Long's Jewelers
A visit to any of our local high-end jewelers will render you an expert on the four Cs in no time. But on selection and service, Long's takes top honors, offering more than 500 styles in-store (from vintage-inspired numbers by Ritani to modern beauties by Furrer-Jacot) and guaranteeing that if a stone shakes loose long after you walk out the door, they'll fix it, gratis. 100 Summer St., Boston, MA 2110, longsjewelers.com.
Craft Beer Cellar
Much to the delight of local hopheads, this shop—opened in Belmont four years ago by Cambridge Common alums Suzanne Schalow and Kate Baker—is now spreading its sudsy gospel to new locations in Newton, Winchester, Braintree, and Westford. In addition to offering tastings and classes, staffers take their inventory of ales and lagers quite seriously, regularly updating the varieties available at each store online (the newly opened Newton Centre outpost alone carries more than 1,000 beers) and cataloging them by brewery, provenance, and style. 51 Leonard St., Belmont; and other locations, craftbeercellar.com.
Desfina
You won't find modern, four-star Greek cuisine at this hole in the wall. But in an oddly delightful way, it reminds us of every humble neighborhood taverna we've savored in Greece, from the blue-and-white paper place mats to the scattered but amiable service. The tzatziki is a house specialty, the moussaka hearty and delicious, the ;horiatiki a true Greek salad—all plates so tasty, we'd be loath to smash a single one. 202 3rd St, Cambridge, MA 2141, desfina.com.
Pretty Things Beer and Ale Project
Talk about microbrewing: This Somerville-based enterprise was founded by husband-and-wife team Dann and Martha Paquette, and now employs all of four people to meet an ever-growing demand. Pretty Things' masterful ales are made in tiny batches, with each bottle and keg numbered (and slightly different from the next); the Paquettes even design their own labels. Restaurants and shops can't get enough of Jack D'Or, a dry saison with a touch of hops; or Baby Tree, a quad made with plums. MA
Sophia's Grotto
In a mere four years this precocious trattoria has grown up into an authentic Old World beauty, its cloistered brick courtyard now mature with ornamental trees and grasses and a massive climbing hydrangea. Prices, though, have barely changed at all, with big bowls of pastas and other Italian standbys averaging about $15. With the patio's bee lights twinkling overhead and a glass of sweetly chilled Grechetto in hand, you'll find Roman holidays don't come any cheaper than this. 22 Birch St., Roslindale, MA 2131, sophiasgrotto.com.
Chatham Bars Inn
Letting go of your inner Griswold in favor of a genuine vacation can be a challenge, but the Chatham Bars Inn makes taking it easy a breeze. The oceanfront resort serves R&R on a silver platter with a lengthy list of activities—croquet, kickboxing, nature hikes—along with pristine rooms, a top-notch destination spa, and no fewer than four Zagat-rated restaurants. 297 Shore Road, Chatham, MA 2633, chathambarsinn.com.
Uniform
If Seth Cohen were to leave The O.C. and open a clothing store, it would look like Uniform. The store has Standard American shirts, Original Penguin blazers, Ben Sherman polos, and Lee premium jeans (yes, they're cool again). And prices under $100 make this four-month-old South End hot spot a favorite among the thrifty trendsetting set. 511 Tremont St. in Atelier 505, Boston, MA uniformboston.com.
Firicano's Barber Shop
Think hot-towel shaving is a lost art? Not so: Young Rich Firicano is keeping the tradition alive and well. After thoroughly prepping your whiskers with a warm washcloth, a special softening cream, and the standard foam, he will proceed to dispatch them with smooth strokes and a steady hand—just what you want when a four-inch razor is skimming your neck. 240 North St., Boston, MA firicanosbarbershop.com.
Tony Coviello
Maybe it's because his "Good morning" is warm as toast on your way into the hotel for a 7 a.m. breakfast meeting. Or maybe it's because he (and the players on his team) will keep your car up front if you tell them you're only going to be an hour. But Tony Coviello has become a beloved Boston institution most likely because he makes every guest who swishes through the portals of the Four Seasons feel that he or she belongs there. Four Seasons Hotel, Boston, MA .
Vizio Optic
This petite Brookline Village shop is a four-time Best of Boston winner, and for good reason: Vizio Optic's top-notch service starts with the on-site optometrist and ends with the 360-degree photo booth, which allows buyers to see how those glasses look from the side, too. More than 1,000 frame choices include high-fashion, time-honored favorites from Chanel, Alain Mikli, and Robert Marc, as well as funky, lesser-known lines like Kata and Lafont. 11 Harvard St., Brookline, MA 2445, viziooptic.com.
Dennis Pines Golf Course
Seven thousand yards of championship golfing, nestled in 170 acres of sweet-smelling pine forest: The 72-par Dennis Pines is a course to be reckoned with. With water at four of the holes, enough trees to test anyone's accuracy, and the notorious par-5 twelfth, the course is arguably the toughest—and certainly one of the most beautiful—on Cape Cod. Amenities are plentiful, including an expansive driving range and practice green, a nice little lounge, and a well-stocked pro shop. Rte. 134, East Dennis, MA dennisgolf.com.
Seaport Boston Hotel
Seaport Hotel's Wave Health and Fitness Club isn't the swankiest place to swim in Boston (that would be the InterContinental). But it's far from crowded, well kept, and refreshingly affordable. The skylight-enhanced pool offers three warm, four-and-a-half-foot-deep lanes, and the $15 day fee includes the eucalyptus-infused steam rooms and plenty of workout equipment. Bonus: Kids are just $5 a pop. 1 Seaport Ln., Boston, MA 2210, seaportboston.com.
The Bristol Lounge
The Four Seasons' lounge caters to both sorts of solo patrons: those who find themselves alone, and those who wish to be left alone. The skilled barkeeps are the city's quickest studies of stag drinkers, able to gauge whether you're up for a chat, a snack, or a stiff drink and silence. And the Bristol's cozy appointments make it perfectly suited to parties of one. 200 Boylston St., Boston, MA 2116, .
Anna's Taqueria
Henry Ford may have invented the assembly line, but Anna's Taqueria has perfected it. The queue at any of its four locations is usually out the door but moves quickly, thanks to the deft hands of the burrito-istas who slap down cheese, guac, hot sauce, and tasty meat faster than Speedy Gonzales. Don't think quality suffers with velocity, however: The lemony grilled chicken, the spicy carnitas, and the juicy grilled vegetables are as delicioso as the assembly is rápido. 1412 Beacon St., Brookline, MA annastaqueria.com.
Café Vanille
Experienced sweet-tooths know exactly where to turn when sugar cravings hit. Vanille's pastry cases are chock full of tantalizing treats: cappuccino cheesecake, chocoholic bliss tart, Boston cream pie. Don't fret if you can't decide. Just sample the bakery's petit fours—bite-sized sensations that include the ethereal diva (chocolate and caramel mousse) and the encore-deserving opera (coffee buttercream cake). We dare you to resist becoming addicted to this Beacon Hill sweet spot. 70 Charles St., Boston, MA frenchmemories.com.