Ecoluxe
At long last, a dry cleaner that cares about you and your clothes. Ecoluxe has banished the chemicals commonly found in garden-variety dry cleaning (linked with a handful of harmful effects), as well as a pile of other dirty laundry: nonchalant service, for example, and depressing surroundings. Owner Shelly Mars has instead created attractive, environmentally friendly storefronts with remarkable personal service and excellent cleaning and pressing. For those too harried to make the trek to Brookline, Mars offers delivery to Newton, Wellesley, Milton, Cambridge, and parts of Boston. 1018 Beacon St., Brookline, MA .
Rusty Colston, Salon Mario Russo
After working under the tutelage of makeup-guro-to-the-stars Bobbi Brown, Rusty has come to Boston to transform our faces. He applies makeup with Brown's signature minimalist technique, which strives for natural, subtle strokes for daytime. Colston is also adept at using color to create a little drama for evening. As an added bonus, he'll tweeze unruly brows and even make house calls if necessary. 9 Newbury Street, Boston, MA mariorusso.com.
Martyn Duff, Vidal Sassoon
Heads will be turning now that Duff, Sassoon's North American creative director, has relocated to Boston. Masterful cut aside, we loved his approach—assessing your lifestyle, hair type, and sensibilities before lifting his scissors. "I want to know how this works for you," he asked repeatedly. Just be sure to call ahead for appointments—the man is a bigger jet setter than Austin Powers. 14 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Bostonian Society Museum Shop
This store sells tasteful tchotchkes with a local theme, including throws, tea sets, games, prints, calendars, and books about Boston, many by its sons and daughters. It also benefits the city's unsung (and generally unknown) statehouse. And if you don't see something you like here, you have all the rest of Faneuil Hall before you. Faneuil Hall, Boston, MA .
Fat Dog Pro Bicycle Shop
A cyclist's dream: a bright, airy space filled with top-of-the-line inventory and staffed by fellow riders who know their bikes from shifters to spokes. Not only do these folks understand what you really want, they often go out of their way to offer cheaper alternatives. And Fat Dog may just offer the deal in the Boston area on road bikes: free service for the lifetime of the bike (one year of free service on MTBs, and you can do a lot to a mountain bike in a year). 940 High St., Westwood, MA .
Gaslight
Over the past four years, Gaslight has proven it's more than just the restaurant du jour. It consistently turns out terrific takes on French classics in an authentically Parisian atmosphere. Crowds pack the dining room for dishes like the falling-apart duck confit with orange gastrique, and quite possibly the most sinful meat entrée Boston has ever seen—the bar steak, smothered in luscious cognac cream sauce and caramelized shallots. 560 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA 2118, gaslight560.com.
Grill 23 & Bar
The better story would have been that finally, in this, the year of the cow, one among the city's numerous new upscale meateries had managed to dethrone our 14-time Best of Boston stalwart. Nothing doing. Mooo inherited the Federalist's matchless wine list. KO Prime has the best offal around. But for a prime, dry-aged rib-eye with a power client (downstairs) or a significant other (the more intimate upstairs), Grill 23 still rules the herd. 161 Berkeley St., Boston, MA 2116, grill23.com.
Toro
The hype, for once, is justified: Ken Oringer's achingly trendy taberna not only outclasses its Boston competition, but would stand proud among the top eateries in Barcelona. The tapas are inspired—gambas al ajillo arrive in a delicate cascabel chili sauc—and expertly prepared: At last, a potato omelet that's not overcooked. For steak lovers, there's a prime rib for two that's to die for. But maybe the biggest surprise, considering the deafening buzz, is that the all-Spanish wine list is extremely reasonably priced. 1704 Washington St., Boston, MA 2118, toro-restaurant.com.
Matt Murphys
It's strange that Boston is short on purveyors of good Irish food. (Especially when, according to our research, the city was founded by Patrick O'Patrick and his brothers Pat, Pat, Patty, and Steve, who, we're pretty sure, was adopted.) But who needs options when there's Matt Murphy's—still the best spot in town for fish and chips, rabbit pie, and good soda bread. Wash it down with a Guinness and suddenly you're Irish. Even if your name is Steve. 14 Harvard St., Brookline, MA 2445, mattmurphyspub.com.
Muqueca
The fact that every Boston Brazilian joint has earned its fame doling out all-you-can-eat portions of meat left us wondering: How do those girls in Rio look so hot in their thongs? Then we discovered Muqueca, where even our most carnivorous friends fell for the single servings of spicy dishes, including the traditional seafood stew for which the restaurant is named. It's so good we guarantee you'll bring back your very lean booty for more. 1008 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA 2139, muquecarestaurant.com.
El Oriental de Cuba
If you're hankering for tender roast pork, thin slices of ham, Swiss cheese, and pickles layered inside a crusty baguette (with a creamy mango shake for dessert), get in line. This local hot spot draws fans from Boston and beyond to feast on its Cuban sandwiches and homemade soups chockfull of seafood, meat, and vegetables. It's Little Havana every night of the week. 416 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, MA elorientaldecuba.com.
Pete De Rosa; Joe Rosanno
De Rosa delivers up Beacon Hill stairs, mixes his aged wood well, and turns green at the idea of selling new wood. Though his beat is Boston, De Rosa lives in Billerica (1-633-2197). Rosanno, on Route 3A in Cohasset, fills car trunks with extraordinarily generous loads, dispenses folk wisdom, makes minor car repairs gratis, and has even been known to slip a quarter to a kid with one had while taking a five from the parents with the other. Boston, Cohasset, MA
Rinaldi's Park Square
One of the best things about Boston is its walkability. The downside, however, is our oft-abused footwear. So when the insoles of our beloved boots begin to wear and the heel caps of our oxfords start to disintegrate, we lug them to this small shop in the Park Square building, where they're consistently refurbished to good as new—just in time to hit the pavement again. 31 St. James Ave., Boston, MA .
Winston Flowers & Garden
Winston's Newton store feels more like a mom-and-pop shop than the Boston area florist's biggest location. The mind-boggling array of blooms on offer includes roses, hydrangeas, peonies, calla lilies, and arty, twisted sea grass. And the resourceful, creative staffers will be eager to help you, once you're done staring slack-jawed at the symphony of colors. 11 Florence St., Newton, MA winstonflowers.com.
Zaftigs Delicatessen
Oy vey, they're not supposed to make corned beef or pastrami this good outside of the Lower East Side. Despite the high prices and yuppie decor, Zaftigs is as close as you'll get in Boston to the traditional Jewish deli experience. Save yourself the trip to New York and head to Brookline for great sandwiches, gelfite fish, chipped liver, and other classics of the genre. 335 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA zaftigs.com.