5 Corners Kitchen
This French-inspired restaurant is not what you'd expect to find in a quaint seaside town. The feel is trendy but unpretentious; the space is open and airy; and the wine list rivals those you might see in Boston. The food itself is a wonderfully eclectic mix of country cooking and local seafood, with everything from escargots and oysters to bacon cheeseburgers and house-made squid-ink spaghettini represented on the menu. 2 School St., Marblehead, MA 5cornerskitchen.com.
80 Thoreau
City dwellers happily hop the Fitchburg line to the Concord Depot train station and head directly upstairs to the impeccable 80 Thoreau, where chef Carolyn Johnson (formerly of Rialto) cooks up some of the most consistently well-executed farm-to-table fare around, from a creamy parsnip-and-nettle soup with green garlic to seared skate with asparagus and walnuts. The management team's résumés include stints at New York's Craft, Per Se, and Rainbow Room, ensuring service is as impeccable as the cuisine. 80 Thoreau St., Concord, MA 1742, 80thoreau.com.
The Brotherhood of Thieves
This casual spot offers a three-for-one boozing experience: The bustling biergarten, which features beer, wine, and spirits from Nantucket's own Cisco Brewers; the relaxed upstairs bar, perfect for kicking back with a cocktail mixed with the island's own Triple Eight Distillery spirits; and the cozy 19th-century-style "whaling bar' downstairs, where you can chat up the bartender about the band that's playing—and which scotch to try next. 23 Broad St., Nantucket, MA 2554, brotherhoodofthieves.com.
Cohasset Jewelers
Looking for a bright bauble or some elegant antique jewelry? Check out this family-owned shop for Charles Garnier diamond loop earrings, icy Simon G wedding bands, Nomination charm bracelets, and contemporary Michael Good necklaces. The impressive estate collection includes Edwardian peridot brooches, Cartier engagement rings, and Victorian-era earrings. 790A Chief Justice Cushing Hwy. (Rte. 3A), Cohasset, MA cohassetjewelers.com.
Eli's Pub
Eli's is the rare watering hole that is not too cheesy, too pretentious, or too pricey. Tucked off the main room of the Barker Tavern, this candlelit nook has a gleaming mahogany bar that serves a jovial but civilized crowd. It also serves such scrumptious food as crab cakes with roasted yellow pepper coulis and duck breast with orange honey—hoisin sauce. 21 Barker Rd., Scituate, MA barkertavern.com/pub.html.
B.B. Wolf's
The succulent beef doesn't just fall off the bone here, it leaps. Cooked in a smoker built in Texas, the beef short ribs served at this joint near Fenway Park are a combination of Memphis and Kansas City styles. They're dry-rubbed with herbs and spices and then smothered in sauce while they simmer. The accompanying fire-roasted veggies are great, and the sturdy molasses-baked cornbread stands up to the sauce. Pool tables are covered in aged red felt in tune with a decor that can only be described as "nouveau barn". 109 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA .
Cheryl Ann's of Brookline
Lines form around the block on Friday afternoons and before major Jewish holidays, though this challah is too good to save for special occasions. Cheryl Ann's challah has the soft sweetness of brioche and looks like a food stylist's dream loaf, golden and braided. These breads are not available elsewhere; fanatics admit that their New York relatives beg them to Fed Ex Cheryl's challahs to the Big Apple. 1010 West Roxbury Parkway, West Roxbury, MA .
Yale Appliance & Lighting
The kitchen, they say, is the heart of the home, which may explain why an outdated one can be such a source of agitation for image-conscious homeowners. Yale Appliance + Lighting can ease the pain. Its Dorchester headquarters packs in Thermador refrigerators, Viking stovetops, Sub-Zero wine coolers, and Bosch dishwashers. The store will deliver your purchase and remove your old gear for free, and also offers cooking and appliance seminars run by its resident chef, Kurt von Kahle. 296 Freeport St., Dorchester, MA 2122, yaleappliance.com.
Inde Salon & Skincare
Come for an expert cut and color, stay for the waxing, spray tan, and facial services at this full-service Quincy salon, situated in the first floor of a charming old home. With just a handful of chairs that face full-length mirrors, the intimate, sunny space feels even more like home once you sit down and chat with owner Hillary Deshler or one of her experienced stylists, all of whom are adept at creating beautiful, face-flattering looks. 46 Independence Ave., Quincy, MA 2169, indesalon.com.
Quadrum
Displayed in glass cases and backlit boxes like museum treasures, the handcrafted baubles at Quadrum are proof positive that fine jewelry needn't be boring. Here, raw diamonds, black tourmaline crystals, and ocean-blue opal star in bold pieces that work as well for a formal gala as they do for a dinner out with friends. Even better, the team often invites the artisans who create them into their space for special events, offering an inside look at the creative process behind your new favorite necklace. The Shops at Chestnut Hill, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, quadrumgallery.com.
Ares Shoe Repair
Stopping by this tiny garden-level shop feels like visiting your friendly but gruff grandfather's house: Cobbler Mike Damirshian won't hide his disappointment in your shoes' subpar appearance, but he will assure you that they can, in fact, be saved. And each and every time, he's true to his word—heels that have been worn to metal posts are miraculously rebuilt, holey soles are replaced, and scuffs are polished away. You'll walk out with kicks that look (almost) brand new. 84 Charles St., Boston, MA 02114, .
Michelle Lee, Salon Eva Michelle
Don't let Michelle Lee's warm, chatty demeanor fool you. This woman is absolutely ruthless with a pair of shears—in the best way possible. She pulled no punches when telling us the problems with our current haircut (too heavy in the back, weirdly choppy in the front, not enough movement anywhere), and promptly got to work trimming and styling with aplomb. Thirty minutes later, it looked like half our mane was on the floor. The style left behind, however, was nothing short of impeccable. 118 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, salonevamichelle.com.
Grill 23 & Bar
In this casual-everything era, it comes as a welcome relief to walk into Grill 23, where garçons wear jackets and ties; mix a damn fine martini, shaken tableside; and serve lavish side dishes, impressive wines, and above all, salty, darkly crusted cuts of meat. The 100-day-aged prime rib-eye, in particular, is the best the city has to offer—so tender and perfectly cooked you'll be forgiven for declining the velvety béarnaise that comes on the side. 161 Berkeley St., Boston, MA 02116, grill23.com.
White Elephant
Leave your car on the Cape. Nantucket’s iconic harborfront resort, and its well-appointed rooms, are no more than 10 minutes from anyplace you’d want to go: Young’s for bikes, the Juice Bar for ice cream, the beach and ferry, too. And if you’re looking for the best on-island massage, you don’t even have to leave the building. 50 Easton St., Nantucket, MA 02554, whiteelephanthotel.com.
Eyestarr
Not to be confused with those glue-on falsies of yore, lash extensions are painstakingly applied, one by one, to your own lashes. Sound extravagant? Perhaps, but skilled lash masters like Andrea Starr, of Eyestarr, have begun taking extensions from special-occasion accessory to daily must-have. Starr's work is both meticulous and natural-looking. From her bright, sunny shop on Newbury Street, a boldface clientele emerges batting a thousand. 291 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02115, eyestarr.com.