Serenade Chocolatier
Witness the alchemy firsthand: Confections at Serenade, Brookline Village's intimate chocolatier, are prepared before customers' eyes using smooth, buttery Callebaut direct from Belgium. It's a show that has lured in locals, siren-like, for some 15 years now. Then there's the serenade itself: the chocolate. The truffles are an adagio in their own right, each subtly laced with flavor (Champagne, Grand Marnier, raspberry) that plays to a smooth, dense ganache core encased in a layer of chocolate. The French truffle dusted in bittersweet cocoa is a standout, but the house signature is the Viennese, a fat square of layered dark and milk chocolate infused with hazelnut butter. Serenade also runs a small stand in South Station, lulling the train-bound and softening the commute home. 5 Harvard Sq., Brookline Village, MA serenadechocolatier.com.
No. 9 Park
Oenophiles searching for a wine list that both delights and challenges need look no further than the fringes of Boston Common. No. 9 Park wine director Cat Silirie has organized a list that's a worldly tour of tried-and-true Chianti, sauvignon blanc, and chardonnay, and paired them with such never-before-heard-of vineyards and varietals as Josco Gravner's ribolla gialla from the northeast corner of Italy and No. 9 Park private label refosco, a grape from Trentino, Italy, that's grown and bottled at Santa Barbara, California's Au Bon Climat winery. The result: a list that complements chef Barbara Lynch's sophisticated cuisine and is easily organized by grape and flavor (lighter for aperitif to full-bodied, barrel-fermented big boys). Silirie wants diners to be comfortable with wine, and that's exactly what her stellar palate and fastidious organization achieve. 9 Park St., Boston, MA no9park.com.
Trattoria à Scalinatella
Tucked away on a second floor above Hanover Street, this tiny slice of Sicily is proof there's more to an authentic North End restaurant than red-and-white-checkered tablecloths. An elegant experience from start to finish (with a business attire-only dress code), Trattoria à Scalinatella pairs a refined room with a like-minded menu. Appetizers such as the lobster timballo showcase the kitchen's love of fresh flavors, while entrées like the olive-coated salmon are seductively simple. The flirty, macho waiters know their stuff when it comes to the menu and the wine list, and aren't afraid to show it. It's best to just sit back and let them guide you through your meal. Post meal drink in hand, curled up at a table by the cozy fireplace, you won't find a better way to relax. 253 Hanover St., Boston, MA .
A&J King Artisan Bakers
Set foot inside a great restaurant, and the feeling is usually admiration, even awe. Enter a great bakery like A&J King, and it's more like giddiness. Everything looks as good as it smells, and tastes even better, courtesy of the New England Culinary Institute grads working the ovens. Andy King bakes the breads—tangy North Shore sourdough, airy ciabatta—and wife Jackie creates the toothsome pastries, which range from flaky croissants and custardy bread puddings to the dense and intense chocolate cakes called bouchons. They also plate fresh-made sandwiches and flatbreads and pour what just might be the North Shore's best espresso. Did we say giddiness? We meant love. 48 Central St., Salem, MA 1970, ajkingbakery.com.
O Ya
As sushi has gone mainstream, it's become increasingly run-of-the-mill: rolls, rolls, and more rolls, with too much rice and tasteless (and, frequently, cooked) fish. O Ya doesn't even offer rolls, just sparklingly fresh sashimi and nigiri—including heretofore unseen specialties like big-eye red snapper, conch, and Santa Barbara spot prawn. With a surgeon's precision, chef-owner Tim Cushman and his line of sushi sous pair each fish with thoughtfully chosen exotic adornments like Thai basil and torched banana pepper mousse, and one of dozens of house-made sauces. The results—like the bluefin tataki with smoky pickled onions and truffle oil—are transporting. 9 East St., Boston, MA .
Formaggio Kitchen's Saturday Barbecues
Some less enlightened staffers here at Boston magazine argued against this pick, citing its limited availability (Formaggio fires up its sidewalk grill once a week, and for only half the year) and the unforgivable snobbishness of awarding the title of best street food to a purveyor of $7 hot dogs. But proponents were unmoved, pointing out that said dogs weigh in at a juicy half pound. And that—like the house-made sausages and the pulled pork, chicken, and lamb—forms part of what just might be the Hub's most joyous eating experience. That status is owed largely to Formaggio's new grill-master, Kurt Gurdal, whose infectious enthusiasm will surely stand him in good stead through season's end, in mid-November. 244 Huron Ave., Cambridge, MA formaggiokitchen.com.
Katrina Hess
Over the years, hundreds of women have watched natural beauty they never knew they had emerge from under Katrina Hess's skilled brushstrokes. Weddings are a specialty, but, as Hess puts it, a woman should feel like a million bucks whether she's going to the office or going to the altar. Hess is a well of beauty tips and tricks (from how to avoid getting lipstick on your teeth to giving lashes that elusive perfect curl). Equally impressive is her product knowledge: While she's worked for many of the best (Bobbi Brown, Trish McEvoy, Chanel, Christian Dior), Hess now works only for her clients and has the luxury of culling every label's standout cosmetics into a dream palette. Combine that with her meticulously honed technique, and you've got a beautiful thing indeed. 105 Newbury St., 3rd floor, Boston, MA .
