Much of downtown Boston is geared toward lunch spots and swanky power dining. Not Haley.Henry: This wine bar is refreshingly different. You won’t find people rushing through their breaks or client meetings happening within this tiny, industrial-chic space. Instead, expect to see friends and couples lingering over bottles of natural wine—they’ll open anything if you commit  to two glasses—with charcuterie and cheese boards and one of the city’s best selections of tinned fish. If you’re seeking more than snacks, look for rotating seasonal crudo, salads, and wine-friendly plates like Tomato Braised Squid with fingerling potatoes and fried garlic. Go on a Wednesday for wacky wiener specials from the fun-loving crew.

No. 9 Park borders Boston Common on Beacon Hill. It’s the flagship for acclaimed chef Barbara Lynch, and compared to her other, newer outposts (think Sportello, B&G Oysters, and Drink), it’s cozier and more well-worn. From a la carte offerings to a six-course chef’s tasting menu, there are a variety of ways to enjoy this fine-dining destination. When we’re not feeling a full-on splurge, we love to drop in on the bustling cocktail bar for a Palmyra—a refreshingly easy-to-love cocktail made with vodka, lime juice, and mint—and a few dishes like signature Prune Stuffed Gnocchi with foie gras, or prime Steak Tartare. This is also an ideal spot for that fancy business lunch and romantic dinner.

This lunchtime outpost has earned righteous acclaim for its starchy and stretchy hand-pulled noodles. For first-timers at Gene’s Chinese Flatbread Cafe, we recommend the #4 Hand-Pulled Noodles, which are doused in spicy red chili sauce, garlic, and cilantro. Try a five-spice Pork Flatbread Sandwich (#3), a handheld on freshly baked Chinese flatbread, for the namesake snack. Come back for the #9, a cumin-and-lamb rendition which ups the ante with plenty of meat, spice, and shredded vegetables. Gene’s also has suburban locations in Woburn and Westford when you’re craving this excellent Chinese food somewhere other than on the border between Downtown Crossing and Chinatown.

Interior design details like chandeliers, sculpted ceilings, and a cheeky portrait of Christopher Walken in Napoleonic garb make Yvonne’s one of the most over-the-top settings for dinner in the city. The menu matches the extravagance, from small plates like Chicken and Quinoa Meatballs in Chinese garlic sauce and Bavette Steak “Mirabeau” with anchovy butter, to  feeds-two-plus “feasts” such as the Grilled “Viper” Chop pork short rib with crispy kimchi fried rice. As good as the food is, this speakeasy is worth visiting for the creative cocktails alone, including one of the best Espresso Martinis around. Bring a few friends to partake in the large-format drinks like Queen’s Park Hotel, full of Jamaican estate rum, sweet vermouth, pomegranate, and lime, which require a party of four or more to share.

As the kids say these days, Mariel is a vibe. Set in a building once home to a bank, the grandiose space with vaulted ceilings is just one of the ways Mariel makes quite a statement. This lavish Cuban restaurant and its U-shaped bar is sexy and striking, usually with a DJ spinning pulsing Latin beats. From the team that brought us Yvonne’s, Ruka, Coquette, and Lolita , a reputation for cocktails precedes—go for the DTO (Daiquiri Time Out), or peruse an entire section devoted to the Mojito. Sit at the U-shaped bar overlooking the curated collection of rum or in the dining room amongst Art Deco chandeliers and stay for Bocaditos (snacks), Pequeños (small plates), and personal pan-size Cuban Street Pizzas.