Ventuno
Think Nantucket’s fresh catch couldn’t possibly get any fresher? Try pairing it with house-made pappardelle or strozzapreti at Ventuno. Consistently excellent since it opened its doors in 2011, this Italian-inspired eatery continues to wow with hearty from-the-sea entrées such as grilled local dayboat scallops and shrimp with black-truffle salsa. And now with the 2019 opening of sister restaurant Pizzeria Gemelle, the team stands poised to dominate the local pizza game, too. ventunorestaurant.com.
Treatment Training Wellness
Who says massages are just for relaxation? Whether you’re feeling a little sore after a particularly hard-core workout or just coping with everyday aches and pains, the talented technicians at this South End wellness center are here to help with a variety of massage techniques tailored to your needs. Calming music, hot-towel compresses for the face, and a beautiful Himalayan salt lamp all add to the ambiance in the treatment room. 142 Berkeley St., Boston, MA treatmenttrainingwellness.com.
Meredith Bonner, Barneys New York
Bonner is like the fashionable friend you wish you could bring along on every shopping spree: patient; quick with a joke to enliven fitting-room tedium; and known to go great lengths to find the perfect pair of jeans. The best part? Getting whisked away to her cozy office to try on your haul in blissful privacy. Copley Place, Boston, MA barneys.com.
Kashmir Asvaraksh, Hair by Kashmir
She may have mastered the runways of New York Fashion Week, but Kashmir Asvaraksh truly shines while styling a bride’s hair. Asvaraksh’s updos look effortlessly chic (read: not overly stiff with hairspray), while her curls are reminiscent of Old Hollywood. She trains hairstylists around the country, too, so you can dance the night away knowing that she’s expertly pinned and coiffed your locks. 297 Newbury Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, hairbykashmir.com.
Tasting Counter
Unsurprisingly, this 20-seat setup tucked inside a Somerville warehouse excels at the format for which it’s named. Chef Peter Ungár continually catches us off-guard with ingenious touches prepared inches away—think: pads of mackerel brined in fermented daikon broth and crowned with turnip kimchi and herbs from the restaurant’s living wall. Also unexpected: the recent launch of TC Market (a line of house-made condiments), not to mention news that an à la carte Counter will land at a local food hall this year. 14 Tyler St. , Somerville, MA tastingcounter.com.
Island Creek Oyster Bar
For Ethel’s Lobster Roll, named for his beloved grandmother, chef Jeremy Sewall sources delicate, ultra-fresh meat from his Maine fisherman cousin, then classes it up with a rosemary-imbued bun, crème fraîche, and the perfectly calibrated blend of celery salt and pickle. Your favorite seafood shack can’t compare. 500 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA islandcreekoysterbar.com.
Forty Winks
No matter what underpinnings your wedding attire calls for (or doesn’t), this Harvard Square favorite Forty Winks can provide. Need support but want to avoid panty lines? Grab high-waisted thongs from Chantelle, Commando, or Hanky Panky. Going backless? Try stick-on seamless cups from NuBra or a lacy Samantha Chang halter bodysuit. And as for after the wedding? We’ll let Else’s collection of sheers speak for itself. 56 JFK St., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, shopfortywinks.com.
For Now
If you’re a budding small brand, how do you get your products into the public’s hands when you can’t afford Boston’s high rents? Connect with For Now, a shop that acts as a revolving showcase for indie labels, with about a dozen lines—from soaps to shoes—displayed at any given time. 68 Seaport Blvd., Boston, MA itsfornow.com.
Dakzen
Save your airline miles: This new Davis Square destination offers all the pleasures of Thai street food, minus the daylong flight. The killer khao soi (“cut rice”) is a study in richness and fiery depth, sharpened with fixings such as pork belly and pickled mustard. Classic pad thai, meanwhile, is mercifully more savory than sweet. And the rice porridge and satiny egg custards at the weekend-only breakfast pop-up (dubbed Egg E Egg Egg) consistently dazzle. 195 Elm St., Somerville, MA dakzen.com.
Achieve Fitness (@AchieveFitnessBoston)
Rather than fill your Instagram feed with impossible-to-achieve abs and “detoxifying” weight-loss teas, why not fill it with news you can actually use in the gym or at home? Somerville gym Achieve Fitness’s social community of almost 500,000 followers get valuable advice on living a healthy lifestyle. And if you still have questions, they’ll answer them via their story for the benefit of all. 42 Merriam St., Somerville, MA achievefitnessboston.com.
Be Well Studios
Wellness is about more than just breaking a sweat three times a week; it’s about taking care of your mind, body, and soul. This Zen retreat in Scituate lives by that mantra, tempering its approachable barre and cross-training classes with restorative treatments such as meditation, reiki, and massage (bonus points for therapies tailored especially to clients undergoing cancer treatments). A waterfront perch adds to the gloriously relaxing vibe. bewellstudios.net.
Violet Furxhi, Mario Russo
It’s a good bet any well-heeled lady in town boastfully swinging her locks around is rocking extensions from this talented stylist. Specializing in long-lasting Keratin bonds, Furxhi makes what can be a timely process enjoyable, interspersing lively conversation with details about where she’s placing your new tresses and why. 9 Newbury St., Boston, mariorusso.com.
Viola Lovely
Effortless and immaculate: Those are the adjectives we’d use to describe this South End boutique’s offerings—and, after a trip here, your everyday style. There’s the expert tailoring from Lemaire, whose designs are inspired by the streets of Paris. The soft, California-chic fabrics of Raquel Allegra. And Alumnae’s comfortable yet trendy slip-on leather mules. In fact, every last piece here feels practical enough for a run to the drugstore or a quick flight to Palm Beach, but lovely enough to take you anywhere in the world. 1409 Washington St., Boston, MA violalovely.com.
The Haven
In Boston’s sea of rowdy, singles-filled Irish bars, this rare Scottish gastropub stands out as unique, friendly, and approachable—just like the ideal date. As its name suggests, the restaurant is an intimate place to get cozy by candlelight with your Tinder match over an extensive, icebreaker-friendly scotch list organized by region, as well as hard-to-find specialties like haggis and Scotland-born deep-fried Mars bars. With so much to talk about, conversation will flow as easily as the Belhaven beer on draft 2 Perkins St., Jamaica Plain, MA thehavenjp.com.
Social Boston Sports
Want to show off your three-pointer, or revel in the schoolyard-era glories of dodgeball? Social Boston Sports has been helping Bostonians tap into their inner jock in nearly every neighborhood in the city since 2010. And don’t worry if you’re not a natural-born athlete: There’s always SBS’s cornhole league. socialbostonsports.com.