fireboxdeli.com

GRAY DUCK TAVERN

Not only is Minnesota the land of duck, duck, gray duck — in other words the proper phrase to use when playing the game (don’t get us started) — it’s also the land of hotdish, wild rice and walleye. This is where we want to take our friends for a taste of Minnesota, be it the tater tot hotdish, gravy laden dishes, wild rice, walleye, lefse and more. While this spot has been around for a bit, the downtown St. Paul restaurant underwent new management (local celebrity chef Justin Sutherland) earlier this year. With it comes a menu update, switching from globally influenced fare to one with Minnesota accents. Is this iteration as wonderful as it sounds? You betcha. And the contemporary setting? Oh, for cute.

345 Wabasha St., St. Paul; 651-340-9022; grayduckstpaul.com

HOPE BREAKFAST BAR

This casual, full-service family-friendly spot in a former fire station in the West Seventh area is drawing crowds for its contemporary vibe and breakfast-served-all-day menu that is oh so sweet. We’re not kidding, as there are plenty of dishes to satisfy your sweet tooth. Pancakes are made with cake batter and come in several varieties such as banana churros, carrot cake and peanut butter and cocoa pancakes. Some savory items such as a classic egg, hashbrown and bacon platters, breakfast sandwiches and shrimp and grits also make up the menu. Plenty of coffee varieties such as matcha coffee, horchata cafe and lavender vanilla latte are also available, as is a list of wine, beer and cocktails. It’s worth noting that the spot holds day and early evening hours (6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday)

1 S. Leech St.; St. Paul; hopebreakfast.com

PUBLIC KITCHEN + BAR

While this St. Paul Lowertown spot across from pretty Mears Park and close to the CHS Field has been around, Public Kitchen + Bar recently got a refresh so it’s a whole new ballgame. The menu has been overhauled and this one is laden with plenty more seafood, steak and pasta options. For more casual fare, things like burgers are also available. The cocktail program also has new items while remaining as spirited as ever. The space is as contemporary and energetic as ever, too. And the space still easily accommodates crowds, so it’s a great place to take a large group.

229 E. Sixth St., St Paul; 651-348-6456; publickitchenstpaul.com

*TACO LIBRE

This casual downtown space with a combination of high tops and booths not only serves delicious Mexican street food, but also has a 20-plus pour your own beer wall inviting you to stay and play for awhile. If beer is not your thing, margaritas and mezcal cocktails are also available. When it comes to ordering food, we like to share an order of the signature Machete — a long taco-and quesadilla-like concoction that is basically a house-made corn tortilla stuffed with fixings and proteins of your choice. Further customize your order at the salsa bar.

354 N. Wabasha St., St. Paul; tacolibreusa.com

THE FITZ

We love this contemporary Cathedral Hill spot for many reasons. Most recently because it’s upped its pizza game and now serves Chicago deep dish in addition to an eclectic mix of thin-crust pizzas with global influences. It’s worth noting that deep-dish pizzas here will take about 45-minutes to make, so start your group off with an appetizer, thin-crust pizza and/or a craft cocktail while you wait. There are also things such as salads and sandwiches if you’re craving something other than pizza.

We highly recommend it as a place to watch the Vikings game. The spot has multiple screens throughout the bar and dining room areas. What better combination than pizza and the game, especially when the Vikings are winning?

173 N. Western Ave., St. Paul; 651-219-4013; thefitzstpaul.com