Angela's Café
Ángela Atenco López, the Puebla-born chef who brought the region’s cooking to two East Boston restaurants, passed away in 2020. But her namesake eateries are still doing right by her legacy — most notably with the mole poblano de Angela, which smothers pork or chicken with her signature version of the complex sauce. As for us? Whether for homecooked dinners or served-till-3 breakfasts of crispy chilaquiles, we’re visiting more than ever now, motivated by the bittersweet reminder to love our legends while we can. 131 Lexington St., East Boston, MA 02128, angelascafeboston.com.
Nathálie
Named for owner Haley Fortier’s grandmother, Nathálie’s focus on small-batch, natural, and woman-produced wines made it a unique proposition when it opened in the beer-soaked Fenway in 2018. Since then, though, it has evolved into simply a true-blue neighborhood wine bar, a place where actual Bostonians (not touristy home-game hordes) enjoy whiling away some patio-time hours over exciting pours — Las Jaras Wines’ spicy “nighttime rosé,” for instance — alongside the perfect cheese plate or chicken-liver mousse. 186 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215, nathaliebar.com.
The Whitney Hotel
From the outside, it’s a classic 1909-built brick Beacon Hill building. From the inside, it’s an ultra-chic, modern oasis with every comfort of home and then some. Enjoy plush amenities such as Frette robes and complimentary bikes for cruising around the Hill like you live there — and when hunger strikes, you won’t have to go far for top-notch fare: Peregrine, the lauded on-site restaurant from Joshua Lewin and Katrina Jazayeri, can bring an antipasto platter for two right to your room. 170 Charles St., Boston, MA 02114, whitneyhotelboston.com.
Zachariah Porter
If we needed any more proof that celebrities (and hugely viral TikTok stars) really are just like us, Zachariah Porter, a.k.a. @zzzachariah, is it. He’s shopping at Target a little too frequently, imagining the reality shows he would be really good on, and above all else, drinking iced coffee from Dunkin’ (medium with a splash of almond milk) in his car. His 60-second clips — including his spot-on impression of every mom at HomeGoods — manage to make every day entertaining, and have snagged the loyal viewership of 2.1 million followers in two quick years. tiktok.com/@zzzachariah.
Littleburg
Quarantined herbivores rejoiced when vegan chef Graham Boswell replaced his beloved meze pop-up’s brewery appearances and ticketed dinners with convenient home-delivery service in March.He’s proven that he still has everything it takes to enliven animal-free cooking—namely, rich and creamy nut-based sauces to fill fluffy flatbreads, no cheese required; and the confidence to get creative with the Eastern Mediterranean pantry he learned as a line cook under Oleana’s spice queen, chef Ana Sortun. littleburgveg.com.
Lincoln Tavern & Restaurant
Brunch is best served in the company of good friends and shameless rounds of pre-noon cocktails. And right now, there’s no better place to indulge than at Southie’s Lincoln, where the crowd is lively, the dishes are ultra-decadent (did someone say Fruity Pebbles pancakes with cereal-milk anglaise?), and the Bucket of Bubbles makes it easy to toast the day away. Lest you think the lazy late-morning meal is solely a weekend affair, Lincoln serves brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, so you can get your breakfast-pizza fix on your lunch break. 425 W. Broadway, Boston, MA 02127, lincolnsouthboston.com.
Bikes Not Bombs
Some bike shops take themselves too seriously—What, you don’t know how to change a chain? At this unassuming yet hip workshop, however, even complete novices are welcome. Staffers will patiently answer any questions about the trials and tribulations of urban cycling before steering you toward a superb selection of sleek new city cruisers from brands like Bianchi and Linus, as well as refurbished wheels. And that kindness extends to all aspects of the nonprofit: Bikes Not Bombs ships thousands of refurbished two-wheelers to partners across the world, and supports the community closer to home with a youth-employment program for Boston’s aspiring mechanics. 18 Bartlett Sq., Jamaica Plain, MA 02130, bikesnotbombs.org.
Tu y Yo
Powder House Square’s traditional Mexican kitchen is well known for its regally stuffed and sauced chile relleno en nogada and, yes, crispy grasshopper tacos. But what you absolutely can’t miss here are the produce-forward dishes: nopales (cactus) that tastes like tangy green beans; dense, tender chunks of chayote (Mexican squash) smothered in verdant pumpkin-seed mole; and slate-gray blooms of cuitlacoche (corn smut, an edible fungus), which cook into soot-colored mush but charm with an earthy, mushroomy depth of flavor. 858 Broadway, Somerville, MA tuyyorestaurant.com.
