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