INMAN SQUARE. This trendy little coffee house attracts an artsy, eclectic crowd who come to enjoy coffee or tea on a work break or with friends in the morning or evening. 1369 also offers a menu of light fare, including soups, sandwiches, and scones. A perfect place for quiet conversation and catching up with an old friend or for an intimate chat with someone special. Get there early to catch a table, which fill up with students and laptops.

BACK BAY. 29 Newbury is a trendy café-bar, where socializing is high on everyone's list of priorities. You'll often spot a crowd of local business folks making the most of the hip atmosphere, nursing drinks and expanding their networks. Celebrities have also been known to make appearances. Should you get hungry, sample Japanese spring rolls or fried calamari, and follow with lobster and basil orecchiette or baby rack of lamb.

BACK BAY. This well-known, Back Bay restaurant corners the market when it comes to tasty steaks served in heaping portions. Generously cut and cooked to perfection, steaks include a succulent porterhouse or a tender filet mignon. Sides are just as abundant and leave no room for complaints. Salads and seafood options are available for vegetarians. The elegant interior is finely appointed with brass, mahogany, and marble accents.

SOUTH END. If you're on Boston's South End and feeling a little adventurous, why not try this unique sub-level eatery. One step into the dining area, and you'll know right away that you've entered a different world, highlighted by traditional Ethiopian furnishings and several colorful tapestries and rugs. Expect to be in for something different, as you'll get to dine without utensils and order from a menu that features everything from traditional injera (Ethiopian flatbread) and marinated vegetables to exotic chicken and lamb entrées. Your cultural experience will not be complete unless you sample their honey wine, which has a flavor all its own. All of this, and their prices are among the most reasonable in town!

CAMBRIDGE. Bright yellow signs across the front and side of this playful eatery make it hard to miss. But it's the thick, tasty sandwiches that have made it such a popular spot to grab a bite. Menu options change frequently, but might include grilled muenster cheese with two fried eggs, bacon and hot pepper relish on sourdough or the Texas reuben with beef brisket, monterey jack, cumin slaw and chipotle Russian on dark rye bread.