The Cape Codder Resort & Spa
The resort itself may feel a bit stuck in the '70s, but the Cape Codder's spa has surely caught up with the times. Such treatments as cranberry-enzyme facial peels and detoxifying seaweed-clay masques and massages are always perfectly performed. And after you're done being pampered, your kids can frolic in the hotel's oceanlike indoor pool, which boasts two big water slides and two-and-a-half-foot waves. 1225 Iyannough Rd. (Rte. 132), Hyannis, MA capecodderresort.com.
76 Main
76 Main Photo provided This sleek downtown inn offers rooms done up in stripes and poppy colors by Boston designer Rachel Reider, as well as plenty of modern amenities (iPads, Apple TVs). Your best bet is Room 16 or 17 in the guesthouse, each of which features a patio complete with a fire table and a private entrance from the inn’s pretty courtyard. 76 Main St., Nantucket, MA 2554, 76main.com.
Toro
Photograph by Anthony Tieuli Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette’s beloved South End tapas joint may now have a gigantic sister spot in (gasp!) Manhattan, but the tiny original is still as solid as ever. Expertly rendered classics like tortilla española and patatas bravas get plenty of menu real estate, but it’s with the more-innovative dishes—smoked duck drumettes in a quince glaze, roasted bone marrow with oxtail marmalade—that the kitchen truly shines. You’re welcome, New York. 1704 Washington St., Boston, MA 2118, toro-restaurant.com.
Toscanini's
PHOTOGRAPH BY JESSE BURKE We can confidently say that we’ve sampled just about every cone in Greater Boston—and scoop by scoop, Gus Rancatore’s Central Square ice cream shop remains unchallenged. The endless array of creative flavors—bourbon black pepper, mango-ginger, green tea—keeps things interesting, but it’s the thick, custardy texture that makes this ultra-rich ice cream the undisputed heavyweight champion of the slow-churned world. 899 Main St., Cambridge, MA 2139, tosci.com.
Skinner Discovery Auctions
Fancy antiques, but can't stomach the usual price tags? The once-a-month Skinner Discovery auctions offer estate furnishings, jewelry, books, art, and objets d'art that aren't quite high-end enough for the company's specialty auctions. The large, varied lots promise any level of buyer the thrill of bidding and winning. 274 Cedar Hill St., Marlborough, MA 1752, skinnerinc.com.
Abbicci
At first, we were hopelessly distracted by the eye candy, as Abbicci's exotic-looking French and Peruvian servers floated by sensuously to a soft instrumental soundtrack. Once the food arrived, though, our gazes were fully focused on the Mediterranean-inspired plates before us: scallion-and-pistachio-stuffed Peppadews, scotch-glazed squad, and pan-seared pork loin with sweet and sour pepperonata. Owner Marietta Bombardieri fiercely edits her wine list to match her menu. As for other types of matchmaking, you're on your own. 43 Main St. (Rte. 6A), Yarmouth Port, MA abbicci.com.
R.F. O'Sullivan & Son
It's the simplest tasks that often get botched worst—hence the surfeit of humble hamburgers served up dry, tough, and tasteless. The cooks at R. F. O'Sullivan are the most reliable we've found when it comes to doing justice to the iconic minced-meat sandwich. There's the soft bun, the gooey melted cheese, and, most important, the salty ground sirloin that oozes flavorful juices from the first, sloppy bite. It's a rare (and/or well-done) culinary feat. 282 Beacon St., Somerville, MA rf-osullivan.com.
Northern Spy
New Englanders love to brunch, so it’s a good thing that brunch at Northern Spy — the newest entry from former Loyal Nine chef Marc Sheehan — is an ode to New England, albeit with a modern twist. Come for the hearty braised-beef flatbread with bean-pot onions and smoked bluefish pâté with brown bread, stay for the cozy vibes, courtesy of a sunny brick building with views of the Paul Revere Heritage Site’s sprawling green. 4 Rolling Mill Way, Canton, MA 02021, northernspycanton.com.
