Mandarin Oriental
Connected to the bustling Prudential Center, the Mandarin is a Zen refuge from the moment you enter. Modern museum-quality paintings and sculptures encourage thoughtful reflection. And don't get us started on the spa, which is the only Forbes five-star facility in all of Massachusetts. 776 Boylston St., Boston, MA mandarinoriental.com/boston.
Cafe Society
With fashion taking its inspiration from all things retro, you might want to check out the real thing. This store carries men's and women's clothing and accessories form the '30s, '40s, and '50s, pieces that can be easily matched with a modern-day wardrobe. 131 Cypress St., Brookline, MA .
Wolfers Lighting
After nearly 90 years in the biz, Wolfers Lighting continues to shine thanks to its thousands of fixture options, available in just about every style, finish, and size imaginable. Opt for a virtual consultation, and you’ll be delighted to discover such treasures as sparkling Quoizel chandeliers (pictured) and cloudlike Modern Forms pendant lights. 1339 Main St., Waltham, MA 02451, wolfers.com.
Winston Flowers
Another housewarming party doesn't have to mean another lame potted plant—at least not if it's from this venerable local chain's Hingham outpost, which boasts not only beautiful cut flowers and ready-made arrangements, but also a wide variety of orchids and succulents in modern receptacles. 8 Main St., Hingham, MA 2043, winstonflowers.com.
Diva Indian Bistro
The owners of Kashmir and Café of India have hit the jackpot with their newest entry into the Indian dining scene. The setting is modern and stylish, the service exceedingly attentive, and the menu diverse. One entrée provides a sampling of the scrumptious samosas, tikki, and vindaloos. Cap it off with the ultimate palate cooldown: an icy mango shake. 246 Elm St., Somerville, MA divabistro.com.
Crossing Main
This small boutique proves that bigger isn't always better. Its meticulously culled collection of women's wear is a perfect mix of contemporary and traditional. Even the classics have a modern twist. There's also a good selection of toile pants, exquisite seasonal jackets, silver jewelry, Prada wallets, and Anya Hindmarch leather handbags. 5 Main St., Hingham, MA crossingmain.com.
Ligne Roset
Always dreamed of owning an Italian villa ora French pied-à-terre? Bringing a little Eurostyling to your stateside home may help scratch that itch. Long a paragon of sleek European design, today Ligne Roset’s Back Bay showroom is filled with ultra modern modular sofas, chic decorative touches like sculptural marble bookends, and dramatic abstractc handeliers from international designers such as Pierre Paulin, Evangelos Vasileiou, and Hiroshi Kawano. 200 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02116, ligne-roset.com.
The Inn at Hastings Park
Prime location steps from Lexington Center? Check. Front porch fit for a Norman Rockwell painting? Naturally. Sunny guest rooms that are part Mayflower, part modern farmhouse? Of course. Combine that with a proper dining room serving New England standards prepared with ingredients from local purveyors such as Wilson Farm, and you’ve found a pastoral paradise. In other words: If Paul Revere were a 21st-century Instagram influencer, he’d stay here. innathastingspark.com.
Krakow Witkin Gallery
A stalwart in Boston since 1959, the gallery managed to not just survive but thrive this past year thanks to live and online shows that brought legends and locals together. See: works from modern-art icon Josef Albers, contemporary star Jenny Holzer, and Mike Glier, whose paintings are inspired by birdsong in the Public Garden. The gallery even hosted its annual AIDS Benefit Auction around the holidays virtually, with all proceeds going to the Dimock Center’s pediatric and family programs 10 Newbury St., Back Bay, MA 02116, krakowwitkingallery.com.
Café ArtScience
The past couple of years have been big for hybrids—see the grocer-meets-restaurant Commonwealth, the sandwich-shop-meets-restaurant Tavern Road, and the coffee-shop-meets-bar Ames Street Deli. But none match Café ArtScience's scope and ambition. Sure, it's a forward-thinking bar, product space, and classroom. But it's also one of our finer modern French restaurants. 650 E. Kendall St., Cambridge, MA 02142, cafeartscience.com.
Bella Bridesmaid
Say so long to tired taffeta and stale silk — all the gowns at this airy boutique are fresh, modern, and completely customizable. Look for styles from LulaKate, Monique Lhuillier, and Lela Rose, plus all the accessories you need to enhance them (Nelle clutches, Kendra Scott jewelry). With eager-to-please staffers happy to help with measurements and color, length, and fabric specifications, you (and your girls) will be ready to make a commitment in no time. 85 Newbury St., Suite B, Boston, MA bellabridesmaid.com.
Frame Gallery
A well-chosen, well-wrought frame can make even the most amateur of prints look like a Degas. That's where the expert framers at Frame Gallery come in: You supply the masterpiece, they supply the packaging. The staff's eyes are as steady (in helping you select the most complementary frame possible) as their hands (in cutting and assembling a tight, flawless finish). The frame possibilities here are epic, too—from intricate vintage silver to sleek, modern brights. 2 Summit Ave., Brookline, MA theframegallery.biz.
Fifteen Beacon
Paul Roiff's $21 million hotel project in Beacon Hill is the ultimate in modernity. The boutique atmosphere extends to the rooms themselves, which feature an incredible roster of amenities in addition to the usual plus bathrobes: cream-colored walls, fireplaces, oversized entertainment centers with the latest film releases, and wet bars. The hotel even supplies personalized business cards for guests to give out while they're visiting or doing business in Boston. It is certainly a costly experience, but a unique one as well: Pampering never felt so sophisticated. 15 Beacon Street, Boston, MA xvbeacon.com.
Optica
Four eyes never looked so good. Optica offers homegrown and imported couture for the face, as well as a staff that bends over backward to match a customer's eye shape and face size to the right pair of high-quality specs. Exquisite frames by Cartier and Sama share shelf space with the store's own designs, which range from nearly weightless modern shields to new takes on iconic classics, Prudential Center, Boston, MA .
L'Espalier
For a modern Boston tea party, head to L'Espalier on a Saturday afternoon, when the Back Bay brownstone is filled with elegant ladies nibbling on pastries and canapés. We recommend Red Riding Hood's Basket: savory tea sandwiches, melt-in-your-mouth scones with crème fraîche, and chocolate-dipped strawberries or Valrhona milk chocolate mousse tarts. The tea, delivered with a graceful flourish, is brewed just so and punctually refilled. You won't want to spill a drop. 744 Boylston St., Boston, MA 2199, lespalier.com.