Cakes to Remember
This is your chance to undo all the stereotypes of inedible wedding cakes: frostings that feel like a furball on your tongue, cake consistencies more like cardboard than chiffon. Ellen Bartlett goes beyond the basics with panache, offering more than a hundred possible combinations: smooth molded fondant, fillings like meringues, fruit purees, and dacquoises, buttercreams in Grand Marnier and Frangelico. The only risk is having the wedding party upstaged by the amazingly customized cakes— you can surprise your British bride with a buttercream replica of Big Ben, or your political hack husband with a miniature State House for a groom's cake. 248 Cypress St., Brookline, MA .
Uni
Why go to Japan for sushi when Uni sushi chef Tsuyoshi “Take” Takeishi can bring the freshest Japanese fish straight to you? Pull up one of four barstools reserved every Thursday night at Uni for the new Edomae-style omakase tasting experience, and across 20 courses and two hours, Takeishi will prepare and serve you exceptional seasonal bites, stopping only to show you on his tablet some of the unfamiliar seafood — striped beakfish, broadbanded thornyhead, purple sea urchin from Nagasaki — that makes every bite worth swooning over. 370A Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02115, uni-boston.com.
Oasis Day Spa
Looking for a city-quality spa experience without the (very unrelaxing) city drive? Give Oasis Day Spa a call. From massages and facials to waxing and makeup application, this tranquil Weymouth retreat does it all, even offering a “Zen for Men” menu that includes mani-pedis and microdermabrasion. And if you’re having trouble deciding what to book, you can create your own two hours of pure bliss with a combination of services: The “Renew” package, for example, includes an express seaweed facial, 30-minute massage, and classic pedicure — no stress-inducing car ride required. 108 Pleasant St., Weymouth, MA 02190, relaxatoasis.com.
Nathálie
Named for owner Haley Fortier’s grandmother, Nathálie’s focus on small-batch, natural, and woman-produced wines made it a unique proposition when it opened in the beer-soaked Fenway in 2018. Since then, though, it has evolved into simply a true-blue neighborhood wine bar, a place where actual Bostonians (not touristy home-game hordes) enjoy whiling away some patio-time hours over exciting pours — Las Jaras Wines’ spicy “nighttime rosé,” for instance — alongside the perfect cheese plate or chicken-liver mousse. 186 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215, nathaliebar.com.
Caveau
Photo by Josh Jamison The party’s on at all hours at this new hot spot from COJE Management Group: Unlike most clubs, doors at Caveau open at 5 p.m. Wednesday to Friday (7 p.m. on Saturdays) to accommodate early birds, while the kitchen serves chef Tom Berry’s menu of small bites, inspired by French Polynesia, until 11 p.m. No matter what time you arrive, the space — designed to look like an abandoned subway station turned secret party — will make you feel like you’re in a class of your own while you dance the night away. 1 Center Plaza, Boston, MA 02108, caveauofficial.com.
9Tailors
Founder Samantha Shih is out to prove that custom suits (not to mention shirts and blazers) are an attainable—and necessary!—luxury for men and women of all shapes and sizes. It all starts with a painless one-hour consultation at 9Tailors’ Leather District studio or via video chat, during which time you’ll choose design details and materials ranging from rich velvet to Glen plaid. By the time your made-to-measure masterpiece arrives five to seven weeks later, you’re guaranteed to have come up with more than a few places to wear it. 132 Lincoln St. , Boston, MA 02111, 9tailors.com.
Mandarin Oriental, Boston
Slippers on, phone off, Zen ahead: Simply arriving at Boston’s grand dame of day spas is a treat for the soul. And once you’re checked in, your massage, body scrub, or facial is just the beginning: The facility’s peaceful thermal amenities, including a warm plunge pool and quartz-crystal steam room, are more than worth carving out a little extra time for. Still craving a few more hours (ahem, days) of pampering? Settle in for one of the hotel’s new three- or five-night wellness retreats with luxuries such as butlered bath service, yoga, daily organic meals, and, of course, plenty of spa time. 776 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02199, mandarinoriental.com/boston/back-bay/luxury-hotel.
