Boston Chefs

Go out for dinner . . . and stay out for drinks at Estella in Downtown Crossing. The American eatery at 49 Temple Place is just the ticket for a bite before the show, or a nightcap and snacks after (or both!).

There is plenty of space on the three levels of this stylish three-story space for you to find a cozy nook for a quiet dinner on the second floor, a barstool and a couple of cool cocktails on the main floor, or claim a booth for a swanky night out in the lower level lounge. The vibe is decidedly downtown, with oversize tufted chairs, ironwork and chandeliers set off with exposed brick and a dark marble bar with back-lit bottles.

The menu has an excellent selection of substantial appetizers and pizzas that are perfect over drinks after work or after hours, or if it’s dinner you’re after there are plenty of tasty mains of steaks, fish, pasta and grass-fed burgers, and you can round out your meal with sides and salads. The drinks menu features a curated collection of still and sparkling wines by the glass, split, half bottle and bottle, and beer lovers can choose from a mix of New England local breweries, domestics, imports, and hard seltzers on draft as well as bottles and cans. You’re downtown, though, so you gotta be fancy and have a cocktail (or two) from the inventive list with clever takes on mules, negronis, palomas, plus some in-house inventions to get the party started.