Kendall Square Cinema
The Kendall Square Cinema is everything a movie theater should be, with nine large screens, perfect climate control, clean bathrooms, and sufficiently ample and inexpensive ($1) parking. The movies are a little offbeat—no Jurassic Parkhere. Instead, you'll find the independent film you read about in the Sunday New York Timesand thought you'd never get to see. Don't be late—the previews are fabulous. 1 Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA .
The Charles Square Anniversary Bash
Even better than last year's; so was the guest list.
Inn Square Men's Bar
A perrenial favorite. Great music, extended happy hour, cheap drinks. Not what you'd expect describe as the last word in comfort, however. 1350 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA .
Kendall Square Cinema
We know, we know: We should bestow this honor on the Brattle or Coolidge Corner because they are locally owned and independently programmed. But in terms of sheer experience, the Kendall simply has more of what you want to see, when you want to see it. The latest documentary about Chinese dissident artists? Check. Quirkball French flick that regards linear plot lines as optional? Hell yeah! If you could somehow watch NPR on the silver screen, this would be the place to do it. One Kendall Sq., Cambridge, MA 2139, landmarktheatres.com.
Union Square Donuts
An array of doughnuts from Union Square Donuts. / Photo by Joe St. Pierre, styling by Joy Howard Any way you slice ’em (and slice you should — they’re so rich that sharing is almost necessary), Union Square’s doughnuts are always at the front of the pack. Whether topped with bacon, coated in a lemony glaze, or stuffed with chocolate-chip cookie dough, these treats are stars in both taste and presentation. Even better: You can find them all over the city, from the flagship shop in Somerville to Coolidge Corner, whenever you need a sugar fix. Multiple locations, unionsquaredonuts.com.
Bizen
We've been known to drive all the way to the Berkshires just to eat at Bizen. Owner Michael Marcus—a potter who makes all the restaurant's ceramics—values authenticity, as evidenced in his organic-everything menu of sushi, tempuras, noodles, and ;robata, cuts of fish and poultry seared over a special charcoal grill. Marcus even added a series of private Japanese tearooms next door, where diners sit in private enclaves and embark on 11-course, Kaiseki odysseys. 17 Railroad St., Great Barrington, MA 1230, .
The Dan'l Webster Inn
Four-poster beds. High-speed Internet. Full-service spa. This Sandwich inn, a blend of old-fashioned atmosphere and modern creature comforts, has 'em all. If you can pry yourself from your room's private whirlpool and heated bathroom tiles, indulge in cranberry wraps, marine eyelifts, and PermaSound facials at the on-site spa. Feeling hungry? Stop in the fine-dining Conservatory for a meal of fresh seafood paired with award-winning wine. 149 Main St., Sandwich, MA danlwebsterinn.com.
Gustazo
Just off the north side of Moody Street, Waltham’s restaurant row, sits this slice of Havana heaven. During the Cuban eatery’s bustling brunch, crêpes stuffed with slow-roasted pork are washed down with guava-mint mimosas and other hairs of particularly delightful dogs. The Spanish Colonial–inspired digs sport artsy Cuban movie posters, overhead mambo beats lend as much pep as the fresh-brewed Umbria coffee, and warm servers make this hacienda a home. 663 Main St., Waltham, MA 02451, gustazo-cubancafe.com.
Beans
Forget your grandmother's china pattern. The selection of hand-blown glass bowls and glasses, hand-painted plates from artists and potters from around the world, knickknacks, and curios is more about divine decadence than restraint. Mix-and-match patterns and styles update traditional heirloom china and blend the conventional with the unusual at this eclectic store. The Mall at Chestnut Hill, 199 Boylston St., Chestnut Hill, MA .
The Kendall Café
As the many framed posters around the bar can attest, big named have played this small room situated on a Cambridge backstreet, among them Jewel and Elvis Costello. This year, the Kendall bolstered its currency with local talent, creating a "Tuesday Night Music Club" series that features a Who's Who of Boston musicians trying out new or experimental material. Add great food and cheap beer specials, and it's easy to see why this is the hangout of choice for local rock glitterati. 233 Cardinal Medeiros Ave., Cambridge, MA .
