Food for the Soul
Brothers William and Donnell Singleton’s love of community is the secret ingredient at this completely halal restaurant, which serves up plate after plate of favorites, from smothered chicken to beef ribs to jerk chicken with collards. For one thing, Food for the Soul prepared 80,000 meals for locals in need during the early days of COVID. And now? It still stands above the rest for creating an atmosphere that’s as homey — you’ll be greeted the minute you set foot in the door — and comforting as the food itself. 651 Warren St., Boston, MA 02121, bostonfoodforthesoul.com.
Thom Solo
Why should Lady Gaga and Christina Aguilera be the only ones to sport Boston shoe designer Thom Solo’s rock-star creations? Go ahead and snag a pair of his blush lambskin wedge boots or sculptural reptilian stilettos. Not only will you tower over most mere mortals, but you’ll be wearing heels that consistently turn heads. thomsolo.com.
William E. Carter Playground Tennis Courts
The five new-ish courts here are in such high demand there’s usually a 30-to-60-minute wait. Accordingly, players keep to a courteous one-hour limit, even under the twinkling lights at night (closing time is 11:30 p.m.). Got ankle-biters? No problem. The lively adjacent playground is the perfect distraction for your energetic tots while you serve up a storm. Columbus Avenue, Boston, MA 02118, .
The Superette
Where else can you buy yoga pants, high-end custom fragrances, tacos, and, oh yeah, an electric car all in one place — and top it all off with a round of indoor mini golf? That’d be the Seaport’s newest shopping destination. It may have been designed to look like a “charming European square,” but the sprawling 125,000 square feet of retail, dining, and entertainment space is New Boston through and through — and we’re loving every bit of it. Boston, MA 02210, bostonseaport.xyz/superette.
Whim Events
One does not simply throw a super-chic party. From designing tablescapes and communicating with vendors to making sure your aunt isn’t pestering you with questions the morning of the ceremony, there are countless details to wrangle. Whim Events specializes in taking care of all of the above and then some — hello, inhouse floral design! — ensuring that your event is a stress-free, perfectly polished fete. N/A, whimevents.com.
Leonard Miller, Boston Center for Plastic Surgery
A licensed plastic surgeon with more than 25 years of experience, Leonard Miller is the perfect battle buddy in the war against gravity. And we’re not talking radical changes; he firmly believes that less is more. Miller specializes in subtle, natural-looking facial Botox that will have you looking healthy and well rested in just 10 minutes. 69 Newbury St., Boston; One Brookline Place, Brookline. 69 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, bostoncenterforplasticsurgery.com.
Your Dream Bridal
Bridal-gown stylists deal with a cross-section of the touchiest subjects: our relationships with our bodies, our closest family members, and our money. Your Dream Bridal’s Malinda Macari expertly guides you through that emotional minefield, landing you and your perfect gown—handpicked from designers such as Jesus Peiro and Truvelle—securely on the other side. The icing on the cake? Macari insists on booking just one client at a time, so you and your squad get the boutique all to yourselves, ensuring that the experience is both meaningful and safe. 730 Boston Post Rd., Sudbury, MA 01776, yourdreambridal.com.
Salon Beau
So often a salon visit is like a blind date — one that leaves you wondering what you’ll look like when it’s all over. Not at ultra-thorough Salon Beau: A consultation begins with a meticulous prescreening, during which clients send the team three hair photos from various angles as well as thoughts on creative inspiration and favorite styles. They also ask about appointment personas (are you chatty? Zen?), reasons for leaving a prior stylist, and even follicular care priorities. The personal attention pays off, with gorgeously styled locks and absolutely zero surprises. 63 Park St., Andover, MA 01810, thesalonbeau.com.
Urban Grape
How does a boutique Boston wine shop become one of America’s most lauded? First, owners TJ and Hadley Douglas introduced the world to their proprietary Progressive Scale, a newbie-friendly system that smartly sorts wines by weight, from light minerality to full-bodied fruitiness. Now they’re working to change the industry by establishing a fully endowed, annual Wine Studies Award, which provides university education and work experience to promising professionals of color, and by curating the country’s coolest collections of wines by female, BIPOC, or LGBTQ+ producers. 303 Columbus Ave., South End, MA 02116, theurbangrape.shop.
Lunette Optic
An eyewear shop needs two things to be successful: an ample selection of designer brands and a sales staff that’s willing to tell it to you straight. In the case of the fine folks at Lunette Optic, that meant stopping one tester from splurging on a pair of Chanel frames that made him look like an art-school dropout. Instead, they pointed the way toward face-flattering specs from a diverse lineup that includes hard-to-find international labels such as Anne et Valentin, from France, and Eyevan, from Japan. Perfect vision, indeed. Multiple locations. 121 High St., Boston, MA 02110, lunetteoptic.com.
Tony Messina, Uni
Sometimes it’s good to let your roots show. At Uni, Tony Messina unexpectedly draws from his Eastie-Italian heritage to bring something new to the burgeoning-in-Boston izakaya genre. That translates to dishes like his signature lubina sashimi with gremolata and chermoula, and hot plates such as spaghetti with nori. And Messina and partner chef Ken Oringer aren’t afraid to have fun within the luxe dining genre, either—as anyone who’s eaten one of Uni’s cheeseburger sushi rolls can attest. 370A Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02215, uni-boston.com.
Kane’s Donuts
This spot lives by the mantra "Kane’s Donuts Are Love." Sink your teeth into one of its pillowy treats, and you’ll quickly understand why: Delighting dough devotees since the Eisenhower era, Kane’s has mastered flavors both classic (the glaze-drenched honey-dipped) and creative (the "turtle" with caramel frosting, drizzled dark chocolate, and crushed Heath bar). The cake- and raised-style offerings don’t skimp on toppings, either, so whether you pop into the original Saugus outpost or sidle up to the counter at the much newer Financial District spot, you’re guaranteed a mouthful of flavor with each bite. Multiple locations. 90 Oliver St., Boston, MA 02110, kanesdonuts.com.
Legal Harborside
Or views, more like it: Nowhere else in Boston will you find three options for al fresco dining under one roof. All you need to do is pick your floor. Snag a coveted seat on the ground level’s harborside deck and tuck into fried clams while listening to the concert rocking at the nearby Pavilion; savor a splurge-worthy meal on the second floor’s secluded outdoor patio (complete with fireplace); or head all the way up to the third floor’s roof deck, where you can sip, snack, and savor views of the water and the city skyline rain or shine thanks to retractable glass walls. 270 Northern Ave., Boston, MA 02210, legalseafoods.com.
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.
Saks Fifth Avenue
Bucket, saddle, backpack, clutch, in every color and style under the sun—Saks' fully stocked bag department really does, ahem, carry it all. Separate Givenchy, Prada, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton boutiques (plus a brand-new space for all things Céline) make this a one-stop shop for luxury-label aficionados. But those searching for something a little funkier are also guaranteed to meet their handbag match: Go all-in on the ’90s trend with a denim Valentino tote featuring embroidered butterflies, or make a vibrant statement with a rainbow-striped Sophie Hulme crossbody. The possibilities are endless. Prudential Center, Boston, MA 02199, saksfifthavenue.com.