Riccardi
There’s streetwear, and then there’s mad-cool streetwear. Repping brands like Off-White (RIP, Virgil Abloh), Chrome Hearts, and Thom Browne — not to mention a colossal jeans-and- tees collection from Amiri and Saint Laurent — this boutique’s wares definitely fall into the latter category. Riccardo Dallai, who launched his family fashion business in 1978, has also broken into the exclusive collab category with limited-edition hoodies, beanies, and sweat- pants. Your threads will be lit. 116 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, riccardiboston.com.
Feast & Fettle
Work, school, soccer practice, dance, repeat: When life gets too busy to spend time in the kitchen, Feast & Fettle is there with fully cooked, locally sourced, restaurant-quality meals. Born from a chef’s desire to nourish busy families, the service caters to all needs and appetites with flexible delivery plans, allergy-conscious options, and kid-friendly menus. Bonus points for an eco-friendly delivery model that leaves customers with zero (yes, zero) waste thanks to reusable delivery containers. feastandfettle.com.
Jay Gordon, Oliver Mak, and Dan Natola, Bodega
Drawing on their unmatched knowledge of urban art and fashion, the owners of this hidden sneaker boutique have quietly amassed a collection of über-hip pieces from up-and-coming streetwear designers around the world. Think: colorblocked windbreakers from the Dutch artist Parra and striped denim pants from Grind London. 6 Clearway St., Boston, MA 02115, shop.bdgastore.com.
Tile Showcase
Planning a back splash in your kitchen? A mosaic in your bathroom? Tiling your entryway or looking for flagstones for your patio? The selection might be overwhelming, but the consultants are adept at navigating you through the many lines such as Country Floors, Grazia, Emil Ceramica, and Tagina. They'll also help answer any design questions. 1 Design Center Place, Boston, MA .
Vapor
The owners of Chaps were so excited about last summer's renovation that they gave their club a new name. Reincarnated as Vapor, the space has a new floor plan, a beefed-up sound system, and an amplified light show. Already the high-energy dance hall is a hot scene, complete with Manhattan deejays on the weekends. 100 Warrenton Street, Boston, MA .
A House on the Cape
What do you do when you’re craving that #beachlife but can’t get on a plane? You start searching for a home across the bridge. As legions of the region’s newly minted WFHers began a mass exodus down Route 6 last spring and summer, house prices skyrocketed, leaving those who didn’t find their slice of paradise early in the pandemic in the dust. Our advice if you’re still desperately scanning Zillow this summer? Beg your friends for an invitation (or blow up a kiddie pool in your landlocked backyard).
Select Oyster Bar
Nineteenth-century urban planning may have transformed an ocean inlet into the Back Bay neighborhood, but about 150 years later, inspired chef Michael Serpa is still filling it with (fabulous) Mediterranean-inspired fish: sea bream, whole-roasted and sauced with parsley, mint, and oregano; swordfish with champagne mango and rose harissa; and salmon crudo augmenting towers of oysters and crab salad. A whip-smart wine list—including a nice pool of reds—pays equal attention to terroir. 50 Gloucester St., Boston, MA selectboston.com.
David Kelly, Grettacole
Don't plan on accomplishing much of anything after you've been under the nearly mystical hands of David Kelly, whose clients have been known to cancel meetings just so they can better enjoy the aftermath of his massages. Kelly's steady pressure, strength, and calming manner (his soothing voice could relax even Richard Simmons) work deep into muscles you didn't know you had. Copley Place, Boston, MA grettacole.com.
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.
Lululemon Athletica
Because the pants are preshrunk and consummately flattering. Because the tops are sexy and comfortable. Because (heads up, yoga dudes) the men's apparel is styled like normal, nonhumiliating athletic gear. And because Lululemon's eco-friendly workout mats, gym bags, and other yoga accessories mean that you can strike a pose, discover your center, and leave behind the outside world—in more or less the same pristine shape in which you found it. 337 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, lululemon.com/boston/newbury.
Karma
Everyone loves a bargain. But few of us love sifting through piles of used clothes. That's why those in the know head to Karma, where the owners carefully edit the racks of gently worn wares. Trina Turk blouses, Ruth pants, and Escada shoes are just some of the treasures you might find in this sunny North End boutique, whose seasonal goods are always in fashion. 26 Prince St., Boston, MA .
Audio Concepts
After you're done drooling over Audio Concepts' fantasy home-theater setups—massive TVs, booming speakers, George Jetson-worthy remote controls—find a salesperson and tell him your audio-visual dream. No matter the budget, be it $1,000 or $20,000, he'll briskly and breezily sketch out a plan to turn your underutilized family room or basement into the neighborhood cinema. 870 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA audioconcepts.com.
Alpha Omega
Can't face the three-month wait for that perfect stainless steel tank watch? With more than 30 brands of watches, including Rolex, Omega, TAG Heuer, and Breitling, you would be hard-pressed not to find a suitable alternative. Alpha also has factory-trained, certified watch technicians on-site, and is planning to open a super store in the Burlington Mall this fall. 57 JFK St., Cambridge, MA .
Il Casale
When dining at Il Casale, don't be surprised if your companions—having mopped the last bit of tangy, rich marinara from their plates—start hatching a plan to move to the suburbs. Who wouldn't want to get closer to food like this? Dante de Magistris's newest venture is not only stylish and affordable, with most entrées under $20, but it also does full justice to the Italian home cooking that inspired it: rustic minestra, feathery gnocchi, seriously good meatballs. 50 Leonard St., Belmont, MA 2478, ilcasalebelmont.com.
The Roof at the Ritz-Carlton
Plan ahead if you want to trip the light fantastic at this, the city's chicest summer dinner-cum-dancing destination for those of us who outgrew Landsdowne Street years ago. Seating, especially for groups, is booked weeks, sometimes months, ahead. The good news is your alfresco evening will take place regardless of weather: A huge tent encloses tables, band, and dance floor, keeping well-coifed guests warm and dry. 15 Arlington St., Boston, MA .