Brookline Liquor Mart
There are plenty of great wine stores in Boston, but what keeps Brookline one step ahead of the pack are its serious French wines—particularly Burgundies and Rhones. BLM has been bringing in Guigal's great Rhones for more than a generation, and the result is a selection that is extraordinarily broad and deep. Bargain hunters can look for finds in BLM's basement and close-out bins, and special at its Saturday tastings. And for the real oenophile cum computer geek, its e-mail newsletter, with Roger Ormon's informative tasting notes, keeps you abreast of a wide range of special offerings, as does its Web site at www.blmwine.com. 1354 Commonwealth Ave., Allston, MA .
Ares Shoe Repair
Stopping by this tiny garden-level shop feels like visiting your friendly but gruff grandfather's house: Cobbler Mike Damirshian won't hide his disappointment in your shoes' subpar appearance, but he will assure you that they can, in fact, be saved. And each and every time, he's true to his word—heels that have been worn to metal posts are miraculously rebuilt, holey soles are replaced, and scuffs are polished away. You'll walk out with kicks that look (almost) brand new. 84 Charles St., Boston, MA 02114, .
Brookline Liquor Mart
From the outside, this sprawling liquor store looks like any other rundown rendezvous for drunken booze-hounds. Inside, however, you'll find one of the finest selections of vintage wine in New England. It's for the latter that we just can't seem to get enough of this store. Laid out in neatly labeled rows are bottles of liquid gold that may cost you more than a month's rent. But no matter: Even if you're not a millionaire collector, the knowledgeable staff will help you find a reasonable red to go with the venison stew that's bubbling at home. Especially strong: Rhone, Burgundy, and Bordeaux selections. Expand your vino repertoire at the Mart's regular tastings or by clicking through their encyclopedic Web site. And don't miss the bargain basement (which is exactly what it sounds like); it can be a treasure trove if you hit it at the right moment. 1354 Commonwealth Avenue, Allston, MA blmwine.com.
B-Side Lounge
Take one part funky restaurant and one part festive bar scene. Sprinkle it with urban hipsters, geeky academics, and East Cambridge natives. Shake gently to the beat of Sinatra or maybe a little Esquivel. Chill to taste. 92 Hampshire St., Cambridge, MA .
Brendan Pelley, Xenia Greek Hospitality
Krasi, Bar Vlaha, Greco, Hecate, and more to come: Xenia Greek Hospitality is on fire these days, thanks in part to the 2022 addition of Brendan Pelley as culinary director. Pelley’s been a power player in Boston-area Greek dining for the better part of a decade, from his Pelekasis pop-up to his time at Doretta Taverna, and the backing of this ever-growing restaurant group is giving him a bigger stage than ever to showcase things such as his famous 100-layer spanakopita (find it on Krasi’s brunch menu) or a rustic braised beef-cheek stew from the cuisine of the nomadic Vlach people (at Brookline newbie Bar Vlaha). We can’t wait to see what he does next. Multiple locations, xeniagreekhospitality.com.
Chatham Bars Inn
Thought the king of Cape resorts couldn’t possibly get any better? Think again. To get ready for the post-COVID travel boom, CBI bolstered its private beach with additional sand — about 7,000 cubic yards, to be precise — along with new beach cabanas, lounge chairs, and umbrellas. You’ll also find fresh treatments at the sprawling spa complex (don’t miss the Moroccanoil hydration ritual), the return of live music on Bayview Terrace, and plenty of fun, interactive children’s programs for when the kids tire from leaping in and out of the water — and you tire of watching them. 297 Shore Rd., Chatham, MA 02633, chathambarsinn.com.
Longfellow Bar at Alden & Harlow
Chef Michael Scelfo’s bi-level bar has a standout list of tipples, including low-proof options like the amaro-mint “Harlow Smash,” plus posh finger foods to share. 40 Brattle St., Cambridge, MA longfellowharvard.com.
