Lee Jennings, Union Bar and Grille
A bartender's primary pursuits are a flawless cocktail mixed with speed and accuracy, and sensational service graciously delivered. Jennings has mastered both. Part bartender, part professor, he'll happily take a moment to wax lyrical on a pinot noir or expound upon a rare spiced rum. Quick with a fresh glass and a cheery word, he's a true gentleman of the bar. 1357 Washington St., Boston, MA unionrestaurant.com.
China Pearl
Once again, China Pearl has proven itself the gem in an otherwise lackluster world of Hub dim sum. Quite simply, this Chinatown eatery has more seating, more circulating food carts, tastier morsels on the carts and fresher ingredients in the morsels. Don't underestimate the value of freshness in the sea of warmed-over Chinese-food impersonations. 9 Tyler St., Boston, MA .
Dante
Don't be misled by the hotel setting: Dante de Magistris is no banquet chef. Since opening his eponymous restaurant at the Royal Sonesta two years ago, de Magistris has found his voice (part Italian homeboy, part fancypants chef) and now fully expresses it in imaginative dishes like duck ragu accented with sour cherries, and striped bass with fava beans and Meyer lemon. Formal European training gave him discipline and technique, which means the pasta and fish are perfectly cooked and every sauce is fresh. Oh, and the view, across the Charles to downtown Boston, is priceless. 40 Edwin H Land Blvd, Cambridge, MA 2141, restaurantdante.com.
Kings
Bowling alleys don't traditionally offer Veuve Clicquot. But then, Kings is not your traditional bowling alley. It's part lounge, part pool hall, and all fun. Dimly lit nooks, red fluorescent running lights, and upbeat dance tunes pumping through the cavernous one-time movie theater help make Kings the hippest place we've ever bowled (tenpin of course—none of that candlepin stuff). While away the wait (it can take upwards of two hours on the weekends to snag one of the 16 lanes) chowing down at Jasper White's Summer Shack or de Ville Lounge, both right on the premises. 50 Dalton St., Boston, MA kingsbowlamerica.com/boston.
Frank's Steakhouse
Sadly, the rediscovery of the cocktail culture has perverted the once noble activity of drinking, reducing it to a runway show for an unfortunate breed of baseball cap-sporting frat rats, who choke on cigars, while wincing through martinis. The lounge at Frank's Steak House, in North Cambridge, is sufficiently off the beaten path to attract the fully grown who really enjoy the basics—conviviality, entertainment, and, of course, booze. The rat-packy lounge is free of the smarmy irony that characterizes some of the Johnny-Come-Lately cocktail spots; Frank's has been open since 1938, and some of the patrons look as though they've been glued to their barstools since opening day. 2310 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA .
Russell Morin Catering & Events
With an emphasis on local, seasonal ingredients — and the know-how to pull off every part of your meal, from cocktail hour to dessert — Russell Morin Catering & Events excels in making your guests feel like they’re at a high-end farm-totable restaurant. Sip orange-pomegranate Old Fashioneds and slurp oysters from the raw bar before sitting down to seared scallops with champagne-infused beurre blanc. The best part? The do-it-all caterer prepares its cuisine on-site, so you can rest easy knowing whatever you serve will be hot and fresh. morins.com.
Cornerstone Books
With tarry-awhile touches like overstuffed chairs, a fireplace, and a wee café offering bites from nearby bakery A&J King, this handsome independent shop encourages people to lose themselves in books. It's also impressively devoted to luring them back out again, as Cornerstone regularly throws open its historic loft space for readings, live music performances, and club meet-ups (Boston's venerable Grub Street writing program recently established its North Shore base here). Part literary salon, part community living room, the store gives bookworms the space—and a gentle nudge—to be social animals as well. 45 Lafayette St., Salem, MA 1970, .
Dyke Night, Midway Café
Not that there's much competition in these parts, but Thursday night at the Midway Café is the place to see and be seen in the lesbian community. With a cowgirl aesthetic and more dykes than Holland in the rainy season, the scene is something like a tea dance after a couple of tequila shooters. Expect to see your ex-girlfriend, her new girlfriend, and your new girlfriend's ex—who once dated your recently out former roommate. After slugging down a few Red Stripes and grooving to the house, funk, and chick pop, you'll feel like you're all a part of the same mixed-up family. 3496 Washington St., Jamaica Plain, MA midwaycafe.com.
The Inn at Hastings Park
Prime location steps from Lexington Center? Check. Front porch fit for a Norman Rockwell painting? Naturally. Sunny guest rooms that are part Mayflower, part modern farmhouse? Of course. Combine that with a proper dining room serving New England standards prepared with ingredients from local purveyors such as Wilson Farm, and you’ve found a pastoral paradise. In other words: If Paul Revere were a 21st-century Instagram influencer, he’d stay here. innathastingspark.com.
The Beehive Cafe
One part jazz club, one part restaurant, the Beehive is our go-to spot for a laid-back night out on the town. The stellar list of libations (we're fans of the champagne cocktails and the "Apparatus," a Scotch and cognac concoction) and the sophisticated fare are the perfect complement to the musicians onstage. Something to keep in mind: If you want to be at all close to the action, make a reservation—otherwise, you'll be cooling your heels at the bar. 541 Tremont St., Boston, MA 2809, beehiveboston.com.
Brighton Music Hall
The former Harpers Ferry has spent the past few years as the intermediary step between Great Scott and the Paradise, booking national acts on the rise and local acts on the path to national stardom. The recent overhaul of the old club has yielded a room with great sightlines and gloriously clean sound, as well as a stage that affords fans—specifically, those who pay close enough attention to catch great performers before they "blow up"—a modicum of intimacy. 158 Brighton Ave., Allston, MA 2134, crossroadspresents.com/brighton-music-hall.
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.
The Somerville Theater
Back in the act with fresh makeup. Davis Square, Somerville, MA .