Villa México Café
Telecommuting has its perks, but none are as tasty as the grilled corn tortillas — with fillings like tender marinated chicken in a rich, complex mole sauce — that office crowds snatch up from this beloved stalwart of the downtown-lunch-hour scene. Made with palpable passion by matriarch Julie King and her daughter, industry advocate Bessie, the tacos are destination-worthy no matter where you work, but take a tip from the regulars and drench your carnitas in Villa México’s transcendent black salsa, now sold by the jar for snacking at home. 121 Water St., Financial District, MA 02109, villamexicocafe.us.
Jeffrey Dauksevich, Umi Salon
A consultation with Umi's often-brusque owner is no glib chatfest. ('How do you feel? How do you want to feel?' It's a bit like going to your shrink.) The brave should still book an appointment, though, knowing they'll walk out looking like a million bucks—which makes the $350 they just dropped a comparative bargain. Dauksevich, who gives each client at least an hour in his chair, doesn't follow fads; instead, he works off hair texture, face shape, and personality to craft current, highly individual styles. Start saving up those pennies now. 75 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, .
Christine Moore, Umi Salon
Ladies, cancel your lunch appointments: Color correction is no 10-minute miracle. Plan to spend at least a few hours in Christine Moore's chair while she analyzes the look you were going for, and what went horribly wrong; she'll detail the multi-step repair process, translating enigmatic salon-speak ('opacity,' 'porosity') into terms you actually understand, before working her hair-repair wonders. The color-removal potion might stink to high heaven, but the brilliantly natural results make it worth every whiff. 75 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, umisite.com.
Backworks
You can go to a luxurious, candlelit spa where they'll charge you a C-note to slather lavender ointment on your aching back, or you can go somewhere where licensed therapists will actually help get to the source of the problem. Enter Backworks, where serious muscle healing, soft-tissue tretament, and stress reduction are the foundation for easing a bona fide injury or soothing the aches that result from simple daily stress. After just one intense hour of deep-tissue massage, we left in a physical state we haven't known since childhood: utterly care-, stress-, and knot-free. 34 Batterymarch St., Boston, MA backworksinc.com.
Kieron Reynolds, City Gym
Let's be blunt: Kieron Reynolds kicks ass—literally, with a medley of cardio and strength exercises. In addition, his heavy brogue and constant quipping make the workout whipping a comedic treat. When Reynolds is not bolting around the room to check your form, barking an inspirational word, or holding a punching mitt in front of you, he doubles as a deejay and keep the place booming with techno tunes. If you haven't sweated enough during Reynolds' hour-long aerobics class, his 30-minute ab session that follows is sure to finish you off. 542 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA .
Cheryl Richards
A journalistic-style special event photographer, Richards spends 60-70 hours in the darkroom after every wedding she shoots. She's the pro's pro (they all recommend her, even if grudgingly) and her prices testify to her top-of-the-heap status. Most of her current wedding albums are in black and white because she says it's less distracting than color and lets her capture the expressions on people's faces. It may be "just" your wedding day, but you'll end up with some prints worthy of an opening at the ICA. 105 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Yankee Clipper Inn
There are surprisingly few seaside inns within an hour of Boston. But when you've found this one— and can afford the upper-end price tag— who needs others? Many of the 26 rooms located in four diverse buildings of the inn's compound overlook the ocean. Many have fabulous sun decks or glassed-in porches with a view of waves directly below. Thick lawns and colorful gardens roll down to the water's edge. There's no sandy shore, but there is a pool and a gazebo. Plan ahead: The dining room is strictly BYOB, as Rockport is a dry town. 96 Granite St., Rockport, CT .
Nine Zero
Hip enough for Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga, yet sophisticated enough to attract the likes of Bill Clinton, Nine Zero treats all its guests like celebrities—even the penguins en route to the San Diego Zoo that it accommodated in 2007. With daily wine hours, pet-friendly services, and charming themed suites (including the presidential Cloud Nine), we give Nine Zero a clear 10. Book the Skyline View rooms and your loaner iPad will come preloaded with tourist tips, a music library, even retail-therapy apps. 90 Tremont St., Boston, MA ninezero.com.