Oona's
Given fashion's current obsession with the past, the vintage store is at the forefront of style. Oona's, just outside Harvard Square, has us swooning over vintage leather jackets, dresses from the 1960s, and unique jewelry and bags. With reasonable prices, a large men's selection, and an ample inventory, Oona's has the vintage pieces you need to create a timeless style all your own. 1210 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA oonasboston.com.
Machine Age
Okay, so 20th-century goods aren't exactly antique. But if you're simply seeking exquisite items with a storied past, you'll find them at South Boston's Machine Age, a 9,000-square-foot warehouselike store overflowing with the most iconic furniture and lighting from the past century, plus rare Danish modern pieces that have never been stateside until now. 645 Summer St., Boston, MA 2210, machine-age.com.
Bosso Ramen Tavern
How does Harvard Square newcomer Bosso stand apart in a town saturated with ramen joints? First, with its broth: the house tonkotsu is prepped with both chicken and pork bones, a double dose of collagen that ups the umami factor. Second, with the flavor profiles of its tasty bowls: the “umami” is enhanced by black garlic; sour “sanmi” benefits from tomatoes and green shiso; the salty “enmi” is brightened by yuzu; and the spicy vegan bowl is spiked with red chili oil. We’ll take one of each, please. 24 Holyoke St., Cambridge, MA 02138, instagram.com/bossoramentavern.
Bab Al-Yemen
Bab Al-Yemen's aqdah dajaj (foreground)—a chicken stew—and lamb haneeth with rice. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal Lucky Kenmore Square got one of the region’s only Yemeni restaurants last year — a superb (and superbly homey) addition to the neighborhood and Boston at large. From enormous pieces of fresh flatbread and warming stews to clove-and-cardamom-spiced teas, the lovely halal menu makes this a cozy spot in the winter, after the latest Sox game, or anytime, really. The ambiance adds to the comfort, from the colorful stained glass to the traditional low, pillowed seating area. 468 Commonwealth Ave., Fenway/Kenmore, MA 02215, babalyemenboston.com.
State Room
Lovely Valentine/Oversize windows showcase the glowing cityscape at the State Room. Your parents’ best friends. Your favorite coworker. Your third cousin twice removed. Everyone’s invited to the party when you host it at this State Street standout, where the glass-walled Great Room and adjoining mezzanine offer 9,396 square feet of versatile event space. Of course, it’s not just the scale of the venue that earns our vote: The 21-foot ceiling and unrivaled skyline views have serious wow factor, too. 60 State St., Boston, MA 02109, longwoodvenues.com.
Drinkwater’s
Gary Drinkwater puts together an outfit at his eponymous Cambridge shop. / Photo courtesy of Christopher Churchill Gary Drinkwater’s 1,200-square-foot boutique packs in a trove of sartorial treasures—luxury suits by Samuelsohn, classic knitwear from Alan Paine, contemporary styles from the Japanese designers behind Engineered Garments. The service is of the same impeccable quality: Alterations from a master tailor are included, and private shopping is available by appointment if you prefer to browse without distraction. 2067 Massachusetts Ave.,, Cambridge, MA 02140, drinkwaterscambridge.com.
Boston Harbor Hotel
COURTESY PHOTO If heaven were a place on earth, it would be the Boston Harbor Hotel’s new John Adams Presidential Suite. Showcasing drop-dead-gorgeous waterfront views from its floor-to-ceiling windows and terrace, the 4,800-square-foot retreat is bolstered by a glass-domed ceiling, a freestanding soaking tub overlooking the harbor, and a private elevator (because if you’re paying $15,000 a night, why mix with the hoi polloi?). 70 Rowes Wharf, Boston, MA bhh.com.
Abby Park
Great suburban brunch spots must strike a balance—buzzy enough for hang time with single friends, family-friendly enough for Sunday socials with the full brood in tow. Enter Abby Park: Tucked inside a brick building in East Milton Square, this lovely New American bistro impresses visiting in-laws seeking proper plates such as eggs Benedict topped with lump crab cake while still delighting bachelorette-style posses with short-rib poutine and generously sized mimosa flights.
Loyal Supply Co.
JARED KUZIA Husband-and-wife team Ryan and Kimberly Habbyshaw take the term “locally made” seriously: Watch as the paper enthusiasts bring their witty, colorful greeting cards to life on a 1911 printing press at the center of their Pinterest-worthy Union Square shop. Of course, if you just need to pop in for a few delightfully analog everyday accoutrements—Autopoint pencils, Appointed notebooks—they stock those, too. 21 Union Sq., Somerville, MA loyalsupplyco.com.
Five Spices House
Like the city’s options for Sichuan fare, this repeat winner just keeps getting better—and bigger. Last winter, the Chinatown original spawned a sibling kitchen in Central Square that instantly warmed the Scoville-loving hearts (and mouths) of Cantabrigians with its palate-igniting cauldron of “Scalding Fish Fillet” and thin-skinned dumplings drenched in beguiling hot sauce. (The puckery, vinegary stuff—like pork with pickled cabbage soup—is tempting, too.) Here’s hoping the fire continues to spread. 58 Beach St. , Boston, MA 5spiceshouse.com .
Meju
When it comes to Korean cuisine, it's all about texture—the springy bite of puffy, cheese-smothered ddeokbokki rice cakes; the crisp bottom layer of rice on a hot stone bowl of bibimbap; the tenderness of long-marinated pork bulgogi. These classics shine at this chic Davis Square newcomer (see: Restoration Hardware-style furniture, copper mugs of frosty Moscow Mules), as do modern, fusion-y dishes such as kimchi-laced crab fritters and pork-belly buns. 243 Elm St., Somerville, MA 02144, mejudavis.com.
John da Silva, Spoke
Photograph by Webb Chappell Da Silva's elegant, innovative small plates—Jonah crab salad on cornmeal pancakes; spring-onion spaetzle dabbed with creamy Cloumage; duck meatballs with smoky ajo blanco sauce—would impress anywhere. That they're coming from a kitchen that's smaller than 100 square feet and uses a tabletop Fry Daddy? That's a triumph, and a testament to da Silva's talent. 89 Holland St., Somerville, MA 02144, spokewinebar.com.
Yale Appliance + Lighting
Why do so many area designers get their large appliances from Yale? Because the 20,000-square-foot Dorchester showroom displays dozens of models of ranges, cooktops, refrigerators, and more for the discriminating shopper to measure and compare. Even better, this family-owned business has been stocking dependable brands like Miele, Maytag, Sub-Zero, and Whirlpool since 1923.
296 Freeport St., Dorchester, MA 02122, yaleappliance.com.Once Somerville
It's definitely not a bar, though there's no shortage of beers. And it's not exactly a concert hall, but it knows how to pull in national acts and put on one hell of a show. Welcome to Once Somerville, a 9,000-square-foot venue of shape-shifting entertainment. Whatever happens to be on the calendar—Monday-night tacos, heavy-metal yoga, storytelling performances from the Moth—it's sure to beat the regular routine of draining a few pints at your local watering hole. 156 Highland Ave., Somerville, MA 02143, oncesomerville.com.
O Ya
An epic tasting menu, when properly executed, should leave you enthralled and satisfied, not stumbling out of the restaurant in a food coma. O Ya understands this, which is why its 17-course omakase strikes a tantalizing balance between indulgent, rich dishes (squares of fat-marbled Wagyu steak; custardy chawan mushi dotted with trout roe and Santa Barbara uni) and more-delicate plates (hamachi with spicy banana-pepper mousse; mushroom sashimi with ethereal sesame foam). 9 East St., Boston, MA 2111, oyarestaurantboston.com.