Toro
What's as rich as Toro's cheese plate, has as much flavor as its olive oil-roasted Brussels sprouts, and is as undeniably saucy as its patatas bravas? The neighborhood designers and artists, in-the-know real estate movers and shakers, and local restaurateurs who—without fail, seven nights a week—flock to chef-owner Ken Oringer's no-reservations hot spot from happy hour till closing time. Rubbing elbows with such characters over cava at the raucous bar makes waiting for a table seem like a perk, not a burden. 1704 Washington St., Boston, MA .
Sel de la Terre
At Sel de la Terre, eating after 10 p.m. doesn't equal tired hamburgers and stale coffee. The late-night sustenance it offers comes with a gourmet touch: Chicken fingers are served with honey-mustard aioli, Vermont cheddar is melted over brioche, and juicy steak tips are marinated in a red wine reduction. The bar's soft lighting and leather banquettes make it tempting to stay until the wee hours (or at least until closing time at 12:30 a.m.). 255 State St., Boston, MA seldelaterre.com.
Les Zygomates
Happy-hour drinks, dinner dates, late-night cocktail sessions—all are equally good reasons to come to Les Zygomates, a perfect combination of wine bar, bistro, and jazz club. Its ambiance is wonderfully French, though (thank God) there are no overt Paris references or antiques from the City of Light. Even better, the quaffs are affordable and the food superb. There may be a finer frisée aux lardons salad elsewhere in town, but we have yet to find it. 129 South St., Boston, MA 2111, winebar.com.
Neptune Oyster
It must be nice to be a pearl: just hang around inside an oyster for a while, getting shellacked until round and shiny. We feel similarly after a couple of hours at Neptune Oyster, quaffing glasses of chilled rose while surrounded by ridiculously fresh bivalves (plus a selection of just-off-the-boat crab claws and expertly dressed crudo). There's a reason this place is known as a gem. 63 Salem St., Boston, MA neptuneoyster.com.
Tennesse's
By the time the meaty ribs and chicken served up here come off the smoker, they've been slow-cooked for as much as 14 hours over apple, hickory, and cherry woods. Add the tangy homemade sauces, and you can see why Tennessee's is running out of room on the wall of its strip-mall locale for the list of barbecue cookoffs it's already won. Well, here's one more. 341 Cochituate Rd., Framingham, MA tennesseesbbq.com.
Temple Bar
When we want to pray to the god of late-night dining ("Please let it be open!"), this is the temple where we come to worship. It offers sandwiches, pizza, and sophisticated small plates—wasabi-laden tuna tartare, spicy crab cakes—to satisfy all types of cravings until 12:30 a.m. And don't forget the cocktails: A frothy espresso martini is guaranteed rocket fuel to propel you further into the wee hours of the morning. 1688 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA templebarcambridge.com.
Brasserie Jo
Okay, it's not in the theater district, but it's hopping till the wee hours. With a jovial ambiance and serious Alsatian cuisine, this is the place to head for a bite when most other kitchens are cleaning their pots. Drop in until 1 a.m. and take the edge off with a bowl of sturdy onion soup or a plate of choucroute. Check out the selection of great beers and good wines if you want to stretch out the night, or order a cappuccino or an espresso to sharpen up for the road. Colonadde Hotel, 120 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA .
Cisco
Nantucket is filled with righteous beaches, but there's something extra-special about Cisco and its shifting moods. On calm afternoons, surfers ride rolling waves for hours, then nap in soft, white sand. On windy mornings, thrill-seekers get adrenaline rushes by battling serious South Shore breakers. And on sunny island days, locals lunch and soak in some rays while being watched over by lifeguards, but not trampled on by tourists. Off Hummock Pond Road, Nantucket, MA 2554, .
Jillian's
Among up-scale pool halls, the original Jillian's gets bonus points for being there first. But what sets it apart from the competition is all the stuff beneath the third-floor pool tables: hundreds of high-tech video games on the second floor and a decent restaurant/mental amusement park called the Atlas Grill at street level. Which means there's lots of things to do on a Friday night while you wait hours for a pool table. 145 Ipswich St., Boston, MA .
Galleria Umberto
WHAT’S THE VIBE? A bare-bones old-school haunt, with cafeteria-like seating and lines that form before the pizza sells out — and it always does, within just a few midday hours. TASTING NOTES: Spongy, saucy, cheesy, and fresh-baked every morning, these $2 slices are an exemplar of the form. Ask for an especially toothsome corner piece, if you can. 289 Hanover St., Boston, MA 02113, .
Pain d'Avignon
This may be Hyannis, not Honfleur, but for a few hours at least, you can pretend you’ve teleported to France’s shoreline with a late-morning meal at this boulangerie/bistro, which celebrates its 30th birthday this year. Here, les oeufs are served every which way; crêpes get spiked with Grand Marnier; and the French onion soup is an exemplar of the form. The pristine oysters, though? Those are Wellfleet, naturally. 15 Hinckley Rd., Hyannis, MA 02601, paindavignon.com.
Appleton Farms
Appleton Farms has been around almost as long as the Pilgrims. Seriously: Founded in 1638, it’s one of the oldest family-operated farms in the country. But that doesn’t mean it’s stale. The 1,000-acre Trustees of Reservations property now offers a staggering array of kid-approved programming in all seasons, from petting farm animals to barnyard story hours to cross-country skiing. Though with picturesque grounds like these, even popping in to grab fresh veggies at the farm stand can be a fun adventure. 219 County Rd., Ipswich, MA 01938, thetrustees.org/place/appleton-farms.
Chestnut Street, Beacon Hill
Come October 31, this lively street buzzes with friendly competition as each brownstone decks out its front stoop in spooky décor, creating a spellbinding vibe that’s absolutely infectious. Making for an even more festive Halloween experience? The well-lit thoroughfare closes to traffic during peak trick-or-treating hours — and residents are known to give out full-size candy bars. Boston, MA 02108,
Nina Ganci, Trephin
Nina Ganci will not judge you for being a lazy blonde, even if your year-old highlights are brassy and now fall somewhere in line with your eyebrows. Instead, she'll craft a color that matches your complexion, mixing high- and lowlights that seem deeply embedded in your genetic code, and she'll do it in a way that factors in your low-maintenance lifestyle: a brushed-on balayage treatment requiring precious little upkeep. 25 Temple Place, Boston, MA trephin.com.
Kathryn Van Patten, Boston Bodyworks Studio
Do you know if your left scapula juts out farther than your right, or if your right hip rides higher than your left? Kathryn Van Patten will know. While many Pilates instructors drag their clients straight to the "Cadillac" or the "Reformer," Van Patten—an ex-ballerina with top-level certification—does a complete body check to see how she can balance out all your "idiosyncracies." Then she drags you to the Cadillac and the Reformer. of all? Her studio is in a beautifully appointed Beacon Hill townhouse. 12 Joy St., Boston, MA bostonbodyworksstudio.com.