Louis Boston
If Louis Boston rented out sleeping space, there'd be no reason to ever leave. The four-story Newbury legend can clothe you (quite well, in Dries Van Noten and Mayle, and as the only place in town that carries Marni), accessorize you (with quirky jewelry from Mannin and Francisca Botelho), coif you (Salon Mario Russo, third floor), and feed you (from chef Pino Maffeo's on-site kitchen). The only part of the store you'd have little use for is the otherwise excellent home goods collection—your new address comes already very nicely appointed. 60 Northern Ave., Boston, MA 2110, louisboston.com.
Paws Club
A cage for your cairn? Quelle horreur! As long as poochie can hold her own on the playground, she can roam with the big boys at Paws. This doggie camp is both day care ($17 per day) and overnight stays ($25 per night); dogs can romp supervised in the half-acre backyard (half paved, half stone). Don't let the modest house fool you: There are 11 rooms decorated with beds and couches where pooches can sleep. Cats are welcome too (in their own rooms, $12 a night). 113 Central Street, Stoneham, MA pawsclub.com.
The Eliot Hotel
If you want blinking neon welcome signs, uninspiring neutral furnishings, and tasteless room service in an anonymous structure, don't come here. The four-star Eliot is an intimate and cozy home away from home (we should all live so well) with a decidedly European flair. Its beautifully furnished one- and two-bedroom suites, featuring living rooms and private pantries, are the perfect respire following a day exploring the Back Bay or simply as an urban retreat with your honey. And right downstairs is the nationally acclaimed restaurant Clio. 370 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA .
Bliss Home
We all know the standard china and silver registries backwards and forwards, but at Bliss Home, newlyweds learn to expect the stylishly unexpected. This is where they find not only exquisite Spanish handcrafted rugs and French crystal Champagne glasses, but avant-garde curvilinear bookcases and natural-horn pâté spreaders. Bliss consultants can guide you through the registration process even if you're a flat-, serve-, bar-, dinner-, or stemware novice. And if you think it all looks good here, just wait 'til you see it in your house. 121 Newbury St., Boston, MA blisshome.bridgecatalog.com.
Garment District
Rummaging through the racks at the Garment District is like looking for the Mona Lisa at the Louvre. That perfect paisley shirt, pleather skirt, or even preppy blue blazer is there—you just know it is—but the place is so full of classics (designer and otherwise), it sometimes takes a while to find it. By the end of your tour, you've got three hot-pink shopping bags full of inexpensive low-fashion masterpieces, from jeans to jumpers, leather jackets to costume jewelry. Behind the punk rock, studded collars, and tattoos, the store's employees are some of the friendliest around. And if you have a few extra bucks, the landfill piles of leftovers are downstairs at Dollar-a-Pound. 200 Broadway, Cambridge, MA garment-district.com.
State Road
Spend at least one evening of your Vineyard getaway at this cozy island favorite known for unpretentious, locally sourced dishes, but be sure to reserve in advance. The place is beloved by locals and presidents alike (Barack Obama is a regular on his vacations; his White House decorator designed the space). Return for brunch the next morning and take an extra order of made-from-scratch Limpopo doughnuts home with you. State Road is open for much of the winter, too, when you can enjoy fun off-season specials in front of a roaring fireplace. 688 State Rd., West Tisbury, MA 02568, stateroadrestaurant.com.
Quahog Republic
You will not leave this boisterous hangout sober. It pours some of the cheapest, strongest cocktails we've ever sipped. (At least they're made with fresh-squeezed juices, so we can feel somewhat virtuous.) At $9, a 16-ounce mai tai slurped through a straw is potent and refreshing; after an $8 Quahog Sunset with Smirnoff orange vodka, Triple Sec, and 7-Up, it's lights out. The servers have seen it all before, and they'll treat you like a local from your first tipple. 97 Spring Bars Rd., Falmouth, MA 02540, quahogrepublic.com.
Blank Label
Photograph by Jason Grow, hair by Sandy Poirier, Model: Louis/Maggie Inc. You could easily drop a few grand on a bespoke model from a name-brand designer. But if you want to save thousands and strut away looking just as dapper, pay a visit to Blank Label. This Boston-based company houses a cadre of knowledgeable tailors who will measure you from head to toe while demystifying the finer points of pick stitching, venting, and canvassing. Within three weeks, Blank Label’s partners in Shanghai will ship off your new favorite outfit. Correction, July 5, 11 a.m.: A previous version of this post misstated the location of Blank Label's international partners. They are in Shanghai, not Hong Kong. We regret the error. 36 Bromfield St., Boston, MA 02108, blanklabel.com.
