Mandarin Oriental
There's something formulaic about high-end hotels these days. Marble vanities + giant flat screens + bazillion-thread-count Frette sheets = the right to charge upward of $500 per night for a room. The Mandarin Oriental, naturally, has all of these luxuries. But the Back Bay hotel also offers more-thoughtful perks, including chilled towels in the gym, rainforest showers, and video-game systems. 776 Boylston St., Boston, MA 2199, mandarinoriental.com/boston.
Polka Dog Bakery
Candy jars stuffed with dried chicken livers and beef esophagi and a sweeping buffet of artisanal dog cakes and brownies (bearing names like Pawreos and Power Barks, inevitably) make this place puppy heaven. Two floors of accessories include a wall of collars and enough rubber to sate any dog's shoe fetish; a kitty corner caters to the smarter species, lest any felines feel left out. 256 Shawmut Ave., Boston, MA 2118, polkadog.com.
Union Street Inn
A hotel is only as good as its amenities, and Union Street owners Ken and Deborah Withrow provide just about every one you can think of: Frette sheets and plush Matouk robes; wood-burning fireplaces; a made-to-order breakfast in the morning; and fudgy homemade brownies in the afternoon. Luxe but not stuffy, it's a cozy spot that feels like home. 7 Union St., Nantucket, MA 2554, unioninn.com.
Red Rock Bistro & Bar
At first it's easy to overlook the Red Rock's first-class food in favor of the sweeping sea and city skyline views. But one nibble of owners Paul and Louise Petersiel's properly prepared fare will have you back at the table and concentrating on your plate. Grilled pizzas, seared scallops, and a thoughtful wine selection round things out at this comfortable, kick-back-and-relax ocean-side bistro. 141 Humphrey St., Swampscott, MA redrockbistro.com.
Willow Tree Films
Between the dress and the flowers and the happy tears, it might feel like you’re living in a movie on your big day. And watching your cinematic Willow Tree film after the event, you might as well have been. Videographer Greg Fisher captures weddings with all the elements of a big-budget romance, from sweeping drone shots to the intimacy of stolen kisses, and weaves it all together into an epic love story. willowtreeweddings.com.
Riccardi
There’s streetwear, and then there’s mad-cool streetwear. Repping brands like Off-White (RIP, Virgil Abloh), Chrome Hearts, and Thom Browne — not to mention a colossal jeans-and- tees collection from Amiri and Saint Laurent — this boutique’s wares definitely fall into the latter category. Riccardo Dallai, who launched his family fashion business in 1978, has also broken into the exclusive collab category with limited-edition hoodies, beanies, and sweat- pants. Your threads will be lit. 116 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, riccardiboston.com.
Portico
There's nothing more heavenly than slipping between 250 thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets. Portico stocks some of the highest thread counts around by Frette, Anna Chini and Portico private label. The average person spends almost a third of his or her life in bed, so spend it in luxury. 77 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga Institute
Twenty bucks for yoga? Om, no. At Baron Baptiste's Monday and Wednesday community classes, $7 buys 90 minutes of eagles, dolphins, and downward dogs. Expect to lose about a gallon of sweat—though not your shirt—in the center's heated environs. 2000 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 2140, baronbaptiste.com.
Buzz/Avalon
A toss up between Buzz on Saturday nights and Avalon on Sundays. If you've got the bod, doff the shirt and work up a sweat with the hotties on the dance floor. In button-down mode? Slink over to the bar, grab a Tanqueray and tonic, and savor the eye candy. You won't be alone for long. 67 Stuart St./15 Landsdowne St., Boston, MA .
Boston-Boston
15 Lansdowne St., Boston, if you include its sister club, Spit. The Fan Club, 77 Warrenton St., Boston, if you don't. 15 Lansdowne St., Boston, MA .
Marathon Sports
There's a myth that says running requires nothing more than comfortable sneakers and willpower. Untrue: If you're serious about the sport (or are merely trying to look as if you are), you're also going to need some sweat-wicking shorts and shirts, a cardiac monitor, several pairs of cushy socks, a hat and/or sunglasses, maybe a windbreaker, and, oh yeah, one of those belts that holds little water bottles. Marathon Sports has all the gear you need, and some you probably don't. And its running-obsessed staff is clued in and honest enough to help you sort out which is which. 671 Boylston St., Brookline, MA 2445, marathonsports.com.
The Sports Club/LA
The Sports Club/LA has staked its claim as the city's most exclusive urban country club. Members have full use of the seemingly countless treadmills, free weights, basketball and squash courts, and swimming pool, not to mention spinning, yoga, and Pilates classes. But it hardly ends there. This club also features dry-cleaning services, babysitting, a full-service salon and spa, and a gourmet restaurant, blu, that serves up a special low-fat, health-conscious menu. And while it may be uncomfortable to break a sweat with so many beautiful people lurking around, that's not a bad thing: The club is one of the best places in town for singles to mingle. 4 Avery St., Boston, MA boston.sportsclubla.com.
T.T. the Bear's Place
Somewhere between a band's first roadie and their first rider, they play T.T.'s, a beer-soaked cranny in Central Square now in its third decade. For about 10 bucks a night, the club gets music geek nation on its feet with both established and rising acts from the East Coast (the Damnwells), the West Coast (the Thermals), and beyond (Denmark's Efterklang), along with local favorites like the Motion Sick and Faces on Film. Although it's true that Allston's Great Scott is increasingly booking tomorrow's Middle East and Paradise headliners today, for that pure ear-pounding, sweat-drenched, punch-drunk rock-club experience, the Bear remains the one to beat. 10 Brookline St., Cambridge, MA 2139, ttthebears.com.
Be Well Studios
Wellness is about more than just breaking a sweat three times a week; it’s about taking care of your mind, body, and soul. This Zen retreat in Scituate lives by that mantra, tempering its approachable barre and cross-training classes with restorative treatments such as meditation, reiki, and massage (bonus points for therapies tailored especially to clients undergoing cancer treatments). A waterfront perch adds to the gloriously relaxing vibe. bewellstudios.net.
Lekker Home
You already know this South End boutique for its modern furnishings and home accessories. Now discover Lekker Home’s softer side, courtesy of a luxe linen collection with everything you need for a lifetime of pampering: Sasawashi scrub towels to keep your skin looking fresh, a super-soft Blacksaw throw for movie nights, and a crisp set of Area bed sheets to sink into later. 1313 Washington St., Boston, MA lekkerhome.com.