Grill 23 & Bar
In a transforming city, this old-school icon employs the same formula that’s kept it a top chop shop for 30-plus years: Take expertly cooked steaks, such as the legendary 100-day-aged rib-eye; add an exceptional wine list of ruby cabs and celebration-worthy bubbles; and wrap everything in such handsome, Brahmin-era trappings as dark wood, white tablecloths, and even tableside cigar service—ideal for puffing outside after inhaling a brûléed banana split. 161 Berkeley St., Boston, MA grill23.com.
Select Oyster Bar
After seven years spent manning the tiny kitchen at Neptune Oyster, chef Michael Serpa stepped out on his own with another petite seafood spot. This one's a passion project, with Serpa's hands in everything from the quirky beverage selection (funky whites, Basque-style ciders) to the décor (posters featuring Jacques Cousteau and The Life Aquatic). The menu strays from clam-shack tropes in favor of creations like fried rice with cuttlefish, cuttlefish ink, and uni, which is even more delightful when enjoyed on the heated enclosed patio. 50 Gloucester St., Boston, MA 02115, selectboston.com.
The Proprietors Bar & Table
Sourced primarily from small, local farms, the globally inspired, mostly shareable plates here delight with unexpected pairings, such as tuna crudo served with black bean crema, pickled green mango, and whiskey-smoked jalapea±o. Don't miss the homemade "adult" soft-serve. 9 India St., Nantucket, MA 02554, proprietorsnantucket.com.
Island Creek Oyster Bar
Burlington makes gains as a veritable dining destination with an outpost of the wildly, deservedly successful Island Creek Oyster Bar. While it's hard to pass up the lobster roll, served warm and buttered, an always-changing selection of fresh local catch provides suitable backup. You can even bring the kids, who'll flip over the fish and chips. 300 District Ave., Burlington, MA 1803, islandcreekoysterbar.com.
The Biltmore Bar and Grille
"Newton Upper Falls" and "hipster pub" aren't words you normally hear in the same sentence. Yet there it is: a suburban bar sporting a comfortably dark atmosphere, live music on weekends, an old-school craft cocktail menu, and a killer beer list. Add in well-above-average nibbles, and you've got patrons young and old, hip and preppy, all coming back time and again. 1295 Chestnut St., Newton Upper Falls, MA 2464, thebiltmoregrill.com.
Belly Wine Bar
This city has no shortage of fab cellars boasting wine menus as thick as a midsize town’s phone book. But lately we’ve been digging vino programs that trade exhaustive depth and range for singular points of view. At Belly Wine Bar, co-owner Liz Vilardi (who also owns the shop Central Bottle) crushes hard on old-world beauties with brash, tart, and downright dirty tendencies: lambruscos, Beaujolais, orange tannin-bombs, funky Savoie whites. All of which just so happen to pair beautifully with the house-cured salumi. Go figure. One Kendall Sq., Cambridge, MA 2139, bellywinebar.com.
Grill 23 & Bar
Where others might lean on 'steak wines' like big California cabs (yawn), Grill 23's DeWinter is likely to suggest a Paolo Bea Rosso 2000, from the little Umbrian town of Sagrantino, for your bone-in filet—he's just that excited about the unsung heroes in his cache of some 1,500 labels. Odds are, you will be, too. 161 Berkeley St., Boston, MA 2116, grill23.com.
Island Creek Oyster Bar
A few of the dishes that have already become legends in the few years since this sophisticated Kenmore Square spot opened: the fried-oyster sliders, which come smeared with chili-lime aioli and topped with pickled onions and arugula; the lobster-roe noodles, tossed with nubs of grilled lobster and braised short rib; and a house-made-saltine-topped casserole packed with scallops, fresh fish, lobster, and shrimp in a sherry-cream sauce. But if all you're really after is a basket of fried Ipswich clams—well, those are great here, too. 500 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA islandcreekoysterbar.com.