Farmstead Table
You can practically taste the love in chef Chad Burns’s buttery asparagus-and-goat-cheese quiche, delicate house-made blintzes, and chive soft-scrambled eggs with Grafton cheddar. That it’s all served in a sunny space brimming with homespun accents (rustic wood tables, walls festooned with embroidery hoops) makes the experience all the more charming. Don’t miss the fluffy popovers. 71 Union St., Newton Centre, MA 2459, farmsteadtable.com.
Ceia Kitchen + Bar
Rye crêpes with ricotta, smoked salmon, and fiddleheads. House-made linguiça with eggs. Portuguese sweet-bread French toast with strawberries and streusel. This Newburyport hot spot turns out pumped-up versions of brunch favorites with a focus on fresh, locally sourced ingredients (which makes sense, considering chef Patrick Soucy is an organic farmer himself). When the weather’s fine, kick back on the patio for prime Sunday-morning people-watching. 38 State St., Newburyport, MA 1950, ceiakitchenbar.com.
Darren Le
If a bad hair day can ruin an ordinary weekday, imagine the havoc a follicular faux pas could wreak on your wedding day. Enter Darren Le. The Mizu stylist, who turns out romantic updos and sleek chignons with aplomb, consults with each bride to make sure her locks are aisle-ready, even if it takes a trial run (or two) to get it just right. darrenle.com.
Boston Nanny Centre
Finding the right nanny to care for your precious peanut only adds to a new parent’s stress. But with an extensive application and screening process, Boston Nanny Centre makes the job a little easier. They make sure that all of their nannies are citizens or legal residents, over 21, have experience in childcare, are certified in good health by their physician, and are recommended by at least five references. All the while, staffers are accessible via phone and email, and are more than willing to do a little psychological handholding. 135 Selwyn Rd., Newton, MA 2461, bostonnanny.com.
Vera Wang
A single designer is hardly right for every bride, but top-notch service, from first fitting to final alteration, is on every betrothed's wish list. This couture retailer stocks gowns that are dreamy, feminine, and exactly what we want for the big day. With more styles in-house than online and more-than-accomodating consultants, the hardest part will be choosing among satin, tulle, and silk. 73 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, verawangboston.com.
La Residencia Spa
You could go to one of those fancy spas with the stark furniture and the green apples stacked perfectly so. But when you're in need of coddling, a place that's more welcoming than antiseptic is refreshing. La Residencia, located in a renovated two-story house with shabby-chic décor, has a cozy vibe. And a day there feels less like a clinic visit and more like a day with girlfriends—girlfriends who wax, extract, and massage, that is. 336 Elliot St., Newton Upper Falls, MA 2464, laresidenciaspa.com.
Harbor Hotel Provincetown
Shady motor inns might be quintessential Cape Cod, but we don't have to like 'em. So we're thrilled to see the old Cape Inn reborn as the Harbor Hotel, with a mod new look and superb amenities. Spend all day dipping your toes in the pool, then wiggle them in the sand while sitting by the fire pit. 698 Commercial St., Provincetown, MA 2657, harborhotelptown.com.
Pigalle
There's a good chance the preshow stop at Pigalle will prove more satisfying than the show itself. (Especially if you're going to see Riverdance. Again.) Chef Marc Orfaly transforms simple ingredients into stars, from the hazelnut-crusted goat-cheese cake with tomato and watermelon to the crispy half duck with bright cherry glaze. And whatever you order, the efficient servers understand you need to be on your way before the curtain goes up—and will have you out the door with time to spare. 75 Charles St., Boston, MA pigalleboston.com.
New Jumbo Seafood
Last year a new owner added "New" to the name of this steadfastly excellent Chinatown joint. Happily, that appears to have been his only real change. The spicy salt calamari remains one of the city's best takes on tricky-to-cook squid. The XO sauce is still a house specialty, as are the dishes served in citrus-tinged Yu Hsiang sauce. And you will continue to find no fresher fish than the ones pulled from the large tanks that greet you at the door. 5 Hudson St., Boston, MA .
Pigalle
Always up for a challenge, chef Marc Orfaly is taking on the notion that bar food has to be cheap and greasy with a Malaysian-themed menu culled from his recent trip to the Far East. Pigalle's bar seats just six, but the small plates of duck fried rice, baby-back ribs with sweet and sour kumquats, and shrimp shumai with ponzu dipping sauce make the fight for a spot one worth waging. 75 Charles St. S., Boston, MA pigalleboston.com.
Dbar
It's tough to find a hangout that appeals on this many fronts. If you're hungry, an outstanding full-service menu is available until 10 p.m., with mouthwatering entrees ranging from duck confit to diver scallops. If you're thirsty, the wine and mixology lists, punctuated with drinks like the Go-Diva (a martini made sinful with Godiva white chocolate), are sure to satisfy. And after the kitchen closes, Dbar transforms into a nightclub replete with a frenetic light show, pumping house music, and wall-to-wall beautiful people. 1236 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester, MA dbarboston.com.
Magic Beans
All-terrain or jogging? Travel system? Should we make it a double? The types of strollers alone thrown at expectant parents can be overwhelming. Mercifully, Magic Beans combines the selection of a national chain with the congeniality of a local biz to help alleviate that new-baby stress. That means personal gear consultations and a beloved annual expo — back post-COVID that promises to unlock the mysteries of baby gear well before your shower. 361 Huron Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138, mbeans.com.
Midori Dowdie, MAD Soleful
Dowdie’s credentials are impressive, to say the least: She’s a former bodybuilder and marathon runner who’s certified in personal training. She’s also a certified holistic health coach, meaning she understands that training is about more than just showing up at the gym. Rather than simply focusing on weight loss and toning, Dowdie helps find your “why” and encourages healthy and sustainable habits — which goes way further than any workout ever could. madsoleful.com.
The Centerpiece Flower Shop
Nothing cheers up a space like a gorgeous bouquet of fresh flowers. And these days, no one’s spreading more flower-powered joy than ángel Diaz. With an eye for design, the Venezuela native and owner of the Centerpiece Flower Shop — founded in 2020 — uses seasonal blooms and greenery to create artful arrangements bursting with color and texture. Bonus points for his monthly subscription service, which promises mood-boosting handtied bouquets delivered on your date of choice. 2051 Centre St., West Roxbury, MA 02132, thecenterpieceflowershop.com.
The Coast Café
Purveyors of proper American soul food are scant in Boston, so we’re grateful that after a brief hiatus, this Cambridge takeout star is again serving up some of the crispiest, juiciest fried chicken in the city. That’s hardly all: Barbecued pork ribs, fried catfish, hefty sides (of collard greens, candied yams, and mac ’n’ cheese), and old-timey desserts (like sweet-potato pie and coconut wonder bars) should all be a part of your next beachside picnic or casual home supper. 233 River St., Cambridge, MA 02139, coastsoulcafe.com.