The Coonamessett Inn
After a top-to-bottom 2018 renovation by Lark Hotels brought breezy “modern coastal” décor and integrated technology to every guest room, this old-school Falmouth inn is ready to welcome a new generation of guests. Sip a cocktail on the lushly furnished lakeside patio, groove to live tunes at the on-site music venue, or simply stretch out on the plush king bed after a long day in the sun: Your long-weekend wish is the Coonamessett’s command. thecoonamessett.com.
The Boston Shaker
This Davis Square establishment holds all the accoutrements you need to make one killer cocktail (or six). Swizzle sticks? More than you could swizzle in a lifetime. Recipe books? Your options rival Barnes & Noble. Shark-shaped tiki mugs? Also available in whale variety. And don’t forget about the lauded bitters tasting bar, from which staffers are more than happy to provide samples. Happy drinking, indeed. 69 Holland St., Somerville, MA thebostonshaker.com.
SRV
At this South End hot spot inspired by Venetian bacaros, chefs Kevin O’Donnell and Michael Lombardi deliver a singular study in layered flavors and textures: See fried artichoke electrified with tonnato sauce and capers, and the house-made pillows of fontina-stuffed scarpinocc dressed with crunchy almonds. Creative cicchetti shoot in rapid-fire from the kitchen, each dreamier than the last, each designed to pair perfectly with cocktails on the charming patio. 569 Columbus Ave., Boston, MA srvboston.com.
Kate's Table
Too busy to whip up a dazzling meal for your next dinner party? Just call Kate’s Table. An alum of some of the city’s top restaurants, chef Kate Papaleoni and her team prep dishes in small batches before artfully displaying them in a curated collection of vessels and custom display pieces. And if you want to pretend you did it all yourself, they also offer a drop-off service. katestable.com.
Joppa Flats Education Center
Mass Audubon’s Joppa Flats Education Center offers wildlife educational programs designed to make nature fun—and a trip to the beach a (gentle) teaching moment. Kids and adults alike can explore marine touch tanks and art exhibits at the center, then set off on guided tours across the refuge’s 52 acres of salt marsh and mud flats, home to more than 300 species of birds, including bald eagles and snowy owls. massaudubon.org/get-outdoors/wildlife-sanctuaries/joppa-flats.
Derby St. Shops
No need to don a fancy hat to enjoy this derby: With community events, pop-ups from local entrepreneurs, and new shops and eateries cropping up all the time, it’s clear that this browsers’ paradise has become the modern, beating heart of the South Shore since opening 15 years ago. Shop classics like Anthropologie as well as harder-to-find spots such as Evereve and Nic+Zoe—then stop by Cava to pick up a hearty grain bowl, all without having to race back to your car. derbystshops.com.
Brookline Booksmith
A great bookstore does more than bring you the latest blockbuster—it promises to surprise you. And so it is with the eclectic readings staged at Brookline Booksmith. From eye-opening appearances by authors such as sci-fi icon Neal Stephenson and former Teen Vogue editor in chief Elaine Welteroth to horizon-expanding initiatives like the Transnational Literature Series (which focuses on books about migration, displacement, and exile), the Booksmith offers a steady stream of programming that promises to keep your bedside table stocked. 279 Harvard St., Brookline, MA brooklinebooksmith.com.
Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra
Don’t worry, this isn’t your middle schooler’s violin recital: Rising from the insuppressible enthusiasm of maestro Benjamin Zander—who founded the (senior) Boston Philharmonic Orchestra 40 years ago—this ensemble of fantastically talented 12- to 21-year-olds delivers exactly what you want from a night at the orchestra: to be blown away. Whether playing the notoriously difficult Mahler (one of the maestro’s specialties) or another canonical composer, they deliver youthful energy and just a touch of wonder. bostonphil.org.
Afterhouse
Dreamed up by the all-star team behind Nantucket’s Galley Beach, Afterhouse stands apart from would-be rivals with cozy garden-level digs and a curated drink menu full of globally sourced vino. Snag a seat at the wood-topped bar to sip your way through a bevy of Italian whites, French rosés, and Napa reds, all ideal complements to the bistro’s stellar lineup of fish-forward small plates. afterhouse.net.
Sesuit Harbor Café
Sure, seafood is easy to come by on the Cape. But you're reading this magazine, so you’re looking for the best. Pack your cooler and sunscreen and snag a picnic table at Sesuit Harbor Café: Yes, you’ll wait in a line out the door, sit outside rain or shine, and BYOB, but once those heaping trays of lobster rolls, fried scallops and clams, and Cape Cod Bay oysters are in front of you, you’ll understand. sesuit-harbor-cafe.com.
Queeraoke at Midway Café
Covered in vinyl stickers and rainbow string lights, J.P.’s Midway Café looks like a classic dive bar, but it’s also the spot to sing your heart out every Thursday starting at 10 p.m. A favorite of Boston’s younger queer crowd—but welcoming to everyone—the evening starts with regulars crooning to ’90s and early-aughts hits and ends with wild dance parties. 3496 Washington St., Jamaica Plain, MA midwaycafe.com.
M.F. Dulock
This neighborhood meat market specializes in ethically sourced, hormone-free meats—all raised on pasture within 250 miles of Somerville—and nose-to-tail butchery. That means you’ll see hard-to-find proteins such as livers and blushing lamb’s hearts, along with house-made sausages, pork cutlets, chicken, and slabs of brisket. Want to try them all? Subscribe to M.F. Dulock’s meat club and take home new cuts every month. 201A Highland Ave., Somerville, MA mfdulock.com.
Greentail Table
Dream dinner parties start at this design-forward tabletop shop. Curated by owner Linda de Valpine—a seasoned retail vet who gave up a decades-long career in merchandising to open Greentail Table in 2014—the covetable array of locally made Caskata canapé plates, shapely glass decanters, acacia-wood serving boards, Ekelund table runners, and other chic must-haves will have your guests asking, “Where did you find that?” 343 Watertown St., Newton, MA greentailtable.com.
Boston Paws
You can’t make your dog enjoy getting groomed, but you might be able to trick him into not hating it here. Upon walking in, Fido will be distracted by buckets of treats and chew toys at snout level; by the time he reaches groomer Sarah Sneyd, even the most anxious pooch will be primed for a top-notch wash and cut. 313 Belgrade Ave., Roslindale, MA bostonpaw.com.
Aeronaut
Do you possess a surplus of useless knowledge about obscure summer-camp traditions and the classic Oregon Trail computer game? Seize the opportunity to show off your affinity for random factoids at Aeronaut’s weekly “Indie Trivia” nights. The Somerville taproom taps the fiercest trivia competitors in town to create and host ultra-competitive Tuesday-night quizzes complemented by the ultimate brain food: Aeronaut’s signature hoppy brews. 14 Tyler St. , Somerville, MA aeronautbrewing.com.