Mirbeau Inn & Spa
Provence touches down in Plymouth at Mirbeau, a resort inspired by French country manors just a short putt away from where the Mayflower met shore. Boasting 34 lavishly appointed guest rooms, the turreted main house overlooks elegant grounds with Monet-worthy ponds and gardens and a Jack Nicklaus–designed golf course. The transportive ambiance extends to the stone-walled spa and Four Diamond–rated restaurant, which hosts farm-to-table dinners right in the middle of a local cranberry bog. Continental class, imported to the South Shore. 35 Landmark Dr., Plymouth, MA 02360, plymouth.mirbeau.com.
Bar Mezzana
Photo by Christopher Churchill Go for the house-made pastas and crudos, stay for the…well, everything else. Two years in, chef Colin Lynch and his team have hit their stride, doing a dizzying number of things well. Toasting a special occasion? Sit back with a bottle of Barolo and let Lynch send out a chef’s-choice parade of inspired dishes. Craving a casual bite? The bar-only chicken Parm sammy (served Mondays) has a cult following, the burger is among the best in town, and, believe it or not, they pour a mean scorpion bowl here, too.. 360 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA 02118, barmezzana.com.
L’Espalier
Chef Frank McClelland bristles when L’Espalier gets pigeonholed as French—and it is more haute New England meets Paris, when you think about it. Check the beef from Maine. The gooey Vermont fromages. The scrappy Yankee self-reliance of plating foie gras with fruit from your own organic farm! The duck-for-two stunner, presented whole, comes with sides and a beguiling slice of American large-format je ne sais quoi. Whatever you call it, this gastronomic tour de force blasts into its 40th year rocking A-game sparkle. Tomato, tomate. 774 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02199, lespalier.com.
Mamaleh’s
A deli isn’t exactly the first place we’d expect to find a top-notch cocktail list. Then again, no other delicatessen in town is run by the team behind the beloved bar State Park. Here, bartenders playfully acknowledge the setting with flourishes like pastrami spices on the rim of a smoky mezcal margarita while also toying with geeky revivalist ingredients (try the rum-and-pineapple lactart with Privateer Silver from Ipswich). And you’ll definitely want to drink your dessert: Milkshakes come spiked with the likes of brandy, house-made crème de cacao, and Chartreuse. One Kendall Sq., Cambridge, MA 02139, mamalehs.com.
The Club Car
Housed in a Nantucket Railroad car, this 41-year-old stalwart got a gorgeous redesign last year courtesy of its new owners, who earned their bona fides at Boston favorites like Toro and Grill 23. Chef-partner Mayumi Hattori’s Cali-inspired cuisine is top-notch, but we especially love the scene at the bar, which pours local Cisco brews and cocktails such as the Garden Variety, a refreshing mash-up of tequila, cucumber, and lime. Live piano music gets the party started while keeping it classy. One Main St., Nantucket, MA 02554, theclubcar.com.
East Ocean City
A good gourmet always appreciates knowing where his food comes from. And at East Ocean City, where lobster, fish, shrimp, and king crab swim happily in large tanks before being plucked for your plate, it's pretty obvious. The menu includes everything from exotic shark fin soup to classics like sweet-and-sour chicken and beef with mushrooms. The fish dishes are all flaky as only just-caught fish can be, and the accompanying fresh vegetables and savory sauces make each dish pop with flavor. 25-29 Beach St., Boston, MA 2111, .
Abe & Louie's
There aren't a lot of culinary bells and whistles on the menu at Abe & Louie's, which is just fine. This is, after all, a steakhouse. And on that front, chef Bill Bramlette delivers. He sticks to USDA prime cuts that are aged four or five weeks to succulent perfection. Choices run the gamut, from New York sirloin to bone-in filets and 24-ounce porterhouses. And unlike some kitchens we won't name, when you order your meat medium-rare, that's what you get. On the beverage end, a lusty list of wines, heavy on red grape varietals, provides the perfect match. 793 Boylston St., Boston, MA abeandlouies.com.