Orly Khon Floral
Talk about versatile: This South End designer works magic with roses and eucalyptus for more-traditional couples but also knows how to pump up the volume with unique additions like bubblegum-hued sweet peas, double-petaled brownie tulips, tropical laceleaf, and maidenhair ferns for more-daring brides and grooms. No matter the style, each arrangement is purposefully lush and overflowing, setting the scene wherever you’re getting married. 141 Malden St., Ste. 103, Boston, MA 02118, orlykhon.com.
InterContinental Boston
Considering the onslaught of just-opened and recently renovated hotels, it's a good time to be a guest in Boston (if a somewhat less good time to be a hotelier). How to stand out among the expected 300-thread-count sheets, Frette robes, designer bath products, and 24-hour room service? The glossy waterfront InterContinental outshines the competition (literally—its wavelike structure is swathed in reflective glass) with all of the above, plus a spa, a gym, three novelty restaurants, and one of the biggest ballrooms in town. The quick, courteous employees are a business traveler's dream; the mini esplanade along nearby Fort Point Channel, a stroller's delight. 510 Atlantic Ave., Boston, MA intercontinentalboston.com.
James Perse
One of the best things about a day off is having the ability to choose comfort above all else. At the Boston outpost for this popular designer, sartorial-minded gents can find soft, well-fitting tees and premium cashmere track pants that won’t look embarrassing in the produce section. And if an invite comes your way that involves meeting people you know in public, you won’t have to sacrifice said comfort when you swap the sweats for cotton pants, a linen shirt, and crisp, retro-looking sneakers. 17 Arlington St., Boston, MA jamesperse.com.
Ánh Hồng
Fields Corner has, well, cornered the market on top-tier Vietnamese, especially the magical half-mile stretch of Dot. Ave. dotted with a dozen joints serving exemplary banh mi and pho. Our current crush? Nearby Ánh Hồng, where the caramel-sauce catfish is a salty-sweet dream, licorice-laced broths gurgle with musky complexity, and the seven-course beef feast is priced right for Tuesday night. 291 Adams St., Dorchester, MA 02122, anhhongboston.com.
French + Italian
North Shore fashion can veer toward the overly beachy (tunics are not dresses!), but Aimee Lombardi hits all the right notes at her sweet Marblehead spot. Unhurried service and a tight edit of classic, clean, and relevant brands like A.P.C., No. 6, and Vanessa Bruno have attracted devoted customers not only from around the shore but also nationwide. 129 Washington St., Marblehead, MA 01945, frenchitalian.com.
The New England Soup Factory
These unassuming storefronts take their motto—Feed Your Body Well—to heart, with some 75 alternating choices, all wholesome and flavorful. We slurped lentil; sweet and sour cabbage with fresh dill, white bean, and tomato; numerous chowders; and hearty chilis. Iced soups include banana, honey, and almond; blueberry and peach; and the old, spicy standard, gazpacho. And the Factory makes a matzoh-ball soup to make a Jewish grandmother proud. Our only complaint is that there isn't a Soup Factory in every neighborhood. 2-4 Brookline Place, Brookline, MA .
Fava
It's fascinating to watch owner/ chef Paul Booras slave over the stove in the small kitchen here. It's even more rewarding to taste what he does with wood grilled salmon and monkfish, hanger steak, and thick racks of pork. Located next to the Needham Center MBTA station, the stone-walled hideaway is not easy to find but definitely worth the effort. Booras— a veteran of Pomodoro and Olives— also opened the new Mediterranean spot Sweet Basil down the street. How lucky can one town be? 1027 Great Plains Ave., Needham, MA .
Shayna Shirazi
Meet the sweet-as-pie Shirazi and you might assume she's merely another perfectly nice toe polisher. How wrong you'd be: This woman whips feet into the best shape of their lives. She goes to town on calluses and doesn't shy away from any blister, bump, or hangnail (all while showing a commendable hygiene obsessiveness). Plus, her polish applications last for weeks and can even stand up to the beach. Hey, we always knew we had pretty feet underneath it all. Miniluxe, Boston, MA .
Anh Hong
The Fields Corner neighborhood of Dorchester is filled with exceptional Vietnamese restaurants. But for its skill with dishes beyond the usual pho and vermicelli, Anh Hong rises to the top. Take the vinegary jellyfish-and-shrimp salad, a perfect balance of tangy and sweet. Then there's the beef fondue trimmed with Granny Smith apples and fish mint, which you can use to make your own fresh rolls. And the pineapple-ginger sauce that comes with that tender beef? We'd put it on everything if we could. 291 Adams St., Boston, MA 2122, .
Belle Isle Seafood
Twelve rolls into our research, it seemed there was no escaping the Bun Situation: perfectly sweet meat marred by stale, soggy, cold, dinky, or too-hearty bread. Then we tried Belle Isle's roll. The buttery, griddle-crisped hot dog bun brilliantly holds its own against the tender tail, knuckle, and claw meat stuffed inside. One Main St., Winthrop, MA 2128, belleisleseafood.com.
Upstairs on the Square
Amid pastel-colored walls (so charming!), fireplaces (so cozy!), and food like Wellfleet oysters on the half shell with yuzu ice (so flirtatious!), what makes this the Hub's most romantic option is the space. Specifically, that there's lots of it. Amorous ambiance is so often ruined by patrons who are positioned a little too close and talking a little too loudly. At UpStairs on the Square, it's private enough to murmur juicy tidbits and sweet nothings with abandon. 91 Winthrop St., Cambridge, MA 2138, upstairsonthesquare.com.
Rangoli
The prized entree at this southern Indian restaurant is called dosa—a huge crunchy crepe stuffed with rice, lentils, and your choice of meat. But that doesn't mean you should neglect the dahi bhala (lentil balls and yogurt) or the tomato-coconut shorba (soup). The chef works with a cunning palette of tart and sweet flavors guaranteed to tickled your buds. 129 Brighton Avenue, Allston, MA .
Salt & Pepper
Salt & Pepper bakes buttermilk biscuits every morning, using the authentic Texas recipe of owner Robin Peevey's grandmother. These breakfast treats are moister than scones and tastier than muffins, and come in flavors ranging from blueberry, peach, and strawberry-rhubarb to sweet potato and cheddar and bacon. A Salt & Pepper employee sums up the general feeling: "People swear by these things." 81 Holland Street, Davis Square, Somerville, MA .
Detente
Husband and wife Kevin and Suzanna Crowell's dream was to open a restaurant that offered impeccable food in an easygoing setting. And they've achieved just that at Détente. Each of the 12 menu items is seasonal (sweet heirloom melon with prosciutto-wrapped halibut cheek), packed with flavor (braised short-rib lasagna), and delivered efficiently by the young, enthusiastic staff. The restaurant's instant popularity means the small main dining room can be boisterous. Romantics: Remember to call ahead and request a quieter candlelit table on the terrace. Nevin Square, Edgartown, MA 2539, detentemv.com.
Emma's
The super-thin crust that flies out of Emma's kitchen is addictive in its own right. Add to that such innovative combinations as Canadian bacon, caramelized onions, and rosemary sauce, or a scallion, garlic, and gorgonzola mix. The restaurants may have just changed hands, but nearly everything else about it has stayed the same—right down to the à la carte toppings (three kinds of tomatoes, sweet and gold potatoes, capers, even dried cranberries). Friendly service (the waiters offer detailed reheating instructions) rounds out the experience. 40 Hampshire St., Cambridge, MA emmaspizza.com.