Ginza Restaurant
Raise your hand if you're tired of the same standard sushi, meal in and meal out: tuna maki, salmon sushi, tuna sushi, salmon maki. We're tired of it, too, which is why we thank our lucky stars for the Chinatown flagship branch of Ginza. This restaurant proves there's life beyond the basics with artful orchestrations such as Boston maki—lobster, salmon, rice, lettuce, and a smattering of salty roe. Lest you assume that creativity eclipses flavor here, it doesn't. Everything from the cooked octopus to the seasonal raw seatrout is sweetly fresh, cut to order, and best washed down with any of the 12 varieties of sake. 16 Hudson St., Boston, MA ginza-boston.com.
Wishbasket
We're not typically the nesting types, but thanks to Wishbasket, our pied-à-terre has been looking practically hibernation-ready. Once inside the French country shop, we find ourselves stocking up on rustic dinnerware, super-soft throws, current cookbooks, and specialty sea salts. Once, we even walked out with bath soaps labeled 'bonjour' and 'bonne nuit.' Our purchases have changed our minds about quiet evenings at home. Or at least evenings spent quietly admiring our new home accessories. 50 Water St., Newburyport, MA 1950, .
Banq
You could go for the smoked quail and date appetizer. You could go for the now-famous undulating wood ceiling. But the best reason to go to Banq is to simply sit, and watch the social hopefuls preen. When the French-Asian fusion spot made its debut in the South End this winter, boldfacers came from far and wide. These days, Banq still draws its share of top chefs, fashion insiders, and media darlings—who cluster around the low-lit tables, sipping Collalbrigo prosecco and air-kissing passing acquaintances—but the dressed-to-the-nines newcomers looking to hobnob are themselves the best show on all of Washington Street.
Esplanade
Every runner has his or her own personal preference for, say, the simplicity of a small loop around Jamaica Pond, or the solitude of the Somerville bike path. But only the Esplanade trail along the Charles has it all: spectacular views of the Boston skyline from the Cambridge side, Harvard and MIT from the Boston side, and the sailboats and rowing shells from either bank. Not to mention silhouettes of the many bridges. Marathoners-in-training opt for the entire 17-mile loop, but most popular is the three-mile circle between the Mass. Ave. and Longfellow bridges. Sure, it can get crowded, but look at it this way: The camaraderie—and competition—just may push you that much harder. MA
Tiffani Faison, Big Heart Hospitality
The one-person machine that is Tiffani Faison was firing on every cylinder this year: She was a James Beard finalist for Orfano, took home the largest cash prize in Food Network history by winning Guy Fieri’s famous-chef-filled Tournament of Champions, and opened three totally different casual restaurants inside downtown’s highly anticipated High Street Place. In other words: A decade since she launched her New England barbecue landmark Sweet Cheeks Q, the Chopped judge keeps showing the grit and growth that made her a household name in Boston and beyond. bighearthospitality.com.
La Royal
The third time is most definitely another charm for husband-and-wife team chef JuanMa Calderón and Maria Rondeau. This year they followed up their nationally acclaimed restaurants Celeste and Esmeralda with La Royal, a Peruvian dinner party—pink neon bathes the back-bar’s Pisco bottles—in Cambridge’s quaint and quiet Huron Village. Between the stemmed glasses overflowing with sweet, citrusy ceviche and the feasts of whole branzino grilled in plantain leaves, it further elevates Calderón’s already artful cooking. Three words: We’re dazzled again. 221 Concord Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138, laroyalcambridge.com.
Jean Wang
Dudes want to marry her. Dudettes want to befriend her. Everyone follows her — 733,000 people on Insta, to be exact. Maybe that’s because this fashion influencer’s classic-with- a-little-funk style perfectly fits the aesthetic of the Boston woman. Her roles as wife and mother also make appearances on her Extra Petite blog and Instagram page, where she offers cooking tips, lifestyle advice, date-night recommendations, and kids’ wardrobe ideas. You may find yourself asking, What would Jean do? The answer is a click away. extrapetite.com.
