Nicholas Tischler
If you can make your way through the supercool front-of-the-house impressarios, and manage to obtain one of the precious few tables in the back dining room, Nicholas Tischler's food will delight, amaze, and just plain satisfy. He's got a way with fish and is equally adept and meat and game dishes. Restaurant Zinc, 35 Stanhope St., Boston, MA .
Avalon
This crown jewel of Pat Lyons' nightclub empire is the only local dance venue with the clout, and sound system, to draw superstar deejays, including in-house legend John Debo. For that heart-stopping, in-your-chest electronic groove, it doesn't get much better than Avalon. 15 Landsdowne Street, Boston, MA .
Ombe
At this integrative health center four floors above Copley Square, our therapist kicked off the 80-minute massage by asking about problem areas and preferences—and actually listened. After guiding our limbs through a series of stretches on the heated table, she kneaded shoulders, back, neck, and quads with the hard pressure we crave (and often request, but don't get). And green practices (down to the organic Badger balm and body oil and linens cleaned with an eco-friendly detergent) left our inner tree-hugger at peace, too. 551 Boylston St., Boston, MA ombecenter.com.
Clove & Creek
You’re on your way to your friend’s beachfront pad in P-town, and you forgot to pick up a host gift. Think fast — where do you go? That’d be this apothecary-style shop, which arrived on the Cape by way of the Hudson Valley last year, bringing with it a curated lineup of unique goods (think: woodblock-print greeting cards, hot-spring-inspired bath salts, and zucchini relish). This is one New York import that we’ll gladly welcome to our salty state. 353 Commercial St., Provincetown, MA 02657, cloveandcreek.com.
Btone Fitness
It was arm and leg day when we came in for a 45-minute session on the “TONEy” — the Lexington-born franchise’s custom-engineered equipment but we felt this workout in our head, shoulders, knees, and toes. A hybrid of resistance training, yoga, and Pilates, Btone uses adjustable springs and a sliding platform to test your core (and your willpower). Yet the fast pace, sing-along jams, and encouraging instructor kept us so motivated we almost forgot we were working out — almost. Multiple locations, btonefitness.com.
Willowdale Estate
You picture a quiet dinner for immediate family; your partner imagines an all-night rager with 400 guests. Plan your happy medium at the always-crowd-pleasing Willowdale Estate, where a range of magical ceremony and reception spaces allow for a longer invite list without sacrificing the intimacy of a tinier fete. Our personal fave? The greenery-filled courtyard garden, which looks downright enchanting with strings of lights. 24 Asbury St., Topsfield, MA 01983, willowdaleestate.com.
Rise Beauty Studio
Canadian sisters Mia Kizaki and Amy Kaye set up shop on Newbury Street last fall, and have proved yet again that our neighbors to the north know how to make everything, even eyebrow plucking, congenial. At Rise, you lie on your back on a comfy spa bed as the stylist works her magic seated in a chair behind you. No more awkwardly staring at yourself in a mirror as your eyes water; just an almost nap that ends with the big reveal of a perfectly manicured brow line. 316 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02115, risebeautystudio.com.
Tadpole
Baby-lust-inducing clothing (Pixie Lily onesies, Trumpette 'cowgirl boot' socks) and accessories (Skip Hop diaper bags, Dwell crib sets) make this whimsical South End shop our favorite answer to big-box hegemony. Whether your limit is $20 or $200, staffers are happy to brainstorm presents, and wrapping is free. Even if your gift isn't on Mom's registry, she'll probably wonder why she didn't think of it herself. 58 Clarendon St., Boston, MA 2116, shoptadpole.com.
Mobile Auto Repair Service
They say the proof is in the pudding, or, in this case, the carburetor: Paul Levin is the guy to fix your car. With a vast knowledge of foreign and domestic autos, plus a wicked sense of humor, Levin puts you to task with a thorough Q&A session while narrowing down a diagnosis for your ailing vehicle. Sensitive to tight budgets, he won't take you for a ride. Levin is also completely accommodating. He even offered to look through our car receipts to check the quality and pricing of repair work done in the past. 90 Windom Street, Allston, MA .
Harry's Foreign American Auto
Your parents' mechanic was honest and treated the family Cadillac like a fourth child. Car doctors like that may be endangered these days, but they aren't extinct—not while Harry Nesdekidis is still repairing carburetors, anyway. He knows his stuff when it comes to what's under your hood, and truly cares about each customer (he threw extra wiper blades into our trunk and taught us how to install them). When it comes to mending crippled cars, in Harry we trust. 19 Academy Hill Road, Brighton, MA 2135, harrysforeignamerican.com.
Inn at St. Botolph
Photograph by Jesse Burke The fanny pack and walking shoes may mark you as a tourist, but your digs definitely won’t. Tucked away in the Back Bay, this brownstone inn blends in with its neighbors, keeping your tourist status our little secret. Small and intimate, the property’s suites feature copper fireplaces and signature bow-front windows, creating a quintessential Boston experience. 99 St. Botolph St., Boston, MA 2116, innatstbotolph.com.
Haven Beauty
It’s not just our hair that has grown great lengths since Haven won Best Salon west of Boston last year: The team has since added a stylist, massage therapist, and two aestheticians — with plans to keep expanding. Needless to say, your options for a day of pampering are plentiful at this holistic salon, but we’ll be back for the refreshing cut and meticulously painted balayage that left our locks looking like a work of art. 14 Church St., Hopkinton, MA 01748, havenbeautyma.com.
Skoah
Skoah's slogan is "personal training for your skin," and yes, a facial here is honestly one of our favorite workouts. All that deep cleansing and extracting while we kick back in a peaceful, light-filled setting. We now go for regular sessions—and you can see the results all over our perfectly toned face. 641A Tremont St., Boston, MA 2118, skoahboston.com.
Alton Place Shoe Repair
An Armenian religious icon watches over Valeriy Gazaryan and his customers at Alton Place Shoe Repair, in Brookline, and indeed, his work seems to border on the miraculous. Gazaryan is a man of few words. He silently examined our tired boots—scuffed leather, busted zippers, worn-out heel—and agreed to see what he could do. Four days later, our boots came back shined, rezippered, and reheeled, all for about $25. 3 Alton Place, Brookline, MA 2446, .
Capone Foods
When it comes to pasta, Capone is the champ. Our favorite is lemon, but we wouldn't turn up our nose at wild mushroom, curry, or saffron to name just a few of the 25 flavors and four cuts which Capone's has available, most on a daily basis. What's more, the management has thoughtfully provided a chart to help you through the which-sauce-with-which-pasta maze. 14 Bow St., Somerville, MA .