city guides: boston

Boston's restaurants have become exceptionally well-regarded in recent years, with chefs rising to celebrity status for their ethnic and eclectic American cuisine. Michael Schlow's Radius is a chic spot downtown, turning out contemporary French dishes in a sophisticated, energetic room. No. 9 Park, adjacent to the State House on the edge of Boston Common, has the bonus of a generously sized cocktail area and delicious bar menu. L'Espalier is an elegant townhouse just off Newbury Street, showcasing authentic French cuisine in rooms with fireplaces, and Grill 23 is renowned as much for its cigar-club atmosphere as for its thick steaks. At the Four Seasons hotel, Aujourd'hui is a regal dinner spot with a dramatic second-floor view of the Public Garden.

Harbor cruises are one of the city's most popular activities for a group; the Odyssey is a luxury dining yacht, and sailing ships are also available. For views of the city from above, dinners at the Top of the Hub, on the 52nd floor of the Prudential Center, offer twinkling glimpses of Copley Square below. The Fogg Museum, Harvard's oldest art museum, has an Italianate courtyard based on a 16th-century facade in Montepulciano and can be rented for functions.

The Wang Center hosts some of the best performances traveling the eastern seaboard. For sports fans, a chance to see a baseball game at historic Fenway Park—and see a home run sail over the Green Monster—is a rare treat. Downtown, the Fleet Center has luxury boxes available for Celtics and Bruins games. One of the best golf courses open to the general public can be found at Shaker Hills in the town of Harvard, about 35 miles northwest of the city.