The Beach Plum Inn
There’s no shortage of charming inns everywhere on the Vineyard, but none of them has the vantage point of this rustic farmhouse overlooking the absurdly picturesque fishing village of Menemsha. With rooms and cottages available, it embodies the laid-back up-island vibe; the path to the beach, for instance, winds past the chicken coop. Umbrellas, beach towels, and chairs are complimentary, and guests get coveted passes to Lucy Vincent and Squibnocket beaches, but the real reason to stay here is the mind-bending sunsets over Menemsha Bight. 50 Beach Plum Ln., Menemsha, MA 02535, beachpluminn.com.
Thom Solo
Once upon a time, you could only snag Thom Solo’s cutting-edge heels and boots by placing a custom order. Recently, though, the designer has found a way to scale production of his coveted footwear, making it more accessible to all. But that doesn’t mean he’s compromised on style or quality: Solo continues to revolutionize shoe design with innovative pairs like his iconic ruffle pumps and sexy croc long boots. thomsolo.com.
Barlette
The team behind the always-booked-up Brookline hit restaurant Cobble has done it again, this time with a BYOB cocktail bar. You read that right: You bring the booze, and Barlette provides the mixers, glassware, snacks, and dramatic-floral-wallcovering-bedecked vibes, complete with a variety of themed nooks to explore, like the book-filled Library. Just be quick — reservations open at noon on the first of every month and go fast. 318 Harvard St. #11, Brookline, MA 02446, drinkatbarlette.com.
Sacco's Bowl Haven
Once you hear the candlepins crashing, smell the freshly made clay-oven pizza, and taste the beer — lots and lots of locally made beer — you’ll understand why people flock from all over to score a lane at Sacco’s. In fact, try making a reservation, and you might be shocked at just how popular the Davis Square holdover has become. Luckily, several lanes are available on a first-come basis — so show up early and stay late. 45 Day St., Somerville, MA 02144, americanflatbread.com/locations/somerville-ma.
Omori Izakaya
Chirashi and a variety of skewers from Omori in Malden, via delivery. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal Looking for quick after-work bites of teriyaki-glazed chicken skewers, crispy chicken karaage, or fried octopus nuggets, perhaps washed down with a crisp Sapporo beer? Or maybe a longer, lingering dinner of rich bone-broth ramen or prettily plated donburi rice bowls? Omori is a shining example of the Japanese-style pub known as an izakaya, a casual genre perfect for a night out with friends. Brookline and Malden, omori.net.
Vejigantes
The chuleta kan kan certainly makes a dazzling impression at this vibrant spot from longtime Boston restaurateurs Hector and Nivia Pina: Sourced directly from Puerto Rico, the succulent 18-ounce bone-in pork loin chop is served with the belly and crispy skin still attached. But really, anything on the menu, from classic mofongos (mashed plantain or cassava with meat inside) to house-special paellas, is worth trying. The extensive list of fun cocktails garnished with fresh flowers, umbrellas, and mini bottles of champagne, meanwhile, practically guarantees a good time. 57 W Dedham St., Boston, MA 02118, vejigantesrestaurant.com.
Toscanini's
Gus Rancatore behind the counter of his Central Square scoop shop. / Photograph by Pat Piasecki. The week before Gus Rancatore opened the doors to his ice cream shop, Toscanini’s, in Central Square, he stood on the sidewalk just up Massachusetts Avenue in Harvard Square, surveying the landscape. It was 1981, a time in Boston when Rancatore says there were a “comical number of ice cream stores,” from the hallowed Bailey’s downtown and iconic Steve’s in Davis Square to the small local chain Brigham’s. That day in Cambridge, it was winter — and snowing. “I looked to my left, and I looked to my right, and people were everywhere eating ice cream cones,” Rancatore remembers. “I thought to myself, This will probably work out.” Continue reading ... Cambridge, tosci.com.