Boston Editor Picks

The pioneer of Boston’s boutique-hotel boom is the city’s go-to address for luxury-lovers who like their hotels on the smaller, more personal side, but don’t want to sacrifice extravagant extras common to larger properties. Guests here can expect to be treated, with services like complimentary chauffeur-driven Lexus sedans on hand to jet them around downtown. All of the rooms have an at-home feel (if you live in, well, the coolest house in your neighborhood), with fireplaces, flat-screen TVs, and remote-controlled everything (seriously). Anybody who really wants to feel like they own the place should book a night in a suite and invite friends over for a dinner catered by Mooo, the restaurant's steakhouse.

To experience a taste of old Boston, there's no better place to lay your head than the charming eight-suite Gryphon House, situated on a historic residential street of stately homes in the Kenmore Square area. The 5-story townhouse dates back to 1895, and was a private estate until it took on its present incarnation as a hotel in 1997. The décor is dominated by eye-catching, 19th-century-designed French wallpaper, while the parlor room is centered on a golden onyx fireplace. Guests congregate here for free continental breakfast each morning, admiring the oversized mirrors, gilded molding, and original antique pieces. A curving stairway leads to eight spacious and individually-themed suites. The rooms offer generous space, with high ceilings and enough room to fit a fully-equipped kitchen area, with such thoughtful additions as teapots and corkscrews, as well as ample sitting and work areas, and queen-size beds. The gas log fireplaces are wonderful for cozying up after a long day of sightseeing.

Hit 16 historical sites along the 2.5-mile red-brick Freedom Trail as it winds through several of the city’s must-see neighborhoods.

New in December 2006, the Institute of Contemporary Art was a welcome addition to South Boston’s waterfront. The museum is dedicated to all forms of contemporary art: dance, music, literature, and visual arts. Open Tues-Wed and Sat-Sun 10am-5pm, Thurs-Fri 10am-9pm.

With jellyfish, seal, and penguin exhibits, it's a great place to bring the kids; an IMAX theatre rotates educational movies about marine and animal life on a 65-foot-tall screen. In the winter, the aquarium is open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat-Sun 9am-6pm. In the summer, the hours are as follows: Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat-Sun 9am-7pm.

You could take your slab of beef to go, but those who linger at this cozy charcuterie are...more

Packed with bars and dance clubs, this alley is a club-hopper’s dream. Moving from one to another is easy, save for the lines.

Spend an afternoon on this hipper-than-hip thoroughfare, where Marc Jacobs, Diesel, Burberry, and Chanel are all neighbors.

The easternmost tip of Cape Cod is home to a lively gay community, whale-watching tours galore, and spectacular beaches. Best of all, you can get there by ferry from Boston.

Gabriel Bremer (owner and chef) and his wife welcome guests into their cozy Cambridge bistro as...more