Zegna
Boston gents, take note: You’re no longer restricted to showing off your personality through socks and ties. After relocating to the Newbury Boston hotel last November, this luxury brand has even more space to display its sharp ready-to-wear suiting in wildly diverse patterns and fabrics, includ- ing cashmere blends and high-performance wool fibers. (And that’s not even counting the enormous array of custom options.) Make it a one-stop shopping experience and pick up polo shirts, joggers, and maybe even an Italian-made leather backpack while you’re there. 1 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, zegna.com.
SRV
Nothing against classic Italian comfort food, but we could use a break from the mounds of red-sauce-bathed macaroni we stress-gorged in the early days of the pandemic. Now? We’re more in the mood to share Venetian-style small plates in the dining room and on the patio at SRV, Michael Lombardi’s bright spotlight on decidedly contemporary cicchetti, such as duck-liver mousse with passion fruit, and house-extruded pastas, including al dente hats of tortelli in rabbit sauce. We missed feasting like this: in coursed waves, in rapt fascination of great chef skill, and, most important, together. 569 Columbus Ave., Boston, MA 02118, srvboston.com.
The Oak Bluffs Inn
Nestled in the heart of Oak Bluffs, this nine-room inn housed in a meticu- lously updated 1870s Victorian—walk- ing distance from both the ferry and the beach—has won legions of devotees over more than two decades. (Guests have included the likes of Spike Lee; Wynton Marsalis, who gave a concert in the living room; Woody Harrelson; and bell hooks.) It’s a stone’s throw to restaurants, galler- ies, and sightseeing, but with the grand front porch and plenty of upscale beachy comforts, you may not bother to leave at the inn at all. 64 Circuit Ave., Oak Bluffs, MA 02557, oakbluffsinn.com.
Elburne
With one location already flourishing on Cape Cod, sisters Lauren and Simone Pereira established their second home-décor shop in Hanover’s new Merchant’s Row shopping plaza late last year. It’s not easy to shut your doors so soon after opening them, but online ordering and Instagram teaser shots of Elburne’s ethically sourced furniture, rugs, and artwork kept shoppers engaged through the shutdown. The doors are open once again, but the siblings are still offering curbside pickup to make scoring the perfect pick-me-up even easier. 2053 Washington St., Hanover, MA 02339, elburne.com.
Simcha
Ari Shemtov’s Israeli-fusion menu is full of gems such as deep-fried feta, chickpea poutine with brisket, and couscous arancini, but it pays to time your contactless pickup order to one of the chef ’s weekly specials (don’t miss the Wednesday-night barbecue package complete with ribs, chicken wings, and a whole smoked snapper). That’s not the only way Shemtov is feeding the community in these tough times: The restaurant also offers a food-share program that provides a “one-size-fits-all” box of provisions at restaurant cost. 370 S. Main St., Sharon, MA 02067, simcharestaurant.com.
Sally's Sandwiches
If your next Netflix Party with friends involves a few too many quarantinis, take note: There’s no better hangover cure than Sally’s superbly gooey egg-and-cheese sandwich, served on an airy-soft bulkie roll. Still hungry? Come lunchtime, this new sibling to the Gallows gastropub and Blackbird Doughnuts offers intoxicating flavor combos such as sliced mojo pork and ham, spicy pickles, and garlicky pesto on a sesame-speckled torta roll; or a tender housemade falafel burger topped with tangy lemon-olive spread. 492 Tremont St., Boston, MA 02116, sallyssandwiches.com.
White Elephant
For the second year in a row, we hand over the title of best Nantucket hotel to the White Elephant, and happily so. Around since the 1920s, you could say the iconic resort knows how to do a thing or two — as proven by the white-glove service, luxurious bed linens so popular you can now buy your own, and seafood restaurant showcasing an awe-inspiring harbor view. And with accommodations ranging from garden cottages and residences to hotel rooms and downtown lofts, getting a room has never been easier. 50 Easton St., Nantucket, MA 02554, whiteelephantnantucket.com.
French + Italian
“Look on the bright side” is owner Aimee Lombardi’s motto — something she made very clear over the past year with her selection of cheerful cobalt-blue cashmere crews, citron flats, and yellow track pants. Rolling with the times, the stylish shopkeeper focused on keeping shelves filled with WFH threads that could be Zoom-ready on top, and completely comfy on the bottom — think cardigans and flowy skirts from superstar European lines like Molli, Acne Studios, Ganni, and Sofie D’Hoore. The best part? Every last piece transitions seamlessly to any post-vaccine brunch and vacation plans. 119 Charles St., Boston, MA 02114, frenchitalian.com.
