The Tall Ship Boston
Courtesy photo by Myles Uva and Drea Catalano What do you do with a massive dilapidated pier jutting out into the harbor? If you’re the Navy Yard Hospitality Group, you turn it into the hottest waterfront party spot in town. On the deck of a refurbished tall ship turned oyster bar and an adjacent pier, hundreds of well-dressed revelers play lawn games, sip vodka-crans, and groove to live music in the summer sun — all on what used to be a weed-strewn slab. Quite the makeover, indeed. 1 E Pier Dr., East Boston, MA 02128, tallshipboston.com.
Frank
Soggy night? No problem: Award-winning chef Frank McClelland, formerly of the Back Bay landmark L’Espalier, has you covered — literally. Thanks to a protective overhang strung with twinkling lights, his Beverly restaurant’s charming patio is the perfect spot to enjoy striped bass and saffron-infused arancini al fresco even when the weather doesn’t cooperate. On balmy evenings, don’t miss the grilled oysters from the outdoor smoker. 112 Rantoul St., Beverly, MA 01915, farmtofrank.com.
Reelhouse
Pat Piasecki Outdoor dining is a great way to see the city from every angle — and that's exactly why we love Eastie’s waterfront Reelhouse, which offers uncommonly sweeping skyline views to accompany its specialty spritzes and global cuisine. Plus, it’s just a short walk away from the Tall Ship, its new sibling oyster bar located aboard an actual 245-foot vessel moored at a pier. 6 New St., East Boston, MA 02128, reelhouseboston.com.
Winnetu Oceanside Resort
Courtesy Photo The Winnetu takes the prize this year not only for its comfort, charm, and amenities such as poolside cabanas and front-lawn clambakes, but also for its new programming. The resort’s Over-Sand Beach Day package includes a bottle of prosecco, a picnic lunch, and a permitted Jeep waiting to take you on a romp to one of the island’s outer beaches. Signature oyster tours and kayaking expeditions, meanwhile, round out the summer adventures. 31 Dunes Rd., Edgartown, MA 02539, winnetu.com.
Polpis Bike Path
Looking for a post-quarantine quad challenge with the best views on the island? Stretching from the Old South Road rotary all the way to ’Sconset, this 9.5-mile paved route is it. Once you’ve cruised past the sky-blue inlets of oyster farms and mile upon mile of emerald-green moors buzzing with songbirds, soothe those achy muscles with an icy drink from the Sconset Market, or refuel with an ice cream (or two). An easy and quick pedal from there to the Sankaty Head Light offers an unforgettable view of the Atlantic. Nantucket, MA
Saltie Girl
Briny oysters are just the tip of the iceberg-size towers of chilled littlenecks, shrimp, crab salad, and more racing out of the raw bar at restaurateur Kathy Sidell’s Back Bay seafood destination: The kitchen also turns out gorgeous composed bites — such as scallop crudo on a half shell, brushed with crème fraîche, uni, and caviar — plus imported anchovies and other seafood soaking luxuriously in tins of EVOO. Somebody chill the champagne, too: Sidell is about to christen Saltie Girl outposts in Los Angeles and London. 279 Dartmouth St., Boston, MA 02116, saltiegirl.com.
Beauport Hotel
The North Shore isn’t exactly tourist-averse, but upscale hotels are still surprisingly hard to come by—which made the Beauport a particularly welcome addition when it debuted in 2016, rendering the site of a Birds Eye frozen-foods plant unrecognizable. Boasting beachfront access and a roof deck with a pool and fire pit, the hotel is a short walk from Gloucester’s downtown. But why would you want to leave when Wellfleet oysters and local craft beer are moments away at the in-house restaurant? 55 Commercial St., Gloucester, MA 01930, beauporthotel.com.
Hotel Commonwealth
Courtesy of Hotel Commonwealth With floor-to-ceiling windows and a string-lit terrace showcasing Green Monster vistas, Hotel Commonwealth’s new event space hits it out of the park. Part of the hotel’s recent $50 million makeover, the just-built wing is now the perfect spot for both Sox fans and culinary-minded couples to celebrate their love: The catering menu features dishes inspired by on-site hot spots Eastern Standard and Island Creek Oyster Bar. 500 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA hotelcommonwealth.com.
Grill 23
If Boston’s love affair with all things techy and new ever wears you down, remember: Practice makes perfect, and few steakhouses have fed us for as long or as flawlessly as Grill 23. In the clubby dining room, staffers ferry platters of oysters on ice followed by darkly crusted, tickle-me-pink cuts of salty meat. No gimmicks, no trends. As at any great steakhouse, seafood and sides satisfy—but better to simply order the 100-day dry-aged rib-eye, lean back, and enjoy the timeless atmosphere. 161_Berkeley St., Boston, MA 02116, grill23.com.
The Institute of Contemporary Art
Where else can you spend date night dancing to live DJs, eating oysters on the harbor, and checking out a Shepard Fairey original? With some of the best waterfront views in town, the museum itself is a sleek architectural masterpiece—a place to see world-class contemporary art and be seen at the institute’s rocking First Fridays events, which feature live outdoor performances. Armed with 20 recently donated works from philanthropist Barbara Lee, the 80-year-old museum is getting fresher every day. 25 Harbor Shore Dr., Boston, MA 02210, icaboston.org.
Salem
With its prime waterfront location and cute boutiques (hello, J Mode and Roost and Company), Salem has become so much more than ground zero for the witch-tourism industry. The town's many culinary offerings, including new seafood restaurant Sea Level Oyster Bar and a soon-to-open specialty cheese shop, keep gastronomes satisfied. The Peabody Essex Museum, meanwhile, is a must-visit for culture vultures. MA
C. K. Pearl
Patrick Shea, son of the couple behind Essex icon Shea's Riverside, has New England seafood in his blood. So much so, in fact, that he decided to open his own riverfront restaurant, C. K. Pearl, right next door to his parents' joint. Now in its second year, the younger Shea's spot offers a more modern but no less delicious take on the local haul with live music, $1 oyster nights, and a lobster sandwich that rivals Dad's. 112 Main St., Essex, MA 01929, ckpearl.com.
Ball and Buck
With deer heads mounted on the wall and a stack of vintage Playboys for sale, Ball and Buck is a refuge for every red-meat-eating, style-conscious male tired of the same soulless shops along Newbury. Yes, you'll find wallets and belts, all made in the U.S. and geared toward a rugged gent with a sense of refinement, but it's the vintage watches, oyster knives, and Ball and Buck special-edition 12-gauge shotguns that set this store apart. If only it had a bar. 144B Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, ballandbuck.com.
Alpha Omega Fine Jewelry and Watches
Decide to update from your Timex Indigo or last year's candy-colored Swatch? Alpha Omega has watches for people who have arrived (on time, of course). No need to settle for cliché—even Rolex offers a modern classic, the Cellini line, as well as the venerable Oyster. Each maker seems to display a singular character along with the hour: genteel Baume & Mercier, brazen Bulgari, obsessive Tissot, and precious Ulysse Nardin. 57 JFK St., Cambridge, MA .
Shreve, Crump & Low
So a pearl may be nothing more than a grain of sand that managed to irritate an oyster. The finished product is way more likely to soothe than aggravate. Shreve, Crump & Low has one of the largest selections of Mikimoto pearls in New England, including the South Sea collection of creamy white and black pearls studded with diamonds and precious gems. 330 Boylston St., Boston, MA .