Daedalus
Just a couple blocks from the Harvard T stop, this spot draws long lines for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. But it's not just the comfort-food eats we adore. Daedalus is equipped to serve your every need: Two bars on two floors are packed during happy hour; the upstairs dining room is intimate enough for a romantic meal; and the rooftop deck is ideal for summer-evening cocktails. 112 South St #5, Boston, MA 2111, .
Beacon Hill Chocolates
The truffle display alone, filled with row upon row of beautiful, handcrafted chocolates from the best confectioners in the world, is well worth the trip to this Charles Street boutique. Once we've chosen from the blood-orange fleur-de-lis and candied-bacon caramels, each dainty treat is wrapped individually—which we suppose is cool and all, but really just delays our tearing into them. 91 Charles St., Boston, MA 2114, beaconhillchocolates.com.
Jerry's Custom Tailoring & Alterations
To find Jerry's, look for the door between Uno Chicago Grill's two patios. Push it open. Walk down the hall to the slide-gate elevator. Take it up to the fourth floor. There, you'll reach Jerry, who will hem, shrink, or overhaul your prized suits, dresses, and jeans until they fit like second skins. In exchange, he'll expect cash or a personal check, and a minimum of talk. 729 Boylston St., Boston, MA .
Austen's
For bashful types, waxing rooms can seem like torture cells. Well, not here: Austen puts clients at ease with his affability, competence, and expertise. Bikini treatments are surprisingly painless, and eyebrows are executed with precision and finesse. The intimate, homey surroundings, accentuated with Japanese-style screens, rustic furniture, and guest slippers, are equally comforting and put the second-floor Newbury setting in a league of its own. 115 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Brookline Booksmith
Despite our devotion to Kindles and iPads, it takes just two minutes at Brookline Booksmith for us to fall in love with the printed word all over again: the scuffed hardwood floors, worn from decades of use; the steady, friendly conversation at the register; the lulling background jazz; and, of course, the bookshelves, chock full of fiction and non-, paperbacks and hardcovers, the very old and the novel new. 279 Harvard St., Brookline, MA brooklinebooksmith.com.
Yale Appliance & Lighting
A 20,000-square-foot space that stocks everything plus the kitchen sink: Sub-Zero fridges and Thermador stovetops, Maytag dish-washers, GE microwaves, and more. But the best part is that it's not just a showroom full of floor models; thanks to the seminars run by resident chef Kurt von Kahle and demos by area culinary pros, you can also see people cook using many of said appliances. Check out the scratch-and-dent selection for some killer steals. 296 Freeport St., Dorchester, MA 2122, yaleappliance.com.
Barneys New York
For shoe fiends, it's hard to top Barneys' rainbow assortment of Lanvin ballet flats, gladiators, and peep-toe Mary Janes. And that's just the beginning. Spread out across 3,500 square feet of first-floor space, the offerings are straight off the pages of Vogue: sky-high patent YSL stilettos, woven Prada platforms, badass Margiela boots. Recession? What recession? 100 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 2116, barneys.com.
Skip Cuddy, Ermenegildo Zegna
Skip brought his expertise from Louis Boston and Saks to Zegna, where he will outfit the harried male, offering wearable advice on everything from casual Fridays to afternoon weddings. This personal concierge will make sure your clothes are altered on time an delivered; he'll even give you first dibs on new designs before they hit the floor. 39 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
The Grolier Poetry Book Shop
This one-room shop nestled down the street from the Harvard Book Store has volumes of poetry stacked from floor to ceiling—and the most knowledgeable proprietor around. The selection is stunningly comprehensive, including hard-to-find collections and even the most obscure poets. Grolier's 26-year-old poetry-reading series features the famous, and again, the obscure, with a new event every week (less frequently in the summer) and the occasional book signing. 6 Plympton St., Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA .
Roma Tile
Though smaller in size than some of its competitors, this shop carries tiles you won't see anywhere else. They're the exclusive distributors of the Ann Sacks line—tiles which are custom- and hand-made in Oregon. Plus an endless array of tiles in fresh and different colors, vibrant patterns, and mosaic styles, as well as antique stone floors imported from Europe—when the price is no object. 55 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown, MA .
E.P. Levine
A no-frills used-camera store on the fringes of Boston's photo district, Levine's is a collector's Toyland. Wend your way through the mounds of merchandise scattered on the floor, or climb the 15-foot shelves randomly piled with used goodies. Amidst the chaos you're likely to find the best used photo-equipment in Boston. If you're looking for something specific, it might be a good idea to call in advance. Boston Marine Industrial Park, 23 Dry Dock Avenue, South Boston, MA .
Maurizio's
Maurizio's two floors, connected by a spiral staircase, make for a cozy and playful atmosphere, where the service is friendly and the meal begins with a complimentary glass of champagne. Delicious pasta—linguini with littleneck clams, black fettuccini with smoked salmon in a tomato cream sauce-—and wonderful seafood—pan-roasted tuna steak and grilled red snapper fillet—at reasonable prices. 364 Hanover St., Boston, MA .
The Newes from America
We're channeling Frances Rivera here to deliver our special report: The best burgers and beers are at the Newes. This 'Colonial vintage' pub has creaky hardwood floors and a copper pipe-lined ceiling, and its food is just as classic—baskets of fish and chips, corned beef Reubens, plus the Smokin' Musket Turkey Sandwich and Bag of Onions onion rings, which reward taste buds in ways that belie their cheeseball names. The drink menu includes the so-called Rack of Beers, a flight of five brews. Kelley House, Edgartown, MA 2539, kelley-house.com.
Gypsy Bar
A constant stream of stylish singles flows through the doors of Gypsy Bar on weekends, where they entertain themselves before the eye-catching glow of the video-screen wall with cocktails such as the Deception martini. Behind the bar, an illuminated aquarium offers a conversation starter for the well-groomed men and stiletto-heeled women who flock here. Once they hit the dance floor, however, most of them find the music so loud that there's no need for small talk. 116 Boylston St., Boston, MA gypsybarboston.com.
Back Bay Brewing Co.
The vittles range from basic barbeque to frou-frou. But anyone who goes to a brew pub for the food is missing the point, which, obviously, is the beer. Back Bay features superb lagers and ales crafted by local brew guru Todd Mott. The classics—bitter, IPA, porter—are accented with a rotating seasonal offering (last winter's Imperial Stout was outstanding). And with two bars anchoring two floors, there's plenty of space to drink. 755 Boylston St., Boston, MA .