Nine Zero
Posh boutique hotels have been sprouting up with Starbucks-like ferocity. But for the ultimate experience in luxury and style, nothing in Boston compares to Nine Zero. Credit the staff's unerring and gracious service, a sleek, funky design, and luxury amenities including Frette linens, custom request minibars, and personal shoppers. From Spire, the stunning second-floor restaurant and bar, to the sleek marbled showers in each room, every inch of this unique locale is designed to relax and entice. A study in soft contemporary living, the accommodations are even reasonably priced; rooms average $239. 90 Tremont St., Boston, MA ninezero.com.
Austen's
Most of us look forward to a bikini wax about as much as we look forward to a root canal. Like a good dentist, a first-rate aesthetician is meticulous and professional—and makes the experience as painless as possible. Enter Austen (who, like Madonna and Sting, does not have or need a last name). His deft touch and finely honed technique make him as nimble with brows as with Brazilian bikini lines. And that's what brings men and women alike flocking to Austen's second-floor boutique, with its plush carpets, homey accents, and attentive but discreet service. 115 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Louis Boston
Debi Greenberg and Beth Negron have revamped the top floor and stocked it with an eclectic range of labels that runs the gamut of trends from funky to cool classics. In the Betty room, young, cutting-edge designers at affordable prices hang feet away from the likes of Jil Sander and her European contemporaries, Prada, Gucci, and Dolce & Gabbana. The buying team is constantly on the lookout for new design talent, so expect to find one-of-a-kind items that rarely materialize on department store racks. Another bonus is the sales staff which is fashion-friendly without being overbearing. 234 Berkely St., Boston, MA .
The Grolier Poetry Book Shop
Founded in 1927, the Grolier is the only establishment of its kind in the nation—and probably the world: a bookstore devoted to poetry, and nothing but poetry. Its cramped interior is stacked floor to ceiling with dusty tomes by English and American poets, Celtic poets, Carribean, African, and Latin American poets, Cowboy poets, ancient Greek and Roman poets, modern European poets in translation, Nobel Laureates, and virtual unknowns. Any poetry that exists on the page also has its place on the Grolier's hallowed shelves. For the past 40 years, Louisa Solano, proprietor and matron saint, has heroically and singlehandedly kept this phenomenon alive, for which poetry everywhere (the few, the proud) salute her. 6 Plympton St., Cambridge, MA .
The Estate
For anyone over 30, the mere mention of 'the Alley' might evoke bad memories of sweaty, oversexed undergrads. Indeed, that scene lives on—but not at the Estate, a two-story nightclub a cut above the rest. It offers upscale bottle service in its six VIP areas overlooking the dance floor; the ultraexclusive Kiki and Shag rooms also come with private servers, cushy seating, and guest appearances by Paris Hilton, The Hills star Audrina, and assorted other celebutantes, Wahlbergs, and Red Sox. To get in, you'll have to either reserve ahead (an AmEx black card comes in handy) or catch the eye of the discerning bouncers. A tip: Leave the tank tops and ripped jeans at home. 1 Boylston Pl., Boston, MA 2116, theestateboston.com.
Coolidge Corner Theatre
This Brookline staple has long been a regular stop for cinema die-hards, with an expertly curated calendar of classics, new indies, and cult wonders. But a 14,000-square-foot expansion slated for a grand opening early this fall ups the ante, adding two movie screens and an entirely new lobby and concessions area. The centerpiece, however, might be the third-floor Community Education and Engagement Center, which will boast a 60-seat classroom and event space — plus an adjacent roof deck where you can surely debate the finer points of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie. 290 Harvard St., Brookline, MA 02446, coolidge.org.
Nick's Moving Company
In a town where moving is a way of life (and everyone moves at precisely the same moment), finding a mover to do the job quickly and affordably can be a challenge. When we needed to move on a Sunday and at the last minute, though, the friendly people at Nick's said it wouldn't be a problem. And it wasn't. The courteous, energetic moving team got the job done quickly, safely, and efficiently, with no complaints about fourth-floor walkups. What's more, this moving service is comparatively inexpensive, with hourly rates of $115 for a three-man team or $90 for a two-man team—all of which makes the yearly relocating habit in this town affordable vice. 495 Columbia St., Somerville, MA bostonmamovers.net.