Davio's
Park Square, Patriot Place, the Seaport waterfront … wherever you’re looking to talk brass tacks on a deal, there’s a table at Davio’s within handshake’s reach, ready to ply fat-cat appetites with northern Italian–style steaks, seafood, and pasta. Founder and author Steve DiFillippo wrote the book (literally) on Exceeding Expectations in Business and Life, so maybe you’ll soak up the now-multicity restaurateur’s savvy along with the high-noon pours of Davio’s Reserve brand wines. Multiple Locations, davios.com.
The Innovation Trail
A guided Innovation Trail tour crosses the Longfellow Bridge, heading to Kendall Square. / Courtesy of the Innovation Trail Only in Cambridge can you take a scenic 10-minute stroll from the birthplace of a COVID-19 vaccine (Moderna’s headquarters) to a candy factory that supplies the world with Junior Mints. The area’s combined legacy as innovation hub and pedestrian paradise inspired Boston Globe columnist Scott Kirsner and Framingham State professor Robert Krim to connect such points of interest and create the Innovation Trail. Launched in 2022 and spanning from Downtown Crossing to Kendall Square, the walking tour visits more than 20 sites where seismic breakthroughs in science and technology took place. Follow along independently, or book a seasonal guide and prepare to be awed. theinnovationtrail.org.
Nuggets
One of the last survivors of Kenmore Square’s sterilizing overhaul, Nuggets gets you back in touch with old weird Boston and encourages you to bring that history home. Since 1978, obsessed musicologists have explored its wide range of rock, R & B, folk, jazz, and classical box sets, then dug through shelves of books and other tuneful memorabilia. If you’re looking for an old 12-inch dance single or an LP by a long-neglected local band like Heretix or the Real Kids, check out the racks in front and keep an eye on the store’s Facebook updates. 486 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA nuggetsrecords.com.
UpStairs on the Square and Via Matta
In replacing their much-loved UpStairs at the Pudding (some considered it the real institution of Harvard Square), Deborah Hughes and Mary-Catherine Deibel had big shoes to fill—their own. But they've done it, creating an outstanding restaurant that has surpassed the expectations of even their most loyal following. The décor is at once outrageous and glorious—plaid patterns on the walls with animal-print carpeting, jewel-toned upholstery, massive fireplaces, gilded mirrors, and lots of pink. Two menus, in the hands of chefs Susan Regis and Amanda Lydon, offer everything from simple grilled cheese and rich tomato soup to flavorful Kumamoto oysters, roasted lamb, and rabbit. Don't miss the "wedding cake for one" dessert: The portion is large enough to share, but this is a divine indulgence for you and you alone. Via Matta, meanwhile, has had the kind of debut year legends are made of: Mick Jagger commandeered a table not once, but twice in the restaurant's first two months of business. Add to that gushing praise from critics nationwide and you've got, by all accounts, a bona fide success. But is that really a surprise? Schlow and partners Christopher Myers and Esti Benson know how to put on a show, as evidenced by the success of their powerfully stylish Radius. At Via Matta, the gloss is toned down, but the style still shines through, with an elegantly casual dining room, cozy bar, and adjacent café. Then there's the food: perfectly executed traditional Italian fare bursting with flavor, from the simple spaghetti aglio e olio to pan-roasted chicken—all dishes that will make you long for another serving. UpStairs on the Square: 91 Winthrop St., Cambridge; Via Matta: 79 Park Plaza, Boston, MA upstairsonthesquare.com; viamattarestaurant.com.
The Charles Street Inn
Some people think B&Bs exist only in the country. This nine-room Beacon Hill inn proves otherwise. Its antique furniture, fireplaces, and four-poster beds impart old-world class, while DSL Internet, cable television, and whirlpool tubs offer modern comforts. Tall, narrow doors heighten the charm of the cavernous rooms, named after local luminaries like Louisa May Alcott and Oliver Wendell Holmes. 94 Charles St., Boston, MA .