Oxtail Soup, Matt Murphy's Pub
Cynical James Joyce said that Irish art was "the cracked looking glass of a servant." Obviously, he never took the Green Line to Brookline for a pint of Guinness and a bowl of Matt Murphy's unique oxtail soup, a divine example of Irish artistry. Spicy beef broth, inch-thick carrot wedges spinach, onions, and Idaho potatoes make it a soup that truly eats like a meal. 14 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA mattmurphyspub.com.
Long's Jewelers
Courtesy of Long's Jewelers Long’s is a bit like that family heirloom you wear on special occasions — cherished and around for generations. But it’s not just resting on its laurels: The 145-plus-year-old gem now has a new 11,000-square-foot South Shore location where the glass towers and cascading chandeliers welcoming you from the outside mirror the elegant vintage pieces, luxury watches, and gorgeous custom-designed jewels you’ll find inside. 150 Granite St., Braintree, MA 02184, longsjewelers.com.
Suya Joint
Cecelia Lizotte, a 2024 James Beard Award semifinalist, is busy expanding Suya Joint to Providence this year. But lucky for us, the bustling West African restaurant continues to wow crowds in Nubian Square, showcasing cuisine from Nigeria and the broader region. Start your meal with the namesake suya — spiced grilled beef skewers — but save room for a heaping portion of the Nigerian stew egusi, made from ground pumpkin seeds and spinach. 185 Dudley St., Boston, MA 02119, suyajoint.com.
Kings Seaport
COURTESY PHOTO Forget the dive-y, fluorescent-lit bowling alleys of yore: Kings has turned the classic pastime upscale. Lounge on a tufted-leather couch, Manhattan in hand, while waiting to bowl on one of 16 glowing lanes. The 20,000-square-foot Seaport hot spot, which debuted in 2017, also features retro arcade games and swanky gastropub fare—including a bourbon-glazed pork-belly BLT so good you might even forget to bowl 60 Seaport Blvd., Boston, MA kings-de.com.
Institute of Contemporary Art
MEG ELKINTON The ICA is on a run that would be the envy of any museum: In the past year alone, it hosted a range of dynamic exhibits, including Pakistani artist Huma Bhabba’s massive and haunting sculptures, and opened the Watershed, a 15,000-square-foot satellite across the harbor in Eastie. And with the high-profile acquisition of one of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama’s famed Infinity Mirror Rooms, on view beginning this September, it seems the best is yet to come. 25 Harbor Shore Dr. , Boston, MA icaboston.org.
Forty Winks
No matter what underpinnings your wedding attire calls for (or doesn’t), this Harvard Square favorite Forty Winks can provide. Need support but want to avoid panty lines? Grab high-waisted thongs from Chantelle, Commando, or Hanky Panky. Going backless? Try stick-on seamless cups from NuBra or a lacy Samantha Chang halter bodysuit. And as for after the wedding? We’ll let Else’s collection of sheers speak for itself. 56 JFK St., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, shopfortywinks.com.
Dakzen
Save your airline miles: This new Davis Square destination offers all the pleasures of Thai street food, minus the daylong flight. The killer khao soi (“cut rice”) is a study in richness and fiery depth, sharpened with fixings such as pork belly and pickled mustard. Classic pad thai, meanwhile, is mercifully more savory than sweet. And the rice porridge and satiny egg custards at the weekend-only breakfast pop-up (dubbed Egg E Egg Egg) consistently dazzle. 195 Elm St., Somerville, MA dakzen.com.
Brattle Theatre
Whether you’re into restored cuts of cinema classics or the latest Romanian masterpiece, you can find it at the Brattle, Harvard Square’s beloved one-screen theater. Despite what seems like constant change in the neighborhood, the theater stands as the epicenter of the area’s indie-film ecosystem, offering everything from the sublime to the very strange (see: the venue’s monthly Trash Night, which celebrates the best of the worst straight-to-VHS fare). 40 Brattle St., Cambridge, MA brattlefilm.org.
Parlr
Shutterbug and makeup artist extraordinaire Rachael Rubin has relocated her industrial-chic salon/photo studio concept to an 11,000-square-foot location in the same loft building, adding a full roster of spa treatments to her menu of services (think: microblading, reiki, lash extensions, and the very best blowout around). Bonus points for the chance to strike your best model pose after a day of pampering. One Watson Place, Framingham, MA 01701, theparlr.com.
Encore Boston Harbor
Roger Davies Even if you’re not a gambler, odds are good you’ll have a memorable night at Massachusetts’ very own Vegas-style resort. How could you not, with a 19,000-square-foot mega-spa, nearly a dozen dining options, and a bumping nightclub from the Grand team right at your fingertips? And we haven’t even mentioned the luxe rooms and suites with voice-activated controls (keep the curtains closed until checkout time, please!). One Broadway, Everett, MA 02149, encorebostonharbor.com.
Hermes
Last August, Hermès unveiled a new and improved Back Bay showroom, nearly doubling its fashionable footprint with more than 8,700 square feet over two stories. That’s given the très chic Parisian design house plenty of room to display its most covetable accessories: handbags and silk scarves, naturally, but also home décor, fragrances, and even the lusted-after equestrian line. 50 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116, hermes.com.
Hotel Commonwealth
Photograph by Tony Luong After a sweeping $50 million upgrade, Hotel Commonwealth is in a league of its own. In addition to 96 sleek new guest rooms, the Kenmore Square gem now boasts a Red Sox-themed luxury suite and private event space overlooking Fenway Park. Add in three of the city's hottest dining and drinking spots—including Eastern Standard, which also serves up gourmet room service—and you have a home run. 500 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02215, hotelcommonwealth.com.
Gracenote
The most discerning coffee enthusiasts frequent this 240-square-foot caffeine den, where espressos and cortados are pumped from a Modbar espresso machine by co-owner San Bellino and his staff. A native of Australia, the former owner of the Coffee Trike serves up an exceptionally good flat white, which somehow tastes even better while sipped at the standing bar. 108 Lincoln St., Boston, MA 02111, gracenotecoffee.com.
Foundation Lounge
"Pickup bar" may evoke images of oily, used-car guys with thatches of chest hair bursting from half-buttoned shirts, but you won't find much of that here. With its mood lighting, sleek furniture, and slinky hip-house music, this Kenmore Square spot promises a sophisticated setting for meeting new people and sharing a drink (or whatever else you might manage to broker). Hotel Commonwealth, 500 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA .
Drinkwater's
Many men's boutiques seem to have forgotten the importance of details: Like, where's a guy supposed to get a decent pair of dress socks in this town? (SmartWools don't count.) Owner Gary Drinkwater omits nothing, accenting his smart collection of tailored and casual clothing with every accoutrement, including a rainbow's worth of ties and pocket squares, cuff links, and basketfuls of the all-important fun sock (the proprietor's own stash tops out at over 200 pairs). 2067 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 2140, drinkwaterscambridge.com.