Seven Salon Spa
Just off the road that Norman Rockwell called home, year-old Seven presents itself as an unassuming yellow house that turns out to be far from ordinary inside. On the ground level, where wood floors glow under recessed lighting, the stylists buzz around hair and manicure stations stocked with Pangea Organics and other all-natural products; pedicures take place on suede benches raised above deep tiled tubs. Upstairs, among a handful of spacious treatment rooms, Alex Vinogradov—a former go-to masseur for Kirov ballerinas—works knotted muscles back into shape. 7 South St., Stockbridge, MA 1262, .
Eliot Hotel
Austere lobbies and high-tech doodads certainly make an impression, but too many new luxury hotels try to conceal poor service behind flashy interior decorating. The Peter Niemetz-redesigned Eliot, outfitted with restored antiques, toile fabrics, and plush linens, has nothing to hide and much to offer, including 79 stately suites, 16 rooms, and a staff who seem to remember every repeat guest. And like the pre-upgraded Eliot, the Back Bay cornerstone still houses celebrity chef Ken Oringer, who heads the acclaimed Clio and Uni on the ground floor. 370 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 2215, eliothotel.com.
Local 149
The fried Brussels sprouts smothered in chipotle-lime sauce justify a trip to this one-and-a-half-year-old hot spot all by themselves. But as long as we're here, we'll also take the tater tots poutine and the pressed-duck club sandwich, and follow it all with a Delirium Tremens, just one great selection from the vast tap list. Chef Leah Dubois's playful dishes taste even better against Local 149's backdrop of rainbow-hued vintage seltzer bottles, chalkboard tables, and reclaimed wood floors. 149 P Street, South Boston, MA 2127, local149.com.
New England Mobile Book Fair
Inside this family-run warehouse are miles of floor-to-ceiling shelves stacked with almost any book you desire. Even better, the staff not only finds what you're looking for in a flash, but also will give you a review (and quickly order books that aren't in stock). We could spend all day in the expanded remainders section, or leafing through the great selection of cookbooks. New hardcovers are discounted 20 to 30 percent. It may look like a no-frills kind of place, but the Book Fair will even gift-wrap your purchase. 82-84 Needham St., Newton, MA nebookfair.com.
Boston Park Plaza
A wedding’s not a wedding without a little opulence, and celebrations at the Boston Park Plaza—which wrapped a renovation in 2016—have it in spades. Already a prime destination for guests with its onsite restaurant, top-notch suites, and posh fitness club, the hotel woos couples with its Grand Ballroom—complete with gilded balconies, floor-to-ceiling windows, and breathtaking Baccarat crystal chandeliers. In addition to its undeniably elegant look, the show-stopping 780-person event space has hosted theater productions, so you can expect top-notch acoustics for your swanky soiree, too. 50 Park Plaza, Boston, Massachusetts 02116, bostonparkplaza.com.
Trident Booksellers and Café
Sprinkler damage from a small fire in the winter of 2018 forced this Newbury Street fixture to close its doors for the first time in 34 years. When it finally reopened six months later, bookworms and café dwellers alike were relieved to find Trident’s thousands of books and diverse selection of international, national, and niche magazines placed neatly back on shelves. The reopening brought a fresh layout, too: With a revamped children’s area and additional first-floor café seating, lingering with a new read has never felt so good. 338 Newbury St., Boston, MA tridentbookscafe.com.
Gargoyles on the Square
Despite the name, hardly any Goth influence exists at this intimate Davis Square hangout. In fact, the bar and adjacent dining room are welcoming digs with floor-to-ceiling café windows and walls painted in earthy browns and reds, more sophisticated and friendly than dark and scowling. The menu is equally approachable, with such thoughtful combinations as chile and honey-grilled salmon, braised short ribs, and Cervena venison with aged Vermont cheddar, celery root, and apples. It's no wonder this spot is always humming with denizens, dressed in black or not, of its diverse surrounding neighborhood. 219 Elm St., Somerville, MA .
Kitty O'Shea's
It's tough for a newcomer to stand out in a city that already has more Irish pubs than Ireland. Kitty O'Shea's, though, is like a trip to the Emerald Isle. The bar was fashioned from a church pulpit in the Old Country, the fireplace was brought from Dublin, and even the floor-boards are 200 years old. Stained-glass windows of Irish scenes filter out the bustle of the Financial District. Guinness and other Irish beers run from the taps, and the staff is off-the-boat Irish. The only thing that doesn't seem true to the authentic Irish pub theme is the food. It's good. 131 State St., Boston, MA .