With its dizzying selection of sherries, wines, whiskeys and more, Public Services is a lush's dream. The bar bites, like fancy tinned fish and cured meats served with mustard and pickles, are from the mind of Theodore Rex chef Justin Yu.

A perfect date night destination, Hearsay serves up comfort food made with fancy ingredients. Share plates like lobster tempura, cheesesteak egg rolls, and deviled eggs, then try one of the heartier options, like fried chicken or seared, crab-topped salmon.

Gyros, spanakopita and falafel, oh my! The Market Square’s open-air version of the city's favorite Greek restaurant is an essential lunch destination. Enjoy a prepared boxed lunch complete with hummus, pita, gyro meat and dessert, or in the mornings, stop by the stand for iced coffee, a pastry and a creamy Greek yogurt parfait.

Next door to Char Bar, Warren’s Inn is also a historic Downtown bar worth making the rounds to. Enjoy a jukebox with a selection covering everyone from Willie Nelson to Wiz Khalifa. Bask in the ambience of the dimly lit bar while enjoying a deliciously strong martini prepared by a bow-tied bartender as patrons have done for decades.

Comfort comes in the form of Cajun fare at this Downtown institution that first opened in 1978. Warm cornbread, shrimp étouffée, seafood-laden gumbo, red beans and rice, and meaty jambalaya, among other classic Cajun options, await.. Be sure to polish off dinner with a slice of Italian cream cake and glass of iced tea.

Follow a narrow staircase in a nondescript downtown building to a bar that runs the entire length of Bad News’s small dark space. The old-fashioned speakeasy vibe notwithstanding, the bartenders here know exactly how to mix up the perfect martini or Old Fashioned.

A hub for the downtown hustle and bustle, Irma's has been a lunchtime hotspot for over 17 years. Definitely try the carne guisada and chile relleno, both staple dishes.

In need of pasta? Get thee to Potente immediately. Go for the cacio e pepe spaghetti that's showered with truffles at the table, or enjoy the excellent diver scallop served with crushed corn risotto.

James Beard Award winning chef Hugo Ortega has cooked up one of Houston's finest new restaurants in Xochi, an ode to Oaxaca. Start dinner with a crudo — perhaps oysters in a tomatillo mignonette? — then move on to heartier dishes like the infladita de conejo, a puffed tortilla filled with tender rabbit.

Hours can be spent perusing the aisles of the downtown location of Phoenicia Specialty Foods comes from the dream of Lebanese immigrants Bob and Arpi Tcholakian. The massive deli, shop, and cafe houses 15,000 products hailing from over 50 countries. This is the place to find a delicious shawarma sandwich with fresh baked pita, slow roasted lamb, follow it up with a French pastry, and wash it down with a boutique wine or imported beer.

Spend an afternoon sipping brews in a laid-back atmosphere. If the weather’s nice, park on the patio with a Rocket Fuel, a porter infused with Vietnamese iced coffee. In addition to the beer, the Eatsie Boys food truck is always right outside slinging elotes-topped fries, grilled cheese sandwiches, and more.