Bagelsaurus
More than 24 hours of slow fermentation and a decades-old sourdough starter yield handmade rounds so chewy, crackly-crusted, and flavorful that they’ve helped spark a better-bagels movement in Boston. Bonus: spreads we’d eat with a spoon. 1796 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA bagelsaurus.com.
Guerda Massage & Skin Care
Photograph by Trevor Reid / Model, Tayla Fernandez/Maggie Inc. After many years spent working at some of the area's top spas, Guerda Paul struck out on her own in 2010. Her warm demeanor and ability to find, target, and soothe problem areas make her deep-tissue and Swedish massages ($90 for an hour) well worth a trip to Wellesley. 47 River St., Wellesley, MA 02481, guerdamassagetherapy.com.
Pastoral
In an area overflowing with new eateries, Pastoral flies under the radar. Strange, given its creative menu (those wood-burning-oven-blistered Neapolitan-style pies are just the beginning), formidable beer roster, and conveniently late hours. 345 Congress St., Boston, MA 02209, pastoralfortpoint.com.
The Mandarin Oriental
This massive spa offers a steam room with star-like lights, a dimly lit "vitality pool," and services that truly transport. For an indulgent experience, try "The Retreat," a six-hour journey including a private yoga or Pilates session, foot therapy, a facial, lunch in the spa's café, and a full-body exfoliation and massage. 776 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02199, mandarinoriental.com/boston/luxury-spa.
Blissful Monkey
Get a dose of flexibility and strength from owner and instructor Terri Holler. Her Sunday evening mixed-level class relaxes and recharges—the perfect way to start a new week. On the go? Take a time-out with Lunchtime Yoga, an hour of midday instruction to help keep that inner peace flowing from 9 to 5. 663 Centre St., Boston, MA 2130, blissfulmonkey.com.
Hallie Krechevsky
It's the thought that counts, but too often pricey flower arrangements arrive as if no thought went into them at all. Not so in Hallie Krachevsky's shop, where she lovingly assembles seasonal blossoms—many of them local—into mini masterpieces. And the store's good in a pinch: none of that "I need 24 hours!" business here. 248 Huron Ave., Cambridge, MA 2138, .
Julie Michaud, Michaud Cosmetics
The team at Michaud Cosmetics has brow shaping down to a fine art. Errant strays are whisked away, and the brow is coaxed into movie star-perfect arches. Though the artists here prefer to pluck, they will wax on request. Just make sure to allow some time. Eyebrows this good take at least a half hour. 297 Newbury St., Suite 21, Boston, MA .
Healthworks
Tons of equipment, two aerobics studios in Cambridge and three studios in Brookline, each offering more than 100 classes per week, early and late hours, tight security, and a friendly, noncompetitive atmosphere. Regardless of age or body type, nobody has a problem walking around naked in the cushy Healthworks locker room. Porter Square Shopping Center, Cambridge, MA .
Nadine Krasnow, of Krasnow Real Estate
A one-woman office, she specializes in Newton properties, and does the job with warmth and gusto. To accommodate one busy client, she picked him up at his office during lunch hour and provided a picnic lunch to munch on as they prowled properties in Brookline. 381 Elliot St., Newton, MA .
Micro Center
A supermarket for wireheads. All the little doodads and connectors you need for housekeeping in cyberspace, plus decent deals on hardware, and you don't have to drive to the 'burbs to find it. The many disappointed hackers roaming the parking lot after 6 on Saturday suggests a need for longer hours. 727 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA .
Bloomingdale's
A tough call, but a survey of well-dressed local career women said they liked the range of prices—from moderate to Armani—the stylish merchandise, the well-stocked petite department, the frequent and substantial sales (love that 40 percent off!), the easy parking, and the evening hours. The Mall at Chestnut Hill, 199 Boylston St., Chestnut Hill, MA .
Waterstone's Booksellers
We're not saying that biggest is necessarily best, but who can beat Waterstone's selection, browsing room, helpful staff, late hours, and discounts of 30 percent on New York Times bestsellers and 20 percent on "Waterstone's Recommends" selections? 26 Exeter St., Boston, MA .
Neptune Oyster
The perfect fried clam belly is a thing of beauty: crisp on the outside, tender and saline on the inside, the whole thing offset by a dunk in piquant tartar sauce. Neptune’s Ipswich clam appetizer, which comes with a massive helping of pickle-y, slawlike tartar sauce, is a master of the form—and well worth the hour-plus wait for a table. 63 Salem St., Boston, MA 2113, neptuneoyster.com.
Kashmir - Viselli Santoro Salon
Delivering a stylish scissoring and blow-dry in under an hour, one-name-wonder Kashmir is adept at making chair-side chitchat, which puts her clients quickly at ease. At less than 60 bucks a session, their wallets feel much the same way. 297 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2115, visellisantorosalon.com.
Club Passim
This legendary folk club/coffeehouse was nearly forced to shut its doors, but now a new-and-improved Club Passim is open under new management. And it now has a 4 a.m. license, so look here for after-hours food and fun. 47 Palmer St., Cambridge, MA .