Pini Swissa, Pini Swissa Salon
In a sun-drenched studio high above Newbury Street's more fashionable end, Pini Swissa studies your head from every angle, scrupulously analyzing your hair before he makes his first snip. It's that attention to detail that makes Swissa, born and raised in a small Israeli village where he got his start trimming shrubbery, the preferred hairstylist of Boston's first family: Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen. As you sip a cappuccino from a silver plate while Swissa crafts a dapper coiffure straight out of GQ, you, too, will feel like a five-time Super Bowl champion. 18 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, .
Belle Maison
You can thank the Tager family's sharp eyes and dead-on sense of balance for many of Boston's most beautiful homes. Principal Sheldon Tager brings to his two New England antique shops in Newton and Nantucket the same originality and knowledge that has made him a nationally acclaimed interior designer. The proof is in the distinctive pieces—from American crafts to French country gems—brought back from regular trips to Europe, antique shows, and auctions. But the true kicker is how the store mixes and presents them: a subtle drama that flat-out nails the art of rustic refinement. 26 Elliot St., Newton, MA bellemaison23.com.
Sunset Grill & Tap
Given all the sterling pubs in Boston, a city that's become a destination for the beer-drinking world, you'd think Sunset would see stiffer competition in this category. Yet there's no arguing with the math: Over 100 beers on tap plus 380 microbrews equals 10 of Boston nods in the past decade. From the Hazed & Infused American pale ale to a host of obscure but lip-smacking Belgians, there's always something new and intriguing on offer. More important: The staff is as astute about beer as sommeliers are about wine, minus the superciliousness. 130 Brighton Avenue, Allston, MA 2134, allstonsfinest.com.
Frank's Steak House
This isn't the place where the suits go to celebrate closing a big deal, or the restaurant everybody talks about down at the club. It is, in fact, something much better: Boston's oldest steakhouse and a Porter Square institution. Locals arrive by 9 Wednesday through Saturday so they can listen to performers such as Preacher Jack on keyboard while digging into a New York sizzler—an unadorned 14-ounce sirloin that arrives at the table sizzling, as advertised, in a cast-iron skillet. The marinated steak tips, prime rib, and seafood are every bit as terrific. Oh, and forget about the wine list: Just order a beer. 2310 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA frankssteakhouse.com.
Savenor's Market
Gourmets and gourmands alike have for generations found solace in this small family-run specialty foods shop; the high culinary priestess herself, Julia Child, called founder Jack Savenor her butcher for decades. No wonder. The friendly, knowledgeable staff will guide anyone through the international selections, doling out advice on how to serve foie gras or properly prepare lion meat. The cases stocked with imported cheeses, a commendable produce section, and bread from Iggy's all earn this neighborhood market an enduring place in Boston's epicurean pantheon. 160 Charles St., Boston, MA savenorsmarket.com.
Julie Michaud, Michaud Cosmetics
A good eyebrow artist can change your face, but a great one can change your world. Part therapist, part girlfriend, and all parts godsend, Julie Michaud is Boston's arch angel. Her minimum-pain tweezing sessions—peppered with good gossip, health factoids, and beauty tips—result in perfect but natural brows fit to flatter every face. And while Michaud's talent has turned her scheduling book into a fortress (be smart and book months in advance), it's also turned the business into a dynasty; if Julie's booked, don't hesitate to make a reservation with any of her equally adept colleagues. 297 Newbury St., Suite 21, Boston, MA .
Schumacher Landscaping
Schumacher has been the grad Poo-Bah of flora for the past 31 years, and is largely responsible for bringing a healthy dose of green to Boston's asphalt avenues. Its creative ingenuity can be appreciated throughout the city at the Fraser Courtyard in the Museum of Fine Arts, the Snell Library Plaza at Northeastern University, and Post Office Square Par. But don't be intimidated if your yard is more like a foot. These doctors of the green thumb are equally adept at smaller residential projects— say, planting pansies around the porch, installing sod over that crabgrass, or mowing your lawn when you just don't feel like it. 17 Electric Ave., Brighton, MA .
Stella
Three years after its feverishly hyped opening, the South End's Stella draws a dinner crowd that's more Newton-Wellesley than bright-young-thing. After those diners have retreated is when the insider action at this stylish modern Italian restaurant gets under way. Until 1:30 a.m., Boston's movers and shakers perch on the tall bar chairs and inhale mushroom and white truffle oil thin-crust pizza and fantastic (and only available late-night) burgers—welcome tidbits for those who would otherwise be scarfing greasy New York-style slices on their stumbles home. 1525 Washington St., Boston, MA 2118, bostonstella.com.
Ole
Don't write off Olé for its unremarkable exterior. Inside you'll find a peppy atmosphere and Boston's most bona fide Mexican fare: In place of sloppy enchiladas, chef Erwin Ramos serves up inventive plates including tacos de cangrejo, crabmeat tacos with crème fraîche and baby spinach, and costillas de puerco, pork ribs cooked in banana leaves with a chili ancho peanut glaze, which go down even better when accompanied by pitchers of the potent house sangria and bowls of fresh guacamole prepared tableside by friendly waiters. 11 Springfield St., Cambridge, MA 2139, olegrill.com.
Sunset Grill & Tap
Given all the sterling pubs in Boston, a city that's become a destination for the beer-drinking world, you'd think Sunset would see stiffer competition in this category. Yet there's no arguing with the math: Over 100 beers on tap plus 380 microbrews equals 10 Best of Boston nods in the past decade. From the Hazed & Infused American pale ale to a host of obscure but lip-smacking Belgians, there's always something new and intriguing on offer. More important: The staff is as astute about beer as sommeliers are about wine, minus the superciliousness. 130 Brighton Ave., Allston, MA 2134, allstonsfinest.com.
Designed by Delsie
Requiring serious organization skills, fine-tuned attention to detail, and unbridled creativity when it comes to design, modern-day wedding planning is not for the faint of heart. Yet somehow, Pearl “Delsie” Farquharson — the mastermind behind Boston- and Rhode Island–based Designed by Delsie — makes the whole thing look easy. Past collaborators rave about the expert’s poise under pressure, on-point vendor suggestions, and proactivity, while her smoothly executed (and highly personalized) events at posh venues including the Boston Harbor Hotel speak to her unwavering commitment to her clients’ visions. Consider us impressed. designedbydelsie.com.
SpeakEasy Stage
From their home at the Boston Center for the Arts, the folks at SpeakEasy manage to do it all, regularly hosting Boston and New England premieres, staging crowd-pleasing productions, and reaching out with socially conscious theater, including Allegiance, about a Japanese-American family held in a World War II internment camp. The upcoming season promises an even more engaging, eclectic lineup, with School Girls, a self-described "African Mean Girls play" about a boarding school in Ghana; The View UpStairs, a glam-rock musical set in a 1970s New Orleans gay bar; and a staging of the Tony-winning show Once. Stanford Calderwood Pavilion, Boston Center for the Arts, 527 Tremont St., Boston, MA 02116, speakeasystage.com.
By Chloe
Sounds like virtue, tastes like vice: That's the MO of By Chloe, the quick-service vegan empire that's winning hearts, minds, and Instagram feeds with its sinfully sloppy portobello-and-seitan barbecue sandwiches. Don't be fooled by the Roald Dahl-grade whimsy (beet ketchup? kale ice cream?). In both taste and texture, these creations manage to soar over the uncanny valley where so many other faux meats have crashed and burned—our favorite being a smoky shiitake bacon that even shatters the way real bacon does. 107 Seaport Blvd., Boston; 100 Van Ness St., Boston; eatbychloe.com. 107 Seaport Blvd., Boston, MA 02210, eatbychloe.com.
Grettacole
One of Boston's newest and most talked-about spas, Grettacole boasts a staff that is petite, blonde, and warm—and an impressive services-to-square-foot ratio. Need a pedicure, facial massage, haircut, and makeup application? With such one-stop shopping, you'll be there long enough for the friendly staff to order your lunch from a neighboring cafe. Tired of aestheticians who spend half the session out of the room? While your masque is drying, they'll massage your feet. The product range is impressive, but there's no hard sell. Another big plus: There are no downtown parking travails. 300 Boylston St., Atrium Mall, Chestnut Hill, MA .
Ginza Restaurant
Bright lights, big sushi. These are Ginza's trademarks—even after Boston's bedtime. This Chinatown mainstay is open until 4 a.m. on the weekends, luring hungry night owls with plentiful portions and a frenetic table-hopping scene. Behind the sushi bar, chefs meticulously hand roll caterpillar and scorpion maki, while petite waitresses glide around in decorative black robes. The extensive menu lists sashimi, rice soups, noodles, and tempuras along with a well-chosen selection of beer and wine. For the ultimate Japanese sampler, try the Ginza Cruise. 16 Hudson St., Boston, MA ginza-boston.com.