North Square Oyster
In a historical building steps from the Paul Revere House, Waypoint alum Pierce Boalt Juckett sates North Enders’ seafood cravings with platters of briny Eider Cove and Mookie Blues oysters, immaculate crudos, and—of course—buttery lobster rolls. 5 North Sq., Boston, MA 02113, northsquareoyster.com.
Flock
Breezy and bohemian, this South End boutique stocks a creative collection of hairpieces and fringed cross-body bags. Look for jewelry set to star in the latest layering trends and sought-after Turkish kilim flats and bags by Boston's Artemis Design Co. Really, all that's missing is your Coachella ticket. 274 Shawmut Ave., Boston, MA 02118, flockboston.com.
Shōjō
Mark O'Leary put ramen on the city's radar at O Ya and Guchi's Midnight Ramen. Now he makes a lunch-only shoyu variety at Shōjō, where he fills each bowl with two slow-simmered broths, a six-minute egg, char siu pork belly, and house-made noodles. 9A Tyler St., Boston, MA 02111, shojoboston.com.
Mei Mei
Mei Mei's handpleated classic pork dumplings, available at lunch, are crisp outside and properly juicy inside. In keeping with the Li siblings' quirky take on Chinese fare, you'll also find first-rate pierogi dumplings with cranberry-apple sauce and sour cream. 506 Park Dr., Boston, MA 02215, meimeistreetkitchen.com.
Neatly Nested
It's impossible to miss Neatly Nested's white exterior and yellow awning along West Broadway. Inside, interior designer Danielle McClure stocks goods worth crossing a bridge for—tastefully refurbished furniture, linens from Scents and Feel, and hand-poured soy candles. 373 W. Broadway, Boston, MA 02127, neatlynesteddecor.com.
American Provisions
With as many as 80 varieties of small-batch fromage available, this Southie shop is small on space but big on nutty, pungent flavor. Staffers are ready with recommendations and armed with anecdotes about the herd of Vermont goats that produced your selected wheel, making this a destination for turophiles citywide. 613 E. Broadway, South Boston, MA 02127, americanprovisions.com.
Kelley Square Pub
It’s easy to see what drew Vinny Paz and Tommy Lee Jones to this watering hole: Here, conversation flows and the beverage selection is ample (including the most affordable pour of Woodford Reserve we’ve ever seen). 84 Bennington St., Boston, MA 02128, kelleyssquarepub.com.
City Hall Front Lawn
Only in the People’s Republic would the front lawn of City Hall be a fine place for some rest and relaxation. Leave your everyday worries behind at the city’s annual late-night dance party, where thousands flock to the green space to shake it off. 795 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139, .
Julia Rosenthal, Pyara
From flowers formed by your own braids to a comb placed just so in a finger-curled bob, Julia Rosenthal's wedding-day tresses are consistently stunning. With just a glance, she quickly assesses the way a bride's hair falls, then creates a style that stays true all night long. 1050 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138, pyaraaveda.com.
Cakes to Remember
Visually and gastronomically gorgeous, Ellen Bartlett's cakes come in the classic tiered style or in any shape that piques your fancy. Choose from dozens of flavors and myriad fillings and frostings. The lemon-zest cake filled with fresh raspberry-butter cream is one of the best reasons we can think of to say I do. 248 Cypress St., Brookline, MA .
Lingerie Studio
With a display that ranges from classy crêpe chemises to Bolivian-cotton robes to sheer but demure Simone Pérèle bras, Lingerie Studio is an overachiever in the realm of underthings. Reasonable prices and meticulous service (the staff is particularly fussy when it comes to fit) ensure that your unmentionables will be of maximum quality, bought with minimum hauteur. 264 Newbury St., Boston, MA lingeriestudio.com.
The Beauty Mark
This sunny shop has hit the mark by assembling a rare collection of cult favorites (Molton Brown, Wink, T. LeClerc, TINte), all in a rainbow of colors and shades. What's more, the outgoing staff helps guide you to goods that match your skin tone and type exactly, which is a thing of true beauty. 33 Charles St., Boston, MA thebeautymark.com.
Dorfman Jewelers
Otherwise known as "the best place to blow your bonus," Dorfman's is the kind of shop where the well-heeled go to buy their baubles. If you are in the market for a one-of-a-kind sapphire necklace, a Patek Phillippe watch to pass on through generations, a signature Bulgari brooch, or a knick-knack from Van Cleef & Arpels, this is the place to get it. 24 Newbury Street, Boston, MA dorfmanjewelers.com.
Rugg Road Paper Company
This charming shop offers a jaw-dropping array of card stocks and designs for every occasion, from receptions to rehearsal dinners. You'll also find photo albums, rubber stamps, and embossing tools for scrapbooking—all of which will preserve the memories of your big day beautifully. 105 Charles St., Boston, MA 2114, ruggroadpaper.com.
Café Chew
Warm, comfortable, and blessed with a private garden, Café Chew is the sort of place that makes newcomers feel like regulars. Many ingredients, including the coffee and honey, are locally sourced; the pastries are made fresh by the in-house pastry chef; and the fare itself is exceptionally satisfying, despite—or perhaps because of—its simplicity. 4 Merchants Rd., Sandwich, MA 2563, cafechew.com.