Gourmet China House
One day, the Lyft-and-tunnel pilgrims lined up outside Chinatown institution Gourmet Dumpling House will discover that the Taiwanese and Sichuan eats are even better at its spacious sibling across the street — with enough awfully (often offal-y) tasty options on its menu for the kung-pao-basic and goose-intestine-with-chive-flower-curious alike. 55 Beach St., Chinatown, MA 02111, gourmetchinahouse.com.
1369 Coffee House
The premium product at this funky storefront is poured by genuine bean-lovers, not fast-food automatons or Stepford baristas. 757 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 2139, 1369coffeehouse.com.
Zumes Coffee House
Opened last year, locally owned Zumes has won over Townies with its upscale tea and coffee drinks and do-lounge-around décor. 223 Main St., Charlestown, MA 2129, .
May's Cake House
The problem with most birthday cakes is that the better they look— all flowers and scrolls— the worse they taste. May, bless her heart, has solved the dilemma. She compliments her delicate batters with light mousses and whipped creams, then trims with finely sliced fruits. The cakes she creates are beautiful and delicious. And you can afford one— even after the ticket you'll probably get for double-parking on the south edge of Chinatown. 223 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA .
Village Coach House
The brogues are so thick here you could spread them on toast. The Irish folk music is loud, the food very good, and the spirits are high (and not in the least dry—you can get tipsy just reading the cocktail menu). The delicious vegetable tempura that comes with the corned beef and cabbage (and all entrées) makes the pub seem no less Hibernian. Brookline Village, MA
Le Couturier House of Alterations
Favored by some of the city's most discriminating boutique owners and clotheshorses, Dick Robasson is a stitch wizard straight out of another era. Holed up in his spartan Central Square space, with two sewing machines and a radio humming jazz in the background, the one-time Zegna staffer employs the same concentration when hemming pants as he does when whipping up a suit from scratch. 550 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 2139, .
The Brewster Fish House
It's as classic as a bistro gets: petite and boasting seasonal fare, lots of wines by the glass, and genial service. The menu is seafood-oriented, and a plate of the crisp oysters with sea urchin and basil oil, chased by the seared cod with favas, is an elegant way to sample the local bounty. 2208 Main St., Brewster, MA 2631, brewsterfishhouse.com.
Your Dream Bridal
There’s a reason brides call Malinda Macari “the wedding-gown whisperer.” During her two-hour tête-à-têtes with clients in her intimate Sudbury boutique, the dress doyenne taps into her deep knowledge of bridal fashion to steer customers toward just the right frock in her handpicked collection — replete with sustainably made gowns from leading ateliers around the globe. Designs by Sassi Holford, Lea-Ann Belter, and Jesus Peiro (among others) all have a place here — and Macari knows them inside and out. 730 Boston Post Rd., Sudbury, MA 1776, yourdreambridal.com.
Always Yours Events
Keri Ketterer Walter at Always Yours Events excels in design, dreaming up fairy-tale fetes with bespoke details, luxe rentals, and (of course) a cohesive color scheme to pull it all together. alwaysyoursevents.com.
Atlantic Fish and Chop House
It’s the closest thing to eating on the deck of a yacht without actually leaving dry land: Perched at the edge of the water, this Edgartown hot spot offers one of the prettiest views around of the boats moored in the harbor and the ferry shuttling people back and forth from Chappy. The view on the plate is equally top-notch — carnivores will delight in the selection of steaks, while seafood lovers can enjoy the fruits of the sea raw, grilled, or in chowder form (also an island best). 2 Main St., Edgartown, MA 02539, atlanticmv.com.
Pour Le Corps
Gives new meaning to feel the burn. Electrolysis is never a pleasant part of the grooming ritual, but this salon makes it easier with a relaxing ambience (and topical anesthetics). Your once-hirsute patch of skin may be tingling, but that's an improvement over the pain of more violent treatments. Since this delicate process takes time, it's especially comforting to find a competent, confidence-inspiring, and compassionate set of technicians. 224 Clarendon St., Suite 21, Boston, MA .
Le Couturier House of Alterations
Favored by some of the city's most discriminating boutique owners and clotheshorses, Dick Robasson is a stitch wizard straight out of another era. Holed up in his spartan Central Square space, with two sewing machines and a radio humming jazz in the background, the one-time Zegna staffer employs the same concentration when hemming pants as he does when whipping up a suit from scratch. 550 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 2116, lecouturierma.com.
Joe Jones Wilderness House
Take two snowboard enthusiasts, one a black-diamond shredder, the other a bunny-slope first-timer. Drop them off at Joe Jones and check back in an hour. Odds are, they'll both have found precisely what they were looking for. This place has boards, bindings, boots, skis, helmets, gloves, jackets, snowshoes, and everything else you could possibly need to fall down face-first in the snow—and look awesome doing it. 1048 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 2215, .
Bob Smith's Wilderness House
For many Bostonians, summer is a savored moment wedged between the brutal bookends of the New England winter. For skiers, it's an interruption. They're already dreaming of the first snowstorm. Bob Smith's Wilderness House caters to these people—novices and experts alike—because the staff feels their pain. Völkl, Salomon, Rossignol: The employees here know them all and can discuss at length the merits of each brand (and the best slopes to break them in). Custom boot fitting puts the icing on the cake. 1048 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA .