Christina's Homemade Ice Cream
With all due respect to the old-fashioned flavors at Brigham's and the rich, smooth scoops at Toscanini's, we keep coming back to Christina's. This Inman Square institution continues to distinguish itself, with 40 imaginative flavors—from ginger and Kahlúa to cinnamon rice pudding and orange chocolate—and an intense flavor that's neither too sugary nor artificial. Owner Ray Ford's specialty is creating unusual varieties from herbs and spices. Rosewater, lemon thyme, and chamomile ice cream may not be what you craved walking in, but you'll be hooked by the time you walk out. 1225 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA christinasicecream.com.
Sports Club/LA
For gym rats who take their sweating seriously, the Sports Club/LA is as type A as its notably toned clientele. Some 114,000 square feet of equipment, including more than 150 cardio machines, means rare is the occasion that you're forced to idle by the water fountain, waiting for Sweaty Guy to max out his half-hour limit; deluxe locker room amenities mean you can look just as good leaving the gym as you did going in. And a schedule of 120-plus classes a week, among them an average of 10 daily yoga sessions at the new MindBody studios, means there's instruction for every fitness (and coordination) level. 4 Avery St., Boston, MA 2111, thesportsclubla.com.
The Milky Way
The Milky Way looks the picture of a suburban basement lounge—if only a basement could be this cool. Tucked beneath Bella Luna restaurant in J.P.'s Hyde Square, the space is a study in shabby chic. Mismatched chairs, dim lighting, pool tables, and candlepin bowling set the stage for a young, hipster clientele. The funky locale is intentionally Bohemian, working to evoke the slacker-glam feel of joints on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Don't hold its pretensions against it, though: The Milky Way is a very fun place to hang for an evening. 403-405 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain, MA milkywayjp.com.
Eastern Standard
Out in public, and especially out at the city's better restaurants, you want as few people as possible to notice when your princeling starts whacking his silverware together or gleefully tossing sugar packets onto the floor. Luckily, the popular Kenmore Square brasserie has a dining room that's plenty large and noisy enough to absorb such commotion. Order the refined mac and cheese and strawberry shortcake for the little one, and treat yourself to mustard-glazed salmon or house-made cavatelli. The absence of dirty looks will make everything more delicious. 528 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 2215, easternstandardboston.com.
The Publick House
No need to fix what’s not broken: In the increasingly bustling Washington Square section of Brookline, the Publick House celebrated its 20th anniversary last year, and it continues to be one of the most successful gastropubs around. Whether you’re looking for a funky Allagash Coolship from our northern friends in Maine or a smoky Rauchbier from Germany, there’s always something exciting to explore on the draft and bottle lists. Add in a beer-infused pot of moules frites or some mac ’n’ cheese topped with beer bratwurst, and you have the ideal night out. 1648 Beacon St., Brookline, MA 02445, publickhousebrookline.com.
Nashoba Brook Bakery
Bakers here understand that great bread rises from all-natural ingredients. The seven-grain loaf is moist, earthy, and studded with dates, and the baguettes are so light and sweet, it's almost a shame to top them with anything. 288 Columbus Ave., Boston, MA 2116, slowrise.com.
Nashoba Brook Bakery
A sandwich is only as good as the bread that holds it together, and this mini-chain (the other location is in Concord) takes the prize for bread that's a perfect canvas for inch-thick masterpieces. Sourdough, seven-grain, rye, rosemary garlic, and pepper jack are just some the bases for the savory curry chicken salad with pecans and grapes, or smoked turkey, avocado, and carrot sandwiches. As the well-trained staff will tell you, bread selections rotate according to the day of the week, so if you're hankering for a construction of ham, Swiss cheese, caramelized onion, and apple slices on olive bread, make sure to swing by on either a Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday. At $5.50 each, these sandwiches could become a serious habit. 288 Columbus Ave., Boston, MA slowrise.com.
Bock Travel Service
How many travel agents do you know who can claim to have sung with Edith Piaf? Alexander Bock, who did, knows Paris (and London and Rome and Bombay and Tokyo) better than most travel agents know Boston. Park Square Building, Boston, MA .
Long Nook and Balston Beaches
Nudism unhampered, wine, smoke, beautiful waves, monstrous cliffs. All ages, sizes, shapes, types. Volleyball and dry-humping major sports. Cape Cod, MA
Casablanca Restaurant
There's nothing wrong with the dining room at Casablanca, but the bar is where the real action is. From midday to midnight, the barstools are occupied by businesspeople, students, professors, and others who come here not only because the room makes a great study hall, but because chef Ruth-Anne Adams's food is just that good. Adams keeps with the restaurant's whimsical North African theme by featuring such ingredients as Marcona almonds from Spain. Try the meze platter with mouhamara, dolmades, and sumac-dusted carrots. Her food is rock-solid delicious and lends itself well to the let's-get-a-drink-and-share-a-few-appetizers bar scene. 40 Brattle St., Cambridge, MA casablanca-restaurant.com.
The Independent
To those living in eternally up-and-coming Somerville: You may not have solved the public transportation quandary that is Union Square but, boy, are you lucky from a pub-hub perspective. Outfitted in the classy dark-wood stylings of a more upscale joint, the Independent is smartly cleaved into one room for drinkers, one for diners—and manages to do right by both groups. Expect well-executed, moderately priced cuisine, like the béchamel, cheddar, provolone, and Parmesan macaroni and cheese, as well as innovative drink offerings (such as the Sub Rosa: campari, lillet rouge, grapefruit-tarragon vodka, and soda water) that tickle more-alcohol-focused palates. 75 Union Sq., Somerville, MA 2143, theindo.com.
B.good
This fast-food joint serves burgers, sandwiches, and salads big on flavor and low on nasty trans fats. 24 Dunster St., Cambridge, MA 2138, bgood.com.
Neighborhood Restaurant and Bakery
25 Bow St., Somerville, MA theneighborhoodrestaurant.com.
Cambridge, 1
The menu of pizza, salads, and one dessert may sound like no great shakes, but at Cambridge, 1, a devotion to simplicity makes the food soar. Said pizzas are extra-thin-and-crispy ovals topped with flavor-packed ingredients that range from basic tomato and garlic to sliced and truffled mashed potatoes with Fontina and Parmesan, a combination known to make diners close their eyes and savor the moment. 27 Church St., Cambridge, MA cambridge1.us.
The Abbey
Snacky appetizers, elegant, hearty entrees, and the best truffle fries in town are served up till 1:30 a.m. daily. What to Order: The short-rib-and-Boursin dumplings; smoked-cod fritters; bison Bolognese; shredded Brussels sprouts. 1657 Beacon St., Brookline, MA abbeyrestaurant.com.