Deprisco Jewelers
Shopping for bridal baubles at this 55-year-old family-run emporium is almost as satisfying as striking a deal directly with the diamond cutter in Antwerp. In their cozy showroom four floors above Downtown Crossing, DePrisco's white-haired salesmen steer anxious grooms-to-be into private cubicles, where they use jeweler's loupes and expertly handled tweezers to show off naked stones. DePrisco often knocks a few hundred bucks off its asking price—so the customer at least feels like he's getting a bargain. And if he (or, more likely, she) later decides the ring needs more bling, DePrisco will always buy it back and let the happy couple use the cash to trade up to a bigger rock. 333 Washington St., Suite 448, Boston, MA deprisco.com.
Crane & Company Papermakers
Pick up a $1 bill. Feel that rich, heavy texture? That's Crane & Company paper. The high-quality, 100 percent cotton construction has made Crane's paper the standard for elegant correspondence and very official documents (from legal wills to cold, hard cash) everywhere. Why should your wedding invitations be any different? This stationery can be easily customized: You choose the paper color, ink color, type style (most are classic, simple, and commanding), and whether you'd like the type engraved or thermographed. With tradition comes experience, and Crane's knowledgeable staff walks you through the entire process, from sending save-the-date cards to choosing additional embossings or designs. Prudential Center, Boston, MA crane.com.
Courageous Sailing Center
Whoever said you can't get something for nothing didn't know the Courageous Sailing Center. The center teaches mini-mariners to sail for free thanks to finding form the city, adult membership dues, and private donations. Kids start with a half-day "taste" of sailing and progress through four more steps until they are skilled enough to race and teach other youngsters. They'll have a blast tooting around the harbor all summer, but when they sail to the stacks on an all-day outing to the JFK Library, Courageous proves a real parent-pleaser too. Adults can learn to sail for $199, which includes a two-week membership (other learn-to-sail and membership packages are also available) offering use of J-22s and Rhodes 19s, barbecues, sails to Harborlights concerts, and beautiful Harbor island camping trips. 1st and 8th Ave., Charlestown, MA .
Koo de Kir
Seems that lately almost every home accessories shop is big on minimalism—in presentation and selection, anyway. (Price is another matter.) Shoppers who are tired of wandering through spartan stores with items and price tags that belong in the Museum of Modern Art can take refuge at Koo de Kir, where the stock is fresh and edgy, yet approachable in both style and cost. Phonetically named for the French phrase coup de coeur, which means "a strike to the heart," Koo endears itself to those searching for such stylish, of-the-moment accents as magnetic spice racks and sheepskin runners. Need help getting your dwelling up to speed? Take advantage of Koo's free design consultations, at the able hands of the store's interior designers. 34 Charles St., Boston, MA koodekir.com.
Montage
This store's 10,500 square feet of floor space on Arlington Street is brimming with a minimalist but immaculate selection of contemporary pieces from designers such as B&B Italia, Cassina (including designs by Philippe Starck), and Antoine Proulx. Clean lines, solid colors, and 18-foot ceilings accentuate the two-level showroom where co-owners Christopher and Liz Bates are on hand most days to consult. Showcased in roomlike groupings, the pieces here combine to create uncluttered living spaces of sleek, simply lined sofas, multilevel coffee tables, and softly spherical lamps echoing 1950s futurama motifs. Definitely on the pricier side (sectionals can run into five figures), Montage's original selections will nonetheless last well into your home's next retro phase. 75 Arlington St., Boston, MA montageweb.com.
Gretta Luxe
According to stereotype, women are supposed to run into the city for a dose of cutting-edge chic. Gretta Luxe has successfully reversed the paradigm: Since it opened four years ago, it's had city fashion aficionados happily schlepping out to Wellesley for designs and investment pieces that are hard to find elsewhere, including Chloé, Barbara Bui, Miu Miu, Habitual, and Strenesse. There are accessories, too, from Marc Jacobs bags to Jimmy Choo shoes. But this is no mere label shrine. The helpful staffers, each blessed with impeccable taste, have well-tuned radar for determining which clothes will flatter a customer (and a merciful flair for avoiding those that don't). If that isn't worth a quick jaunt down Route 9, we don't know what is. 94 Central St., Wellesley, MA grettaluxe.com.
Fifty-Three South
Don't let the trendy name fool you: Fifty-three South is far more nouvelle than nouveau. That's not to say this fetching bistro, opened at the site of the former Seasons restaurant, doesn't have a classic strain. Candles light the tables, dried flowers warm up the walls, and the delicate menu caresses the palate. Starters such as tender scallops paired with silky cauliflower cream are downright delectable, and the melt-in-your-mouth short ribs are plump with deep-flavored sweet and smoky meat. Main courses—the seafood stew of cod, crab claws, shrimp, potatoes, and fruity tomatoes, all swimming in a full-on saffron broth—are well-orchestrated balancing acts of texture and flavor. Factor in incredibly attentive service and a well-edited wine list, and you've got a bistro that defines modern classic. 124 Washington Street (Route 153), Norwell, MA .
Good Harbor
The only bad thing about Good Harbor is the small parking lot—which, if you're lucky enough to snag a spot, isn't such a bad thing. The lack of parking keeps the crowds down, meaning it's actually possible to avoid having sand blow into your sandwich every time someone shakes out a towel. The half-mile stretch of white beach appeals to young and old alike, with a tidal river and seaweed-covered rocks to explore and services including lifeguards, showers, and a snack bar. Get there at low tide for a walk out to Salt Island before the water rushes back in to cover the thin sandbar that connects it to the mainland. It's a trusty alternative to Crane, another favorite North Shore beach. Thatcher Rd., Gloucester, MA .