The Baldwin Bar and The Baldwin & Sons Trading Co.
Photo by Joe St. Pierre Foams, tinctures, syrups, elixirs: Onetime GQ cover guy Ran Duan is the tiki-driven scientist behind the Baldwin Bar, a tropical island hideaway, and the Baldwin & Sons Trading Co., a speakeasy devoted to experimental drinks. The ornate mansion that houses both concepts was originally transformed by his dad, a former opera singer, into the Sichuan Garden restaurant — and you can still order stellar Sichuan food alongside ethereal cocktails you simply won’t find anywhere else. Ask for the Betty Draper, an icy gin-lime creation crowned with clouds of coconut foam, by name. And if you’re lucky, you might get to test-drive a libation slated for Duan’s upcoming tropical haven Birds of Paradise, opening this summer in Brighton. 2 Alfred St., Woburn, MA 1801, thebaldwinbar.com.
The Landing
This longtime hangout on the windswept shores of Marblehead Harbor now has an infusion of fresh talent: Executive chef Alex Pineda is legendary toque Lydia Shire’s son, and he worked with her at Scampo; co-executive chef Noe Ortega also comes from Scampo. This translates to an inspired brunch lineup: think lemongrass-curried mussels, candied-pecan French toast, and Allagashbattered fish and chips — all with a side of superb water views. 81 Front St., Marblehead, MA 1945, thelandingrestaurant.com.
Nightshade Noodle Bar
Photo by Michael Piazza Rachel Miller rode into Boston on a bus as a teen with nothing but a bike. These days, she’s blazing new trails with electrifying French-Vietnamese-inspired seafood fusion. Once a pop-up, Nightshade now offers tasting menus showcasing wild combos like crispy surf clams with tomato-ranch sauce, and glass-noodle “puttanesca” tossed with anchovies, squid, and fermented black beans. Miller’s newest endeavor: Sin City Superette, a neighborhood grocery with equally offbeat prepped foods and pantry essentials. 73 Exchange St., Lynn, MA 1901, nightshadenoodlebar.com.
Empower Beauty Co.
Photo by Mark Weiss/Getty Images In a landscape rife with snooty salons, Empower Beauty Co. feels like a warm hug — a nurturing environment where all women, from college students to new moms to grandmothers, can feel comfortable and beautiful. Case in point: When we called about fixing a color job botched by another salon, vivacious stylist Susan Lostimolo immediately set us at ease, sizing up the problem, intuiting the right hue to tone down brassiness, and (most important) not passing judgment. Best of all, she emailed us when our voicemail was full, just to check in. We’ve never felt more empowered. 283B Cabot St., Beverly, MA 1915, empowerbeautyco.com.
Burlington Mall
Who says malls are dead? Once a ho-hum suburban shopping center, this overhauled megaplex now stands out not only for its selection of upscale shops but also its destination-worthy dining and drinking spots: It’s home to the only Boston-area Parm (Contessa’s casual little sister); an outpost of Maine’s beloved Bennett’s Sandwich Shop; and Common Craft, a 9,000-square-foot space where you can sip bevvies from your favorite local distillers, brewers, and wine makers after browsing the wares at Anthropologie and Tory Burch. Toasting a new home purchase? A brick-and-mortar Joss & Main store, from local online home-goods purveyor Wayfair, is slated to move in this summer. 75 Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, MA 1803, simon.com/mall/burlington-mall.
Beauport Hotel Gloucester
A glam restaurant that looks like a midcentury ocean liner, live entertainment, a heated rooftop pool high above the sea, oversize rooms (some with fireplaces!) so close to the harbor that you feel like you’re on a cruise — there’s a lot to love about Gloucester’s stately Beauport. Best of all is the location: Close to the HarborWalk and Stage Fort Park and just a short shuttle ride to the muchloved Good Harbor Beach, the hotel is an ideal getaway whether you live a few hours or a few minutes away. 55 Commercial St., Gloucester, MA 1930, beauporthotel.com.
