Jparave
We admit it felt a bit dodgy getting highlights so far from Newbury Street. But our gamble was rewarded. The stylists at the newly renamed JParave (formerly Janeen's) are professional, amiable, and attitude-free. Plus, they know you don't want to while away your prime tanning hours inside, so they will have you colored, cut, and blow-dried in the time it takes your mani-pedi from the in-house nail salon to dry. One North Beach St., Nantucket, MA 2554, jparave.com.
Jeff's Place at Filene's
Sure, the place has six flavors of frozen yogurt, numerous toppings, and huge portions, but many of the folks in the long lines at this hop on Filene's Franklin Strete corner come because Ann, the "Lady in Red"—red hat, red dress, red watch, earrings lipstick, and nails—who dishes the dessert, is as sweet as amaretto cream on a hot summer day. 384 Washington St., Boston, MA .
Charles Street Supply
This 57-year-old landmark recalls a time before superstores and strip malls. Its amiable staff can help you sort through the somewhat chaotic arrangement of wares, from seeds, potting soil, flowerpots, hammers, nails, and nonstick Texas-size muffin tins to patio furniture, hibachis, and just about every other hardware item under the sun. 54 Charles St., Boston, MA charlesstsupply.com.
MiniLuxe
This polish empire continues its expansion in the Bay State and beyond, and for good reason. A “Clean Lab” sterilizes all equipment to hospital-level sparkle. The atmosphere is minimalist yet warm (picture a chemistry lab combined with a Zen hideout). Services are streamlined, too: Instead of doing it all, they smartly focus on manis, pedis, and waxing. What can we say? MiniLuxe nails it. Prudential Center, 776 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02199, miniluxe.com.
Bella Sante
Bella sante strikes the right combination of peaceful spa (fruit-infused water, plush furnishings) and briskly run business (in and done in half an hour). Technicians prune and preen nails into such pristine condition it's almost a shame to cover them with polish — but those who do will walk out with lacquered tops strong enough to endure several days worth of wear and tear. 38 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, bellasante.com.
MiniLuxe
We have one strategy when it comes to the manicure: Get in and out as fast as possible. Unfortunately, speedy service at many salons can come at the expense of quality—and cleanliness. Which is why it's MiniLuxe for us. The technicians here rub germ-killing sanitizer on mitts and briskly file, buff, and sculpt nails with new and autoclave-sterilized instruments. Then there's the flawless polish application—one that lasts for a full week (no UV light required). 296 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, miniluxe.com.
Dan'l Webster Inn
Some resort-town spas tend to get a little hectic at times, making relaxation a nail-biting endeavor. The Dan'l Webster offers complete serenity, along with uninterrupted pampering in the form of Chakra massage, hot lava pedicures, and, for those who forgot their SPF 45, a sunburn body treatment. Because the last thing you want to need after a day at the spa is another day at the spa. 149 Main St., Sandwich, MA 2563, danlwebsterinn.com.
Val Chiaradia, The Loft Salon and Day Spa
Perched in an uncomfortable chair, your hands bound (inevitably, an itch) while a stranger picks at your cuticles, you cant help but wonder: Is a speedy, painless, and long-lasting manicure out of the question? Not when youre sitting across from the Lofts Chiaradia, who narrowly bested Jeanne Lee (formerly of Salon Trio, she almost had us with that add-on reflexology treatment). Chiaradias polish work was flawless and superquick, and didnt chip for nearly a week. Hate small talk? Youll appreciate the option to catch up on your E! podcast of Speidi and Glambert gossip as she overhauls your nails in silence. 207 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, .
Bar Lyon
French cuisine is back, bébé, and who’d have guessed that Jamie Mammano, king of client-wowing wallet lighteners like Mistral and Ostra, would be the one to nail its kicked-back neo-bistro form. In such an unassuming South End storefront, no less, with dreamy apps that include mahogany-burnished duck confit on melted-onion-studded potatoes Lyonnaise, dragged through “broken garlic butter” puddles; reasonably priced entrées, like a magnifique bavette steak; and nary a wobble in his restaurant empire’s trademark perfectionism. 1750 Washington St., Boston, MA barlyon.com.
The Paddle Inn
Leave it to the folks behind Somerville resto-industry darlings Parlor Sports and Trina’s Starlite Lounge to nail the rare trifecta of legit casual, plus far suburbs, plus pitch-perfect right-nowness. Chef Suzi Maitland’s graze-friendly menu trots the globe with ecumenical panache, slinging polished riffs on Vietnamese bun cha, Spanish gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp), and Thai-ish fries loaded with chili sauce, scallion cream, and peanuts best ordered immediately: You’ll want sustenance for negotiating the rest of the itinerary. 27 State St., Newburyport, MA 01950, paddleinnsurf.com.
Bella Santé
You could get a less expensive manicure at any of the walk-in salons that line Newbury Street, but will it last a blissful, chip-free week? A manicure at Bella Santé will, and that, combined with the friendly service, exceptional cleanliness, and immaculate attention to detail (excess polish is erased with a tiny paintbrush), makes the service worth the (slightly higher) price. The staff here can create a flawless French manicure and recommend a regular maintenance program to keep nails strong and healthy. An added bonus: the extensive collection of O.P.I. and Essie polishes to keep you looking fashion-magazine fresh. 38 Newbury St., Boston, MA bellasante.com.
Bouclé
Unlike that other island, the Vineyard isn't all about donning your D&G. Still, after a hard day at the beach, even the most casual among us may crave a little luxury. And that's certainly what you'll find at Bouclé, a tidy two-story spa in the heart of Edgartown. Its spa manicure is a professional buff and polish (you can let your nails dry in the blooming patio garden); its lymphatic massage, a detoxifying dream. The cedar-shingle retreat has a full-service hair salon, too, just in case an unpretentious party invite arrives in your mailbox. 12 N. Water St., Edgartown, MA 2539, .
Interlocks Salon and Day Spa
There's very little on the cutting edge of hairstyling that hasn't made its way up north, thanks to Interlocks. This full-service salon and day spa may have a small-town feel, but it boasts a pool of stylists and colorists straight from the Back Bay and beyond. Specialty services include strand-by-strand hair extensions, thermal straightening, and imaging software consultations so you can see your hair in any color, style, and length before you take the plunge. Once you're properly coiffed, head over to one of the massaging thrones in the nail salon for a "Margarita Mango" pedicure. 58 Merrimac St., Newburyport, MA interlockssalon.com.
Le Soir
Sophisticated city dining has hit Newton—hard—in the form of this beautiful bistro. Chef-owner and Ritz-Carlton Dining Room alumnus Mark Allen has nailed everything modern French eating ought to be; his menu is refined (minus any stuffiness) and delicious (minus any heaviness). Diners are pampered from the time they walk in the door, as the friendly staff takes coats and hands over drinks almost simultaneously. All that, and we haven't even mentioned the enchanting, sumptuous dishes: scallops seared and paired with cucumber-potato purée, lobster and fennel profiteroles, and pan-roasted monkfish so rich it could pass for dessert. 51 Lincoln St., Newton Highlands, MA .
Sault New England
As long as Boston’s stylish men never lose their taste for leather-scented candles and pants held up with twists of nautical rope, Sault will continue to be indispensable. A new women’s section appears not to have affected the store’s emphasis on laid-back yet fashionable accents for the fellas, from killer railroad-spike-inspired bracelets from metal jeweler Giles & Brother to leather bi-folds from Todder. And lest men be excluded from the self-care trend, the shop also offers an assortment of high-end grooming products, including beard oils and one very preppy whale-shaped nail brush. 577 Tremont St., Boston, MA saultne.com.