House of Design
No more settling for a dress you only "sort of" like. With the help of the computer at House of Design, the fabric, sleeves, bodice, buttons, and details of your dress are all your decisions. One Design Center Place, Suite 634, Boston, MA .
In Your Ear
We know: Newbury Comics has basically become a streetwear boutique, while shops like Orpheus and Armageddon respectively focus on niche audiences for classical or punk and metal discs. For a comprehensive selection, nothing beats the unchanging In Your Ear “Mothership” location, situated in a basement between the Paradise Rock Club and BU’s Agganis Arena. Stocking more than 100,000 LPs, CDs, and even 8-tracks, the store gives collectors (and rock legends like Jimmy Page) that priceless, digging-in-the-crates experience where you’ll find what you came for, and leave with much more. 957 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02215, iye.com.
Boarding House
For more than two decades, Angela and Seth Raynor have provided prime people-watching on their outdoor patio. The brunch is top-notch, too, with Sunday-morning saviors like chicken and waffles, lump-crab-stuffed avocado, grilled banana bread, and, naturally, a bacon bloody mary. 12 Federal St., Nantucket, MA 02554, boardinghousenantucket.com.
Publick House
The bar is always bumping, and for good reason: It has Brookline’s largest selection of beers. We favor them paired with the hand-cut Yukon frites slathered in truffle ketchup and apricot-IPA barbecue sauce. 1648 Beacon St., Brookline, MA 02445, thepublickhousebeerbar.com.
Publick House
Several craft-beer haunts opened this year, but our hops-loving hearts still belong to the Publick House. Draft selections in the triple digits and a phone-book-thick menu don't always make a great beer bar, so we especially appreciate its carefully curated draft and bottle list. The amiable staff of beer experts, excellent food, and dark, oaky ambiance seal the deal. 1648 Beacon St., Brookline, MA 02445, thepublickhousebeerbar.com.
Four Seasons
If your idea of the ultimate staycation involves in-room make-your-own martini bars or "glamping" tents for the kids, book a room at the Four Seasons. Fresh off a recent full renovation but with the same VIP service—including a program that allows you to text your needs directly to the staff—there’s nothing this luxe hotel won’t do to make you feel comfortable. 200 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02116, fourseasons.com.
Area Four
The Hub’s abundance of prize-worthy pies continues to grow, but this year’s cornicione crown goes to a repeat winner. We credit the Area Four team’s obsessive attention to detail, starting with the tang, chew, and char of that crust, enough to make a dough aficionado’s knees wobble. And the toppings? Just your run-of-the-mill larder staples like hand-stretched mozzarella, Wellfleet clams, and a satiny mushroom sauce that is surely the reduction of some luxe French bisque. 264 East Berkeley St., South End, Boston, 857-317-4805; 500 Technology Sq., Kendall Square, Cambridge, 617-758-4444, areafour.com
The Publick House
The monastic signage, dark oak bar, and arched windows make this cathedral of beer seem like a relic, but the Brookline stalwart has kept mindfully in step with the fast-moving craft scene. Fifteen-plus years in, it’s the area’s most reliable taproom for pints from locals such as Trillium and Allagash, not to mention styles showcasing the eminent Belgian beer culture that it first introduced to area drinkers. 1648 Beacon St., Brookline, MA 02445, thepublickhousebeerbar.com.
Greydon House
Nantucket’s chic Greydon House. / Photo provided by Greydon House The talk of Nantucket since its debut in 2016, Greydon House continues to impress with its design-forward common spaces and guest rooms, to say nothing of its small-but-mighty restaurant and bar, helmed by Michelin-starred executive chef Marcus Gleadow-Ware. Settle into your new digs—decked out with reclaimed-chestnut floors, antique furniture, and maritime-inspired artwork—then head out to explore the town: The inn conveniently stands just a short bike ride away from many island destinations, including the ferry terminal. 17 Broad St., Nantucket, MA 02554, greydonhouse.com.
Four Seas
Compared to, say, Ben & Jerry's, the list of flavors at this Centerville favorite doesn't seem particularly innovative. But Four Seas, which has been in business since 1934, was the first to come up with such then-brilliant ideas as adding chocolate chips to a vanilla base. They still do homemade chocolate chip, maple walnut, penuche, and fresh strawberry better than anyone around. 360 S. Main St., Centerville, MA 2632, fourseasicecream.com.
House of Siam
Despite what your chowhound friends tell you, it is not true that the quality of an ethnic restaurant falls as its sanitation scores rise. And it's certainly not the case at House of Siam, where cream-colored tablecloths, scarlet walls, and golden Buddhas decorate the split-level dining room. The curries are spiced to order (we like the massaman with shrimp), and the wine list is unusually thorough. Settle into a window seat and toast your chicken dang dang with a bottle of Veuve Clicquot. 542 Columbus Ave., Boston, MA 2118, houseofsiam.com.
House of Siam
In a town with no shortage of commendable Thai restaurants, everyone has a favorite. But House of Siam wins us over with both big-picture style and thoughtful details. The duck with red curry alone is worth the trip—perfumed with sweet coconut milk and studded with eggplant and bright-flavored basil. Ditto the "Five King," an aromatic mix of plump shrimp, fried fish, squid, scallops, and mussels in a chile-laden broth. Dive into all of it seated among miniature beaded lamps, curly bamboo, and gilded fixtures set against brick-red walls. Then try to tell us that all Thai restaurants are the same. 542 Columbus Ave., Boston, MA houseofsiamboston.com.
The Publick House
Sometimes a cozy haunt, sometimes a party den, the imported-beer mecca is consistently the square's best bet for elbow bending (and rubbing). 1648 Beacon St., Brookline, MA 2445, .
Ice House
You'll probably be underwhelmed by the squat, nothing-special exterior, but trust us when we say your reaction to chef Job Yacubian's Mediterranean cuisine will be quite the opposite. In fact, it's the whole diamond-in-the-rough appeal that makes the BYOB meals her—spring pea pudding, potato gnocchi in Parmesan broth, bacon-wrapped yellowfin—so spectacular. Judging by how hard it is to get a reservation and Bittersweet's celebrity clientele, it's safe to say this ever-changing West Tisbury spot (formerly the Red Cat, then Ice House) has hit its stride. 688 State Rd., West Tisbury, MA 2568, .
The Coach House
The Coach House has always beckoned diners with its open-air seating and Edgartown Harbor views. Now there's another reason to eat at this harbor-view spot: New chef Joshua Hollinger (formerly of Manhattan's Tribeca Grill) has taken over the kitchen and revamped its lunch and dinner menus. But his real triumph is the Sunday brunch. Delicacies like sushi and boutique chocolates join an already impressive menu of berried French toast, eggs Benedict, and myriad savory salads. You may even find yourself forgoing the vista of passing sailboats to stare at the buffet instead. 131 North Water St., Edgartown, MA 2539, harbor-view.com.