Chatham Bars Inn
Thought the king of Cape resorts couldn’t possibly get any better? Think again. To get ready for the post-COVID travel boom, CBI bolstered its private beach with additional sand — about 7,000 cubic yards, to be precise — along with new beach cabanas, lounge chairs, and umbrellas. You’ll also find fresh treatments at the sprawling spa complex (don’t miss the Moroccanoil hydration ritual), the return of live music on Bayview Terrace, and plenty of fun, interactive children’s programs for when the kids tire from leaping in and out of the water — and you tire of watching them. 297 Shore Rd., Chatham, MA 02633, chathambarsinn.com.
Castanet
Picture the most stylish woman you’ve spotted strolling down Newbury. What would you do for the opportunity to browse her closet? Well, now you can, thanks to this bright shop, which stocks gently worn designer duds from the likes of Comme des Garçons and Chanel. Owner Cassie Knight worked at the store’s original incarnation, the Closet, for 15 years before buying the business and reopening under a new name. Her discerning eye for fabulous finds and relationships with the city’s most fashionable, however, remain: On a recent pop-in, a Lanvin pantsuit looked as if it had never been worn. 175 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, shopcastanet.com.
Grill 23 & Bar
For years, Grill 23 has served Boston’s ultimate power-crowd fare. Sure, you have your waiters in white jackets, towers of fresh seafood, and a top-notch wine list, but the reason we keep coming back to this local institution is because no one in town cooks a better steak. It’s salty, crusty, buttery—an unmistakable carnivore’s delight. And remember, if the 10-ounce American Kobe cap seems a bit too small, the 18-ounce 100-day-aged prime rib-eye will be more than happy to oblige. 161 Berkeley St., Boston, MA 02116, grill23.com.
Claudiane Philippe
UX designer, Maggie fashion model, and influencer extraordinaire, Claudiane Philippe is one busy gal:The 30-year-old Waltham native creates content for not one but three Instagram accounts: @cphilipp, a lifestyle blog; @itsclaudiane, focusing on all things beauty; and @nailthecocktail, highlighting Boston’s best cocktails. She’s also bringing awareness to social justice. To wit: To celebrate Black beauty, she posted a different look each day in honor of Black History Month, and throughout the pandemic, she named each of the DIY drinks on her cocktail blog after a person of color who died at the hands of police. Call it style with a whole lot of substance.
Michael's Deli
Our New York friends won’t let us forget it: Boston doesn’t exactly abound with traditional Jewish delis. Even Manhattan, though, would be lucky to have Michael’s, which epitomizes everything you’re looking for in the deli experience — namely, sandwiches with meats stacked high enough to crack your jaw, bitingly sharp horseradish, and a hint of something green (and probably pickled). Remember to order a side of latkes for your mom, then stand aside and wait for your name to be yelled. Ah, yes! That feels just right. 256 Harvard St., Brookline, MA 02446, michaelsdelibrookline.com.
Q Restaurant
Chinatown's upscale hot-pot joint Q Restaurant hits all the right notes for a first date. It boasts mood lighting as well as a crowd-pleasing (but not pandering) beverage selection. The cook-it-yourself cuisine provides an instant conversation starter, while the menu accommodates herbivores, low-carbers, anti-glutenites, and pretty much every other dietary restriction imaginable. Things going poorly? You're within sprinting distance of various MBTA lines. Hitting it off? Keep the party going at Shōjō, right around the corner. 660 Washington St., Boston, MA 02111, thequsa.com.
Blank Label
You could easily drop a few grand on a bespoke model from a name-brand designer. But if you want to save thousands and strut away looking just as dapper, pay a visit to Blank Label. This Boston-based company houses a cadre of knowledgeable tailors who will measure you from head to toe while demystifying the finer points of pick stitching, venting, and canvassing. Within three weeks, Blank Label’s partners in Shanghai will ship off your new favorite outfit. Correction, July 5, 11 a.m.: A previous version of this post misstated the location of Blank Label's international partners. They are in Shanghai, not Hong Kong. We regret the error. 36 Bromfield St., Boston, MA 02108, blanklabel.com.
Kaki Lima
When she immigrated to North America, Jakarta native Retno Pratiwi was hard-pressed to find any Indonesian fare. So she took matters into her own hands. Alongside her husband, Peter Gelling, Pratiwi has become the harbinger of her home country’s aromatic street food, introducing bright and balanced sate lilit, shrimp dumplings, and lemongrass chicken skewers served over turmeric-tinted rice—all of which you’ll be able to enjoy with regularity when Kaki Lima opens its first brick and mortar later this year. kakilimaboston.com.