Simply Aesthetic Specialties
It seems like practically everyone—from your tattoo guy to your vet—is wielding needles filled with muscle-paralyzing toxins. But while we may be obsessing over our deepening between-brow craters, the injection frenzy has made us just a tad wary of the whole business. Enter Julie Cahill-Hollingsworth, an MGH nurse practitioner, whose Copley Square office is a respite from the madness. With little fanfare, she administers a dose, billing by the unit, not by the procedure. In the past, she’s had an open schedule, which made it easy to book. But now the secret’s out. 535 Boylston St., Boston, MA 2116, sasskin.com.
The Big Quiz Thing at Oberon
Picture a funnier Alex Trebek holding court on the dance floor of Studio 54, and you’ll have a close approximation of the shtick at the Big Quiz Thing, a cabaret-style trivia night held monthly among the disco balls at Oberon. Comedian Noah Tarnow provides multimedia clues (film clips! sound effects!) and sports a sparkly jacket, adding flavor to the proceedings. Teams win luxe prizes like gift certificates to spas and restaurants, and tickets to The Donkey Show at the A.R.T. It’s also completely free. 2 Arrow St., Cambridge, MA 2138, americanrepertorytheater.org/oberon.
Cheryl Richards
Simply lining up the members of the bridal party by height is not Richards's style, which is more akin to photojournalism than traditional wedding photography. She captures every moment in dramatic black and white, from a miniature ring bearer playing peekaboo over a wing chair to a bride's quiet moment of contemplation. The resulting images might seem more at home in a gallery than on a coffee table. Maybe that's why Richards has flown as far away as Poland to document the special days of the rich and the famous—and why it's a good thing for Boston newlyweds that she spends most of her time on this side of the Atlantic. 247 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Dolly Bilzerian-Kelly
There's more to upscale salesmanship than strategically doled-out snootiness. In her 30 years at the ring-for-entry Alan Bilzerian boutique, Bilzerian-Kelly (Alan's sister) has developed a knack for divining what customers want and, better yet, what they need. She'll know, for instance, to break the news gently but firmly that, alas, that fabulous Alexander McQueen corset is not a good look for your untoned upper arms—but that you might give this Rick Owens tunic a try. Her unfailing candor doesn't crowd out her dry sense of humor, though, which can turn a quick shopping stop into a memorable event. 34 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, .
Shreve, Crump & Low
Boston women who have their jewels (like they have their hats) probably got them from Shreve, Crump & Low. Holding down the corner of Arlington and Boylston streets since 1929 ("Shreve's" has actually been in business since 1796), it's still the place to go for a timeless strand of perfect pearls, a pear-shaped diamond pendant, a just-for-fun 18-carat-gold-link bracelet, or, for that matter, a tasteful set of commitment rings. Quality may never go out of style, but Shreve's is far more than just great-grandmère's jewelry store. 330 Boylston St., Boston, MA shrevecrumpandlow.com.
Brix Wine Shop
Brix is so different in look and concept from its competitors, people often mistake it for an expensive boutique. Don't be fooled: Co-owners Carri Wroblewski and Klaudia Mally have created a wonderful source for delicious everyday wines, with so many au courant varieties priced around $10.99, it's like a Target for oenophiles. Best of all, Brix procures special orders without demanding the purchase of a whole case, but rather just three bottles. That alone puts most of the other wine shops in this town to shame. 1248 Washington St., Boston, MA brixwineshop.com.
The Paramount
In a neighborhood where pearls and cufflinks are considered casual accessories, it's refreshing to find the unpretentious Paramount. Sure, bluebloods fill the restaurant, but the fare is deliciously unassuming. At night, the kitchen serves such favorites as delicate herb-infused pastas and tender burgers, while in the morning the home-style stacks of buttery blueberry pancakes and fluffy egg omeletes are de rigueur. Regulars pack this tiny place like congregants at church on Sunday (and trust us, you will need a prayer to get a table on busy nights), but after a taste, you'll be among the converted. 44 Charles St., Boston, MA paramountboston.com.