Eco Centrix
Two floors of hair stylists, with better music and architecture than many Boston dance clubs. Ask for Mark or Steve, South Boston tough guys who'll talk to you about basketball, hockey, and baldness. Eco Centrix provides all the usual coffee, tea, and funny robes to change into, as well as some interesting people-watching: startling tattooed women with little round glasses alongside guys from Southie talking about the playoffs. 30 Newbury Street, Boston, MA .
Andrew Zona Studio and Day Spa
Past the bustling ground-level salon is one of the area's most soothing (and healing) oases. Andrew Zona's second floor is a temple of quiet body treatments, cleansing facials, and massages so relaxing they're practically coma-inducing. And if you just can't stand to bypass the boutique, browse its selection of international products and pick a tube of Kérastase shine serum or Sundãri moisturizer that will keep your skin in shape until the next visit. 65 South St., Hingham, MA .
Lanes & Games
People outside of New England might not agree, but to be taken seriously around here, alleys have to offer both 10-pin bowling (big ball, finger holes) and candlepin bowling (small ball, no holes). Lanes & Games gets it right by providing a full floor of each, along with a bar that serves cheap eats and beer. No one will blame you for quoting The Big Lebowski at length. 195 Concord Tpke., Cambridge, MA lanesgames.com.
Fourth Fridays at the Milky Way
Once a month, the girls here get the place all to themselves—and is it ever worth the wait. A scorching mix of beats keeps the dance floor jammed, but the real action takes place on the periphery, packed with those who want to lounge, gawk, or straight-up flirt. By the way, promoter DykeNight gives a portion of the door fee to local nonprofits. 284 Amory St., Jamaica Plain, MA 2130, dykenight.com.
Dbar
By far the least pretentious of the Hub's gay hot spots, this nightclub-restaurant hybrid presents a compelling case for venturing beyond the Back Bay/South End circuit. The price is right (no cover, and no cocktails over $9), the crowd is attractive and always changing, and the dance-floor fun kicked up a notch this spring with the debut of Show Tune Tuesdays and you-be-the-DJ iPod Thursdays. 1236 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester, MA 2125, dbarboston.com.
Silhouette Cocktail Lounge
If you require more than two ingredients in your cocktail (ice and booze), the Silhouette is likely not for you. True to dive décor, the walls are cheaply paneled and the floors cheaply tiled; the windows are largely covered to keep swillers insulated from school, work, the light of day, etc. The Tam may have the craziest clientele and TC's the most Big Buck Hunter nuts, but the Silhouette reigns as the best no-frills place to be, or start becoming, hung over. 200 Brighton Ave., Allston, MA 2134, .
Regattabar
What this third-floor space lacks in atmospher—it's more cruise-ship quarterdeck than smoky back-alley haunt—is more than overcome by the quality of its acoustics and the pedigrees of its bookings. The club has been the site of countless memorable jams by the likes of acoustic act the Bad Plus, singer Irma Thomas, the Leo Blanco World Jazz Ensemble, and Snake Trio. 1 Bennett St., Cambridge, MA 2138, regattabarjazz.com.
Sophia's
If Ricky Martin and Marc Anthony are the demigods of the Latin music craze, Sophia's, on Boylston Street in the Fenway, is the local place of worship for salsa, merengue, Afro-Cuban, bossa, you name it. Five nights a week those sexy, throbbing beats wash over the club's three floors—two of which are packed with sweaty dancers, the third with hungry diners sampling tapas. 1270 Boylston St., Boston, MA .
Kendall Square Cinema
Culture and film buffs thank the celluloid gods for this place to see all the idiosyncratic flicks that get reviewed in The New Yorker and The New York Times. Still the sole straddler of the art house/multiplex genres, it offers a great selection on nine screens and in many languages. Great snacks too: real biscotti and cappuccino, and birdbath-size containers of high-quality popcorn. All this and gumfree floors. One Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA .
Inde Salon & Skincare
Come for an expert cut and color, stay for the waxing, spray tan, and facial services at this full-service Quincy salon, situated in the first floor of a charming old home. With just a handful of chairs that face full-length mirrors, the intimate, sunny space feels even more like home once you sit down and chat with owner Hillary Deshler or one of her experienced stylists, all of whom are adept at creating beautiful, face-flattering looks. 46 Independence Ave., Quincy, MA 2169, indesalon.com.
Bella Bridesmaids
Tucked away on the fourth floor of an unmarked brick building, the Boston location of this national franchise can be easy to miss from the street. But passing it over would be a mistake: Not only does Bella carry gowns from the likes of Hayley Paige and Jenny Yoo, the shop's personable stylists make choosing one a breeze, offering helpful tips on everything from the most figure-flattering cuts to stress-free ordering. 715 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02116, bellabridesmaids.com.
Alan Bilzerian
In this case, quality wins over quantity. You're not going to find floor-to-ceiling racks of denim in every style and wash here. What you will find is a tightly edited selection of jeans for men and women from high-end designers such as Isabel Marant, Alexander McQueen, and Rick Owens. These are not your average dungarees for casual Fridays; these are fashion pieces with nonpareil design elements that will never, ever be made into cutoffs. 34 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, alanbilzerian.com.
Michelle Lee, Salon Eva Michelle
Don't let Michelle Lee's warm, chatty demeanor fool you. This woman is absolutely ruthless with a pair of shears—in the best way possible. She pulled no punches when telling us the problems with our current haircut (too heavy in the back, weirdly choppy in the front, not enough movement anywhere), and promptly got to work trimming and styling with aplomb. Thirty minutes later, it looked like half our mane was on the floor. The style left behind, however, was nothing short of impeccable. 118 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, salonevamichelle.com.
Room & Board
American made is Minneapolis-based Room & Board’s calling card, which is why we were thrilled when the company opened a showroom on Newbury Street last year. Its five floors brim with instant classics such as Hess leather sofas made in Texas, Marcel wingback chairs made in North Carolina, and walnut Chilton dining tables from Vermont. 375 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02115, roomandboard.com.
Black Crow Yoga
Spinning! Barre! CrossFit! All well and good, but sometimes you crave something that doesn’t require strobe lights or pre-workout preening. Behold Black Crow. Outfitted with floor-to-ceiling windows and high ceilings, this relaxing yoga retreat employs approachable, attitude-free instructors who treat students like family. 201 Broadway, Arlington, MA 02474, blackcrowyoga.com.