Stellabella Toys
So often, toy shopping is an experience in extremes: You’re either wading in aisle-to-aisle plastic packaging or browsing precious baubles curated to please parents’ aesthetics, not kids’. Stellabella, however, has found the sweet spot at its four Boston-area stores. Its stacking cups are environmentally friendly but also fun for your growing infant, and the baby dolls are soft, cuddly, and ethnically diverse. Also find German-made tricycles, sturdy play kitchens and firehouses, and Legos galore. 1360 Cambridge St., Cambridge; and other locations, stellabellatoys.com.
Desfina
You won't find modern, four-star Greek cuisine at this hole in the wall. But in an oddly delightful way, it reminds us of every humble neighborhood taverna we've savored in Greece, from the blue-and-white paper place mats to the scattered but amiable service. The tzatziki is a house specialty, the moussaka hearty and delicious, the ;horiatiki a true Greek salad—all plates so tasty, we'd be loath to smash a single one. 202 3rd St, Cambridge, MA 2141, desfina.com.
Sunset Grill & Tap
With 112 drafts and 380 total beers to choose from, this just ain't much of a competition. Sure, other places offer great lists: The Publick House has a slate of about 35 beers on tap. But 35 is not 112. And where Lord Hobo—another bar with an admirable lineup—can come off as aggressively hip, friendliness rules the day at this Allston spot. The servers enthusiastically steer you through the menu in search of a pint that'll suit your mood. And that mood, more often than not, is a good one. 130 Brighton Ave., Allston, MA 2134, allstonsfinest.com.
Chatham Bars Inn
Letting go of your inner Griswold in favor of a genuine vacation can be a challenge, but the Chatham Bars Inn makes taking it easy a breeze. The oceanfront resort serves R&R on a silver platter with a lengthy list of activities—croquet, kickboxing, nature hikes—along with pristine rooms, a top-notch destination spa, and no fewer than four Zagat-rated restaurants. 297 Shore Road, Chatham, MA 2633, chathambarsinn.com.
Manuel de Santaren and Carolina Tress-Balsbaugh of Manuel Santaren, Incorporated
These two designers are as ease working with chintz as they are with sleek, minimalist, and modern. That's largely because they have an eclectic clientele ranging from the Brahmin variety to dotcom whiz kids. No request is too obscure, and no historical period too difficult to recreate. In addition to transforming your abode into a house of style, de Santaren and Tress-Balsbaugh will micro-manage contractors and ensure the finished product is picture perfect, right down to the linens. 1 Designer Center Place, Boston, MA manueldesantaren.com.
Fabric Place
Don't throw that sofa out: Getting it re-upholstered couldn't be easier, thanks to Fabric Place. The array of chintz, cushions, bias piping, and floral repeats might be overwhelming—at last count there were more than 50,000 fabrics alone—but this is one store where the staff takes the time to show you around. On-call decorators will swing by your house for a consultation (free with a custom order of $299 or more), all jobs are carried out at the company's workrooms, and prices are extremely competitive. 136 Howard Street, Framingham, MA fabricplacebasement.com.
Eagle's Deli
When it comes to burgers, size matters. Test your gastrointestinal fortitude with Eagle's Deli's 'small' 1-pound Godzilla burger, topped with four slices of cheese and accompanied by a pound of fries, or the outrageous 3-pound Reilly burger, with a dozen slices of cheese and 5 pounds of fries. Each bite (and there are many) proves how good flavorful beef on a toasted bun can be. 1918 Beacon St., Brighton, MA 2135, .
Mike & Patty's
Tinier than many walk-in closets and closed by 2 p.m. each day, Mike & Patty's isn't your typical café. But it's home to the most satisfying handheld breakfast around—the "fancy" egg sandwich, a pile-up of bacon, cheddar, avocado, house-made mayo, and red onion on crisp multigrain bread. 12 Church St., Boston, MA 2116, mikeandpattys.com.
Young's Bicycle Shop
Call it the OG of Nantucket bike rentals: For nearly 100 years, this family-owned business has been operating just steps from the ferry terminal, marked by the trademark spinning bike wheel out front. And considering the wide selection of beach cruisers, mountain bikes, and mopeds on offer, it’s no surprise it’s been around so long. Need four wheels for your adventure? Check out the selection of over-sand vehicles for rent. 6 Broad St., Nantucket, MA 02554, youngsbicycleshop.com.
Faraway Nantucket
If, in fact, we go on vacation to lose ourselves, consider your new identity within the self-described quirky interiors of Faraway Nantucket. The hotel is comprised of six unique properties, each thoughtfully designed to reimagine the lives of historical former residents. Inside the main building on Centre Street lives the in-house restaurant and bar, complete with a gorgeous terrace and patio for savoring Nantucket’s fresh air. The vibe is coastal New England meets Alice in Wonderland, in the best way possible. 29 Centre St., Nantucket, MA 02554, farawayhotels.com/nantucket/location.
Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club
While it’s hard to unwind these days, this luxe resort is making it a little easier to get some much-needed R & R. Extra pre- cautions—including contactless golf-cart pickup, grocery-delivery service, and reduced capacity at pools and at Ocean Edge’s private beach—provide peace of mind, while new private experiences such as beach yoga and oyster tours make it easy to practice social distancing while giving the kiddos an unforgettable adven- ture. So go ahead, book that luxurious mansion suite. Boozy mudslides delivered straight to your beach chair await. 2907 Main St., Brewster, MA 02631, oceanedge.com.
Modern Relik
After months of sitting on the couch nearly ’round the clock, we’d say you’re entitled to a refresh. At Modern Relik’s South End showroom, you’ll find sophisticated sofas in an array of styles, from a nap-worthy mahogany day bed to a quilted sectional with eye-catching lines. Grab a cup of espresso from the front-of-store café while you debate your options, and feel free to chat up the in-house design team if you’re short on inspiration; overseen by design director Jon Dransfield and owner Meg Kimball, the group happily consults on scale, color, materials, and more. 485 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA 02118, modernrelik.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.
NETA
Shopping at NETA’s Brookline outpost is as far from buying pot off your cousin’s dog walker in a 7-Eleven parking lot as you can get. The vast selection of buds, pre-rolled joints, vape pens, and gummies is housed behind wood-trimmed glass cases in a historical bank complete with a well-styled mini lounge to wait in. And unlike in dubious parking-lot rendezvous, you can be sure that whatever you buy, the product will be top-tier, thanks to NETA’s state-of-the-art indoor cultivation center in Franklin. 160 Washington St., Brookline, MA netacare.org.