The Independent
This pub's recent menu overhaul has reinvigorated locals. While they trickled in for burgers before, they now crowd the doorway for grilled pork chops with Gorgonzola polenta, handcut pappardelle served with fava beans and pancetta, and ham-and-cheese-stuffed croquettes that put the very notion of Hot Pockets to shame. With the biggest beer list on the block and weekly DJ events that draw hordes, the Independent has become a better version of itself. 75 Union Sq., Somerville, MA 2143, theindo.com.
Chez Henri
Harvard Law students flirt with hipster artists at the bar. Undergrads flirt with their first taste of grilled octopus in the dining room. Software publicists pitch clients in the bistro's corner, between gulps from the smartly chosen wine list. And the best part is that everyone is genuinely, utterly relaxed. Does Harvard Square get any more real than this? One Shepard St., Cambridge, MA 2138, chezhenri.com.
River Gods
Besides a damn fine burger and a tasty barbecue chicken sandwich, this quintessential hangout has extensive vegetarian options—pizzettas, Asian-slaw hand rolls—that will tempt even the more carnivorously inclined among us. Factor in the solid beer list, rotating cast of DJs, and downright funky (and ever-shifting) décor, and there's no place more central to Central. 125 River St., Cambridge, MA 2139, rivergodsonline.com.
The Druid
The good folks of Cambridge have been keeping a secret: a food-focused Irish pub with soul-soothing shepherd's pie and a spiced burger that lands someplace between meatloaf and heaven. The Druid even has prices that can turn the area's artists into regulars. 1357 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA 2139, druidpub.com.
The Garden at the Cellar
Even with the throngs of outsiders vying for a seat in this cozy, brick-walled gastropub, it still feels very much like an insider hangout, thanks to the regulars chewing on dinner and local gossip at the bar. Chef Will Gilson has mastered the kind of ingredient-driven, French-accented comfort food—e.g., chicken and rosemary flatbread or steak frites with garlic spinach and parsnip purée;—that would earn any neighborhood some serious bragging rights. 991 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 2138, gardenatthecellar.com.
The Green Street Grill
Green Street's worse-for-wear exterior offers no hint at what's inside: a brightly colored tropical oasis that serves up spicy Caribbean cuisine. Locals flock to this Central Square fixture for staples including curried goat stew and grilled mahi-mahi, live jazz, and a creative drink menu. 280 Green St., Cambridge, MA greenstreetgrill.com.
India Palace
The staff at India Palace is so friendly the locals and the waiters are on a first-name basis. But it's the food that keeps people coming back—delicately spiced tandooris, coriander-infused tomato soup, and the tandoor-baked naan. The ($6.95!) lunch buffet is like a trip to Hindi heaven. By the time you're nibbling your fennel seeds, you're already planning your return trip. 23 Union Square, Somerville, MA indiapalacesomerville.info.
Cuchi Cuchi
795 Main St., Cambridge, MA cuchicuchi.cc.
Out of Town News
Truth be told, the magazine racks at the downtown Borders offer as wide a selection as the homegrown newsstands in Harvard and Copley squares. But browsing for magazines and newspapers at chain stores strikes us as a little, well, square. Our winner, then, is Out of Town News, where the choice of reading material is a bit larger than that of the Copley Square stand and where the willingness to take credit cards makes impulse buys (and what else are newsstand sales after all?) that much easier. Zero Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA .
Brian Hemming, Regeneration Tattoo
Whether you’re looking for a nonjudgmental consult for your very first tat or finishing off a sleeve with a portrait of a beloved pet, Brian Hemming’s attention to detail and years of experience soothe. He’s justifiably popular, so book early and be prepared to wait for your permanent work of art. 155 Harvard Ave., Allston, 02134, regenerationtattoo.com.
Trident Booksellers & Cafe
Trident houses an eclectic and interesting collection of books, as well as tarot cards, bonsai trees, and the little cafe area where you can look through magazines and have a cup of tea without being bothered. Try their vegetarian chili! 338 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Avenue Victor Hugo Bookshop
Take a trip back in time at the Avenue Victor Hugo, which has the atmosphere of an old-time bookstore with its high shelves, narrow aisles, and, of course, its selection of used books—many looking their age. 339 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Beauty by Nelse
Who do Boston’s movers and shakers call when they need to look their best for a big event? That’d be this cosmetics queen, whose 18 years of experience doing makeup for runway fashion shows and beauty pageants (not to mention Real Housewives such as Sonja Morgan and Teresa Giudice) have refined her craft into an art form. Using top-tier products from Chanel, Dior, and Armani, Nelse Karini delivers memorable, effortlessly glam looks with acute attention to detail and infectious passion. Just be sure to book early, as her schedule tends to fill up fast. beautybynelse.com.
GlenPharmer Distillery
It’s the place Franklin never knew it needed, but now can’t live without: an artisanal distillery with its own bustling tasting room and full-service restaurant. Here, friends, neighbors, and couples alike clink glasses of the award-winning vodkas — offered as flights with other spirits or in a variety of creative cocktails — at high-tops inside a former covered bridge and at the cozy, stone-walled bar. Looking to make a day of it? Book a tour of the former mill building turned distillery and get a look at how the spirits in your glass were born. 860 W. Central St., Franklin, MA 02038, glenpharmer.com.
Cajun Yankee
The centerpiece of Inman Square's renaissance, this dark, funky dining spot became tough to get into within a few weeks of its 1985 opening, and with good reason. Call ahead. 1193 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA .