Gretta Luxe
Even back when preppy-populated Wellesley thought Prada was a museum in Madrid, Gretta Luxe owner Gretchen Monahan was stocking her streamlined downtown boutique with names like Marc Jacobs and Calvin Klein. Once her fever spread, it spread fast, and now she's doling out enough pretty, witty designs from Jimmy Choo, Catherine Malandrino, Strenesse, and Barbara Bui to rival any big-city scene. Even Madrid's. 94 Central St., Wellesley, MA grettaluxe.com.
Brian Mercury, Oak + Rowan
Since earning this accolade four years ago, Mercury has somehow managed to up his game even further in his current role at Oak + Rowan. His beguiling confections are at once adventurous and familiar (see: the Twix-inspired sweet with chocolate cremeux, whey caramel, and a bright-green pool of EVOO). And Mercury’s deft touch extends far beyond the dessert menu, from his outstanding sourdough bread to the irresistible pastry cart at brunch. 321 A St., Boston, MA 02210, oakandrowan.com.
Galley Diner
Photo by Jesse Burke Despite a brief brush with fame following a 2011 appearance on Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations, Southie's tiny Galley Diner remains a charmingly low-key spot for a good meal any time of day. The corned-beef-hash-and-cheese omelet (the "Southie") is a favorite, but the finest breakfast here is the handcarved ham, which is cut off the bone right in front of you, seared on the well-seasoned griddle, and served with a couple of over-easy eggs and a pile of crispy home fries. 11 P St., Boston, MA galleydiner.com.
Rialto
How does the Rialto keep getting better? By growing itself is the only serious restaurant in the Square; by being so comfortable and discreet yet lively, both in the main restaurant and the super welcoming bar; and by paring away the Spanish, southern French, and Italian curios that once seemed essential to hold diners' attention (and still do at other restaurants) so that what's left is food you want to eat. The duo of chef Jody Adams and impresario-inspirer Michela Larson is rock-solid. The Charles Hotel, 1 Bennett St., Cambridge, MA .
Dani Wagener Beauty
Like some fabulous fairy godmother, Dani Wagener waves her mascara wand and—poof!—you're transformed into a sultry siren or a girl next door. The makeup artist honed her skills (including seamless airbrushing) at Nars, Estée Lauder, and Shu Uemura before opening her own studio this past year. She's got plenty of famous faces to her name, too, with Anna Wintour among those who've sought out her magic touch. 125 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, daniwagener.com.
Errin Babine, Anita Kurl
The impressive trick that this South End clipper pulls off is being both thoughtful about her craft (honed by training stints at Dellaria, Vidal Sassoon, and Wella) and creative with it. From doctors and lawyers to musicians and artists, Babine works with her fellas to find a look that complements their lifestyle, then runs down everything they need to do to keep their manes in shape. And so much for the purported male tendency to stray: Several clients are regulars whose devotion spans her 12-year career. 1661 Washington St., Boston, MA 2118, .
Lê Madeline
Ken Rivard Once a traditional noodle shop, this stunning late-2023 reimagining of the decade-old Pho Linh is now a dinner destination — complete with creative, Vietnamese-inspired cocktails — paying homage to owner Tam Le and chef Peter Nguyen’s second-generation Vietnamese-American backgrounds. Feast with your family on an herby whole-roasted branzino, heaping bowls of garlicky Việt Cajun noodles with crawfish, and a superb fried-lobster roll with tamarind sauce, and leave full and happy. 409 Hancock St., Quincy, MA 02171, lemadeline.com.
Étant
Crick in your neck? Shoulders at your ears? Lower back crying uncle? You need Étant. Now. In fact, if you weren’t in such bad shape, we’d tell you to run there and let the talented massage therapists sink their strong yet sensitive hands into every last trouble spot. Whether you opt for the Swedish, deep-tissue, sports, or CBD-infused massage, by the time you’re done, you’ll feel like you could float home. 527 Tremont St., Boston, MA, 02116, etant.com.
Beauport Hotel Gloucester
This boutique hotel proves once again that Gloucester has more going for it than some guy in a yellow rain slicker hawking fish sticks. Built to resemble a tasteful Gilded Age shingle-style summer home, the Beauport sits on Pavilion Beach with commanding views of the harbor. The excellent waterfront restaurant attracts lobster-roll-loving locals and day-trippers alike, while a rooftop pool and bar (open to hotel guests only) is the closest the North Shore gets to Miami. 55 Commercial St., Gloucester, MA 01930, beauporthotel.com.
Will Thompson, Ruka
Photograph by Toan Trinh, styling by Laura Dillon Will Thompson honed his cocktail craft at Drink, developed a spot-on classics-focused opening beverage program for gilded supper club Yvonne's, and has now come up with something entirely fresh for the Peruvian-Japanese-inspired Ruka. Detailed in a 24-page booklet, his cocktail menu is filled with exotic ingredients and over-the-top whimsy—e.g., the Morning Star, a whiskey drink served in a flower pot. Finally, serious cocktail geekery has loosened its tie a little. 505 Washington St., Boston, MA 02111, rukarestobar.com.
Robert Gerard
<p>The distinguishing mark of a great bartender is the ability to satisfy all of the customers all of the time—the ability to play sex therapist one minute and sports analyst the next, and to be an interested listener no matter what the bozo in front of you has to say.</p> <p>Robert Gerard, a 35-year-old native of Albany, New York, who drinks Heineken but loves to mix a margarita now and then, is quite simply a master of his trade. Since moving to Boston, in 1977, Gerard has worked at the Sunflower Café, Pizzeria Uno, St. Botolph, and Allegro on Boylston. These days you'll find him at he recently reopened 29 Newbury, which he hopes will combine the best of them all.</p> <p>"St. Botolph is a neighborhood bar," he says. "It's got a nice blend of people and a strong sense of community. Allegro is more urbane, but it doesn't have that sense of community—at least not yet. My fantasy is that 29 will have both."</p> <p>No matter what the environment, Gerard's trade secrets are sure to stay the same. "Basically," he says, "it comes down to caring. Anyone can master the technical aspects of bartending; the hard part is helping create an atmosphere. You've got to be inclusive instead of exclusive. And have a good time."</p>
Joe V's
It's been less than a year since this unassuming Italian bistro took over the spot once occupied by On the Park, and Joe V's has already shown that it can hold its own in a neighborhood crowded with great restaurants. The excellent food at reasonable prices ranges from thin-crust pizzas with a tangy, garlicky sauce, to confidently executed classics (lobster ravioli), while delicious brunch dishes (the South Beach omelet, with Egg Beaters, ham, and tomato) keep the locals dropping in all weekend long. 315 Shawmut Ave., Boston, MA .
Walden Local
At a time when every supermarket trip is an unwelcome adventure and food shortages have proved we can’t rely on factory farms, it’s been a godsend to get Walden Local’s monthly, home-delivered meat shares featuring Northeast-farm-raised pork, lamb, beef, and chicken. The quality? Unimpeachable. And once it’s safe, we can’t wait to revisit the South End shop for butchery demonstrations and small-group workshops that let us (literally) see how the sausage gets made. 316 Shawmut Ave., Boston, MA 01862, waldenlocalmeat.com/butcher-shop.
Claire Caso
Clever Claire managed to hold down a full-time city job as an aide to City Counselor John Kerrigan (her $300-a-week salary nicely supplemented her husband's hefty paycheck from the federal government), run a smooth household, raise eight lovely children, and even pick up a little extra money taking care of the neighbor's kids. If she had showed up at City Hall every now and then, her talent as a housewife would probably have gone unacclaimed.
Larry O'Connor, Black Magic
O'Connor's men (he's got two crews) dress in the traditional top hats (tails optional in summer) to do your chimney. And now's the time to get an appointment: fully three quarters of the company's business is done between September and December—and we're talking about thousands of chimneys. O'Connor started in Stowe, Vermont, in 1973, and moved here five years later. He's good, and very neat, too. "We make sure we keep our customer's homes clean by taking along an industrial vacuum cleaner to every job." Ah, progress. Cambridge, MA