LuxLash
After a visit here, your lash-batting average will be in a league of its own. The first of its kind in the country, the spa offers strip-lash application, semipermanent extensions, and, for serious fabulousness, the Signature LuxLash, which augments what genetics gave you with 120 (you read that right: 120) falsies. They're the longest-lasting in town. The store also offers an exclusive lash-safe mascara. Not that you'll need any extra volume. 232 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, luxlash.com.
The Butcherie
There is no better place to shop for the Jewish holidays than at this Brookline grocery. All the favorites are represented, from a deli with whitefish and herring to a prepared food section of potato pancakes and knishes to rows of Manishewitz products. But that's not all: The Butcherie sells delicious homemade challah bread, and it's a terrific place to buy fresh turkeys for Thanksgiving dinner (no matter what your faith). 428 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA butcherie.com.
Grill 23
A truly great steakhouse has exactly four essential elements: a bustling dining room, a fresh raw bar, top-notch sides, and—most important—expertly cooked beef. With all of these boxes easily checked off, this Back Bay institution takes it a step further with prime dry-aged cuts and a range of other entrees both comforting (meatloaf with pimiento cheese grits) and refined (soft-shell crab with peas, favas, and pickled ramps). 161 Berkeley St., Boston, MA grill23.com.
O Ya
Rare is the restaurant that offers a $285 tasting menu and plays Vanilla Ice in the dining room. But the unobtrusive environs here—paired with the bites of exquisite sashimi, of course—are precisely what make this restaurant a jewel. The front-of-house staffers, meanwhile, radiate a friendly, casual energy while also displaying a staggering knowledge of all things sushi, wine, and sake. 9 East St., Boston, MA oyarestaurantboston.com.
Drink
Drink is a bar of firsts—the first high-profile craft-cocktail joint in South Boston; the first place that some of the city's top bartenders worked; and, most notably, the first place that many people discover their favorite cocktail. There are usually a few drink suggestions on the board behind the bar, but don't miss out on chatting with the expert mixers, who will design a sipper based on your preferences. 348 Congress St., Boston, MA drinkfortpoint.com.
Rialto
The city's Italian-dining scene skews either reasonably authentic (yet undistinguished), or posh (but not quite legit). Rialto bridges the gap with seasonal, from-scratch cooking (strands of bucatini with lobster and saffron; salumi with house-made ricotta) and attentive, special-occasion-worthy service. Chef Jody Adams's regional menus, which spotlight a different part of Italy every two months, are delightful, especially when paired with the suggested wines. 1 Bennett St., Cambridge, MA 2138, rialto-restaurant.com.
Phoenix Landing
It's time to change up your sports-bar rotation. Head to the Phoenix Landing, where soccer—er, football—is almost always on the telly. This pub is Boston's official Liverpool FC clubhouse (the Red Sox's John Henry owns the team). Of course, all fans are welcome here ... as long as they're willing to drink Guinness while belting out, "We'll fight for the boys in Red, We'll fight, we'll fight for Liverpool, The team that Shankly bred." 512 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 2118, phoenixlandingbar.com.
Franklin Southie
The problem with comfort food is that you often must make sacrifices to get it ? ambiance, booze selection, etc. Not so at Franklin Café's Southie outpost, which features a menu of food-coma-inducing items like steak frites and pork ribs beside a list of well-priced wines. And yes, the waitstaff will let you linger at your patio table. And linger you should: The kitchen stays open till 1:30 a.m. 152 Dorchester Ave., South Boston, MA 2127, franklincafe.com.
The Charles Hotel
Few hotels can boast politicians, dignitaries, and celebrities among their clientele. The Charles can. The Harvard Square hotel houses jazz and martini bars, a renovated presidential suite, a multimillion-dollar art collection, and two award-winning restaurants. The J. Crew—uniformed staff is discreet and efficient, while the down comforters, lavish minibars, and Origins bath products in the rooms are simply the icing on the cake. One Bennett St., Cambridge, MA charleshotel.com.
The Charles Street Inn
Some people think B&Bs exist only in the country. This nine-room Beacon Hill inn proves otherwise. Its antique furniture, fireplaces, and four-poster beds impart old-world class, while DSL Internet, cable television, and whirlpool tubs offer modern comforts. Tall, narrow doors heighten the charm of the cavernous rooms, named after local luminaries like Louisa May Alcott and Oliver Wendell Holmes. 94 Charles St., Boston, MA .
Tammy Giuoag, Perfect Nail
Perfect Nail looks like a simply average nail-and-beauty emporium tucked into a street-level storefront behind the State House on Beacon Hill. Thank goodness appearances can be deceiving: Running the show here is Tammy Giuoag, the best eyebrow doctor in town. Tammy operates with a light touch, and shapes eyebrows according the the client's exact specifications. Her sense of proportion is right on the money, and she'll have you in and out of her salon in a flash. She's so good we almost hate to give her away. 45 Bowdoin Street, Boston, MA .
Gary Croteau, Salon Mario Russo
"Do you want to stand out from the crowd or do you want to blend in?" asks Croteau. But don't fret that Croteau will cut your locks into an impossible-to-recreate 'do. His M.O. is all about keeping hair fresh, modern, and manageable. And for those who prefer a one-stop shopping experience, he's equally adept at color. Louis Boston, 234 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA mariorusso.com.
Pet Shop Girls
Okay, so it isn't the fanciest place in town. But wouldn't you rather have a place where your pooch feels comfortable? Groomer George has loving touches with the brushes and clippers, but you have to book a week in advance because this earthy South End favorite is a hit with commuters who drop off Fido on the way to work. Pet Shop Girls also grooms cats. 276 Shawmut Ave., Boston, MA .
Eastern Standard
Every evening, somewhere around midnight, a magical—if vaguely treacherous—moment occurs in Boston. High up onto the back bar of one of the city's most beloved restaurants clambers an employee who, teetering precariously, writes the late-night specials onto a gargantuan mirror. The items differ—flatiron steak with bérnaise, or maybe a Cubano with house spicy mustard—but what remains constant is the anticipation generated, and the rush of orders that inevitably follows. 528 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 2215, easternstandardboston.com.
Anh Hong
The Fields Corner neighborhood of Dorchester is filled with exceptional Vietnamese restaurants. But for its skill with dishes beyond the usual pho and vermicelli, Anh Hong rises to the top. Take the vinegary jellyfish-and-shrimp salad, a perfect balance of tangy and sweet. Then there's the beef fondue trimmed with Granny Smith apples and fish mint, which you can use to make your own fresh rolls. And the pineapple-ginger sauce that comes with that tender beef? We'd put it on everything if we could. 291 Adams St., Boston, MA 2122, .