Shine
Need just the right work-from-home outfit, hostess gift, or last-minute accessory? Glow up with help from Shine, where you’ll find sustainable brands in super-cozy brick surroundings. Browse woven clutches crafted by Balinese artisans from Poppy + Sage and small-batch sundresses from New Hampshire–based Emerson Fry made from low-impact dyes, perfectly paired with sneaks from Cariuma (which plants a tree in the Brazilian rainforest with every sale). Perky owner Erin Postl also stocks candles, perfume oils, and quirky pillows that promise to bring Earth-friendly accents to your home, too. 28 State St., Newburyport, MA 1950, shinenewburyport.com.
Salvage Angel
In the market for a vintage Patriots sweatshirt? A “mystery” bag of crystals? A side table painted to look like a Mondrian? You’ll find all of this and more things you never knew you needed at Salvage Angel, an artisan market with more than 70 vendors offering a mix of handmade and vintage goods. The market’s location in an old mill brick building in Norwood only adds to the charm. 83 Morse St. Building 12, Norwood, MA 02062, .
Fig.a
Photo by Michaela Hundahl Shops, like people, are most interesting when they have a strong point of view — and that’s definitely the case at this pretty Hingham boutique dedicated to all things lifestyle. From workout gear to outerwear to home goods, everything here is imbued with a chic, minimalist aesthetic. Owner Aja Amontea also makes it a point to source brands dedicated to sustainability, meaning shopping here will not only make you look and feel good, it’ll also help you do good. 102 North St., Hingham, MA 02043, fig-a.com.
Blue Hills Ski Area
Want to teach your little snow angel to ski, but don’t feel like trekking up north just for a lesson? Try hopping on the bunny slopes right in your own backyard. Despite the black-diamond trails and 300-plus foot drop, the Blue Hills Ski Area is actually perfect for beginners, too, with programs for all ages and levels, including private lessons. We’re also a fan of the equipment rentals, which will save you from dropping a fortune on gear the kids might grow out of in a year or two. 4001 Washington St., Canton, MA 02021, bluehillsboston.com.
Mirbeau Inn & Spa
Why escape to the Cape for the weekend when you can unwind right in your own backyard? A weekend at this French-style manor can include slurping local oysters in the elegant on-site restaurant; indulging in a seaweed wrap at the 16,500-square-foot marquee spa; or simply relaxing by the fireplace in one of the cozy guest rooms. 35 Landmark Dr., Plymouth, MA 02360, plymouth.mirbeau.com.
Simcha
Simcha is the Hebrew word for joy — and what joy we find in chef-owner Avi Shemtov’s Middle Eastern restaurant, ensconced in a tiny shopping plaza in Sharon. Inspired by the home cooking of his grandmother, who left Turkey for Israel in 1949, Shemtov puts his own unique spin on the cuisine of his ancestors: In his hands, couscous becomes arancini drizzled with smoked-egg aioli, and chickpea-flour fried chicken is served over a sweet-potato purée. The superb falafel, however, is a classic that requires no reimagining. 370 S. Main St., Sharon, MA 02067, simcharestaurant.com.
Northern Spy
New Englanders love to brunch, so it’s a good thing that brunch at Northern Spy — the newest entry from former Loyal Nine chef Marc Sheehan — is an ode to New England, albeit with a modern twist. Come for the hearty braised-beef flatbread with bean-pot onions and smoked bluefish pâté with brown bread, stay for the cozy vibes, courtesy of a sunny brick building with views of the Paul Revere Heritage Site’s sprawling green. 4 Rolling Mill Way, Canton, MA 02021, northernspycanton.com.
GlenPharmer Distillery
It’s the place Franklin never knew it needed, but now can’t live without: an artisanal distillery with its own bustling tasting room and full-service restaurant. Here, friends, neighbors, and couples alike clink glasses of the award-winning vodkas — offered as flights with other spirits or in a variety of creative cocktails — at high-tops inside a former covered bridge and at the cozy, stone-walled bar. Looking to make a day of it? Book a tour of the former mill building turned distillery and get a look at how the spirits in your glass were born. 860 W. Central St., Franklin, MA 02038, glenpharmer.com.
Haven Beauty
Photo by Pat Piasecki Forced to shut down just months after opening due to the pandemic, Emily Sobers had a challenging start to her new business. But there’s no sign of those early struggles today inside her aptly named clean-beauty salon and wellness space, which offers flawless cuts, highlights, facials, and more. And Sobers and her team seem to be adding more ways to unwind every day, first with yoga and Pilates classes and most recently with their “Relax and Restore” room, complete with an infrared sauna. 14 Church St., Hopkinton, MA 1748, havenbeautyma.com.
Inn at Hastings Park
Photo by Taylor VanDyke/Wave Collective Here’s a victory for Lexington: a Relais & Châteaux boutique hotel complete with luxurious Frette linens and fireplaces in the guest rooms, a special-occasion-worthy restaurant downstairs, and history all around. Looking for an excuse to get away without going too far from home? Book one of the 1800s-built inn’s immersive culinary weekends, which include cooking classes with owner Trisha Pérez Kennealy, who trained at Le Cordon Bleu in London. 2027 Massachusetts Ave., Lexington, MA 02421, innathastingspark.com.
Salt Boutique
Owner Jennifer Devlin opened the first location of coastal-chic Salt Boutique on her home island of Nantucket in 2015, but as of 2020 modish mainlanders can browse beloved brands including Agolde, Citizens of Humanity, and Peony yearround in her Wellesley shop. Although one look at Salt’s fashion-forward floral dresses and bold-colored bikinis, and you might just find yourself beach-bound anyway. 72 Central St., Wellesley, MA 02482, saltnantucket.com.
New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill
Think horticulture and high-energy kids don’t mix? You haven’t been to this Boylston sanctuary, which continued its growth this year by unveiling a 1.5-acre children’s garden — dubbed the Ramble designed for the littlest plant lovers. The pre-K set will especially appreciate the space’s new Nature Play Days, offering story time, crafts, dress-up, and more. Parents, meanwhile, will relish the thousands of gorgeous flowers in bloom — not to mention an on-site café overlooking Mount Wachusett (with mac ’n’ cheese for the kiddos, of course). 11 French Dr., Boylston, MA 1505, nebg.org.
Mida Newton
Does a plate of gnocchi change when it moves from the city to the ’burbs? In the case of Mida, the answer is definitely not. At his bigger Newton outpost, chef Douglass Williams churns out the same house-extruded bucatini all’amatriciana and springy focaccia as at the lauded South End original — with a notable addition: charry New Haven–style pizza pies perfect for treating the kids (and yourself) after a Little League game. 261 Walnut St., Newton, MA 02460, midarestaurant.com.
Gustazo
If there’s anything more refreshing than a guava mojito at noon on a Sunday, we certainly haven’t tried it. The weekend brunch at this breezy Havana-by-way-of-Waltham favorite is a party everyone is invited to, a place where people linger over cocktails and Cuban coffee all afternoon. It’s not just the drinks that make a midday meal here stand out, though; it’s the extensive menu of sweet and savory treats, from the smoky Cuban-style shrimp and grits to the indulgent dulce de leche crêpes. 240 Moody St., Waltham, MA 02453, gustazo-cubancafe.com.
The Street
Always a fun spot for al fresco shopping and dining, the Street has become a must-visit even for city dwellers in recent months thanks to an infusion of topnotch local talent — from lauded private chef David Welch’s first restaurant, Chef Dave’s, to Wendy Dodson’s Hummingbird Books. Even with all of the new choices, though, we’re still suckers for a Shake Shack frozen custard eaten outside on the Green. 33 Boylston St., Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, thestreetchestnuthill.com.