Eventide Fenway
When it comes to New England lobster rolls, there are two major types: “hot and buttered” and “cold and mayo’d.” And then there’s Eventide’s, a third-party candidate featuring fresh lobster meat sweetened with brown butter and salted with chives in a squishy, bao-like roll. Five years after the Portland, Maine– founded restaurant set up in the Fenway, its justifiably famous signature spin has become part of our city’s fabric. 1321 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02215, eventideoysterco.com.
Roche Bobois
The luxe furniture selection at
Roche Bobois. / Photo by Sarah Stirrer With locations in Downtown Crossing and Natick, the vividly colored Roche Bobois showrooms deliver innovative, boundary-pushing pieces (including Jean Paul Gaultier’s playful chariot-inspired "Ben Hur" armchair with wheels) and patterns from designers such as Cécile Maia Pujol and Kenzo Takada without sacrificing comfort.
2 Avery St., Boston 617-742-9611
395 Worcester St., Natick 508-650-5844
roche-bobois.com.
All Too Human
Maybe you’re searching for a piece you spotted on the runway. Maybe you’re just in need of a fabulous wardrobe refresh. Either way, you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for at Jessica Knez’s sleek boutique, where such hard-to-find labels as Maison Kitsuné and Y/Project are displayed next to fan favorites like Chloé and Marni. After two years in the Back Bay, All Too Human is at the forefront of our city’s fashion renaissance. 236 Clarendon St., Boston, MA 02116, alltoohumanboston.com.
Saltie Girl
Quick, it’s 3 p.m. and you’re peckish from a grueling afternoon bolstering the Newbury Street economy. Where to pop in for pristine bivalves and a chilly glass of curated Chablis? Saltie Girl, open all day every day, is our favorite solution to the first-est of first-world problems. Here’s to the meticulous shuckery, the handy cheat sheets ("small, briny, cucumber"), and the ingenuity of eye-droppers for doling out hot sauce and bracing mignonette. 281 Dartmouth St., Boston, MA 02116, saltiegirl.com.
The Proprietors Bar & Table
Hollandaise-drizzled eggs Benny and bloodies are always a welcome weekend indulgence, but there are times—especially on vacation—when we want more from our morning meal. Thankfully, the Proprietors' adventurous brunch menu rises to the challenge. Here, chef/co-owner Michael LaScola's lobster-and-mushroom pancakes are luxed up with crème fraîche and caviar; whipped-mortadella toast is finished with a soft-poached egg; and everything tastes better with a side of "Ranchero" tater tots, slathered with gooey cheddar cheese and scrambled eggs. 9 India St., Nantucket, MA 2554, proprietorsnantucket.com.
Deep Thoughts
Walking Boston's increasingly sterile streets, you may find yourself occasionally wondering: "Where did our weirdness go?" Find out at Deep Thoughts, where expert oddmongers keep those crates teeming with obscure vinyl. For an extra dose of vitamin WTF, be sure to paw through the collection of far-out vintage sci-fi paperbacks. 138 B South St., Jamaica Plain, MA 02130, deepthoughtsjp.com.
Eugene Mirman
Comedian Eugene Mirman is back home in Boston. / Photograph by Brian Tamborello A Lexington native, Mirman made his name with appearances on Flight of the Conchords and a starring role in the animated series Bob's Burgers while living in New York. But he never forgot about his hometown, remaining a presence on Boston's standup scene and even creating a comedy festival here. He's since moved back to the area, letting us reclaim him as our own. eugenemirman.com.
Gallery Naga
There's always something that catches our eye at this contemporary gallery inside the Back Bay's Church of the Covenant. Now celebrating its 40th year, Naga prefers to showcase work by locals, such as Peter Vanderwarker's stunning landscape photography and Gerry Bergstein's mixed-media agglomerations on panels. The other thing the artists all have in common? They hit the sweet spot of challenging the mind while creating images that you can immerse yourself in for years. 67 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, gallerynaga.com.
Tupelo
Kitschy pan-southern spots keep popping up to capitalize on our thirst for whiskey and the idea that everything benefits from a dip in the fryolator. Yet Tupelo remains the most reliable hideaway for Cajun comfort cuisine. The soundtrack of Dixieland and faded records decorating the walls help, sure, but the pleasantly mouth-numbing blackened catfish, fried alligator on a heavenly bed of cheddar grits, and desserts from co-owner Renee McLeod's Petsi Pies are why we keep coming back. 1193 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA 02139, tupelo02139.com.
Mei Mei
There’s nothing wrong with boilerplate gyoza or xiao long bao. But it’s hard to resist the singular farm-to-table fusion proffered by the siblings behind Mei Mei, who fill their crackly, hand-crimped wrappers with everything from heirloom legumes to braised beef and blue cheese. Our favorite of the bunch—cilantro oil, a swipe of mashed white beans, and lean chorizo—isn’t just a damn good dumpling. It might just be the best two-bite morsel in town. 506 Park Dr., Boston, MA 02215, meimeiboston.com.
Pho 2000
Photograph by Kelsey Cronin Windex-starved mirrors line the walls of this snug Vietnamese joint. Maybe it looked less silly around Y2K. Now? We forgive—nay, embrace—the campy environs once our lips hit the steaming bowls of bò kho (slow-cooked beef stew). Like its tableside bottles of sriracha, Pho 2000 is a kitschy vessel full of awesomely kicky flavor. 198 Adams St., Dorchester, MA 02122, pho2000boston.com.
Alden & Harlow
Whether we’re looking for a place to entertain out-of-towners or just an impromptu night out on the town, Alden & Harlow has become our default dining destination. Even after two years, classics like chicken-fried rabbit, roasted carrots over romesco sauce, and chef Michael Scelfo’s scandalously smoky burger continue to feel spry and innovative. Seth Freidus’s cocktail list is endlessly surprising. And service is seamless, gracefully toeing the line between casual and intuitive. 40 Brattle St., Cambridge, MA 02138, aldenharlow.com.
Orly Khon Floral
Photograph by Becky Morley Industrial chic. Richly bohemian. Romantic and fresh. Orly Khon, formerly of Tangerine Creations, can weave a floral theme for any romance—blooms springing from driftwood, succulents beneath glass cloches, blossom chains. She's also a weather watcher, keeping track of how our crazy climate affects flowers and making appropriate (read: calming) modifications. And with a retail store inside the Restoration Hardware flagship and a studio close to the Boston Flower Exchange, Khon has a garden of local inspiration at her fingertips. 234 Berkeley St., Boston, MA 02116, orlykhon.com.
Pini Swissa
Pini Swissa identified our hair dilemma immediately—lose the bulk around the crown that grows in bushy after a week, he advised. This is the man who styles Tom Brady, after all, so he should know. A close fade on the side nicely transitioned into a fuller top that looks great when styled with a bit of product, or parted and slicked for formal occasions. No one mistook us for Mr. Ba¼ndchen afterward, but we did receive a few long glances while strolling down Newbury Street. 18 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, piniswissa.com.
Kitchen Kibitz
Perhaps because it aligns with our modern taste for all things fermented, preserved, and pickled, Jewish cuisine is undergoing a much-needed renaissance in these parts. Playing a big role in its revival is this recurring pop-up from proprietor Jeff Gabel, who's managed to talk culinary luminaries like Bread & Salt Hospitality's Joshua Lewin into getting creative with everything from brisket-topped latkes to hamantaschen. kitchenkibitz.com.