Pagu
A lot of restaurants pivoted to add grocery sales this year, but none did it quite like Pagu. Yes, chef-owner Tracy Chang stocks the virtual shelves of her market with jars of house-made condiments (including her bomb-dot-com Umami XO sauce), chef-driven provisions (see the eye-popping purple pancake mix made from taro root), and meal kits, all reflecting her restaurant’s Japanese-Spanish cuisine. Just as important, though, she’s also long on essentials — flour, EVOO, fresh produce — and through her new organization, Project Restore Us, home-delivers them to communities in need. 310 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139, gopagu.com.
Boston Calling
The Killers. Paramore. Eminem. This year Boston Calling welcomed some of its biggest names to date. It also finally settled into its new digs at the Harvard Athletic Complex after a few growing pains in 2017. The sprawling grounds gave the fest the chance to add a third venue for even more concerts as well as ample open space for seriously upgraded food options, from the Smoke Shop’s barbecue-brisket sammies to Area Four’s garlic knots. And for those in need of a break from rocking out in the sun? An indoor comedy venue offering a rotating array of top-notch performers and soothing AC. MA bostoncalling.com.
The Inn at Hastings Park
Spanning three lovingly restored 19th-century buildings, this Relais & Châteaux property is so New England it hurts, right down to the prime location next to Lexington’s Battle Green. That means you’ll find a proper front porch for sipping afternoon tea, fireplaced rooms with throw blankets loomed in Maine, and a red, white, and blue color scheme complete with quilted American flags on the walls. Thanks to Top Chef alum Stacy Cogswell, though, the menu at house restaurant Artistry on the Green is thoroughly modern (see: lamb loin with pistachio pesto and mussels with spring-garlic-and-almond broth). 2027 Massachusetts Ave., Lexington, MA 02421, innathastingspark.com.
The Fat Cat
You’ll need to loosen your belt a few notches to try all the new entries to Quincy’s expanding restaurant scene, but the decade-old Fat Cat is still the locals’ spot for craft-beer-accompanied comfort food gussied up to gastropub standards. The lobster mac ’n’ cheese is legendary, wings are doused in more than a dozen sauces (don’t miss the orange-agave), and a jovial hubbub of rapid-fire South Shore accents ricochets off the industrial-cool brick walls. In other words, this place keeps everyone purring. 24 Chestnut St., Quincy, MA 02169, fatcatrestaurant.com.
December Thieves
Ever feel like you can’t find everything you need to complete your outfit in just one shop? Never fear: Lana Bakarat’s accessories empire spans two storefronts just blocks apart in Beacon Hill. Her collection includes graphic silk scarves from the French label Année, silver-leather open-toed booties from the Berlin brand Trippen, and cowhide clutches handmade in Oregon. And if you get home and realize you still need one last piece to put it all together, click over to her new online store. 51 and 88 Charles St., Boston, MA 02114, decemberthieves.com.
Misselwood
Imagine, if you will, an emerald-green lawn overlooking the ocean. Rows of white chairs face the water, flanking an aisle dusted with flower petals. It’s here that you’ll say, “I do,” reciting the vows you worked so hard on while waves ripple gently behind you. Afterward, you’ll reunite with loved ones in a soaring white tent, pitched atop a stone floor studded with sea glass. Can you see it? Now, head to Misselwood—a grand seaside estate in Beverly—to book the real thing. Complete with a French chateaux-style manse for smaller affairs, this formidable venue will far exceed your wildest dreams. 407 Hale St., Beverly, Massachusetts 01951, misselwood.com.
Dragon Pizza
These pies clearly show a passion for the art of pizza-making without being too precious for a Tuesday-night snack. Toppings are top-notch and cover every craving: There’s the ruddy spice of house-made red-wine-and-garlic sausage. The sweet-and-salty dialogue between bacon and drizzles of chili-spiked maple syrup sourced from a sugar shack in the Adirondacks. Even citrus accents to balance the richness in Dragon’s lemon-chicken pizza, a nod to the signature dish at the late, great Hamersley’s Bistro. Read more 233 Elm St., Somerville, MA .