This restaurant and bar is located inside the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel.

Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the Oak Room is a regal, comfortably elegant restaurant that offers a traditional steakhouse menu with a distinctive twist. The Oak Room is adorned with gold, maroon and green fabrics and draperies that complement the dark wood paneling and mirrored walls. Cameos and lacunaria accent the intricate white plasterwork that details the 30-foot-high ceiling and twin Waterford crystal chandeliers illuminate the room.

The Oak Bar has been recently restored and is reminiscent of a British Officer's Club in the Orient. The same dark wood paneling and mirrors that flank the Oak Room are offset in the Oak Bar by smooth marble. Heraldry symbols decorate the ornately gilded and painted coffered ceiling. The furniture and décor create an inviting atmosphere to enjoy a relaxing drink or close a business deal. The dress code is business casual, but after 6pm, no shorts, cut out or tank top T-shirts, hats and sport sandals.

Where's the beef? The first Daily Grill to open in New England, Daily Grill Boston is located at The Shops at Prudential Center. The venue has a bar area boasting its array of signature cocktails as well as a stellar selection of surf and turf including a New York Strip Steak that has been aged for 28 days ($28.75) and prime rib with au jus only served on Saturdays and Sundays ($27.95). Their sauce seems to be, well, their secret sauce ranging from savory red wine to creamy horseradish. Also, the dining area and bar is completely open--or alfresco--on sunny days and is the perfect spot to people watch as tourists trek up and down Huntington Ave.

PLEASE NOTE: L'Espalier moved to its new home on the second floor of the Mandarin Oriental on Boylston Street.

UPDATE: L'Espalier opened its doors at 774 Boylston Street for dinner at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12.
Fearlessly led by Frank McClelland, one of the top 25 chefs in the nation according to Food and Wine, L'Espalier is as good as it gets. And it gets good. Ascend the narrow staircase into the first of L'Espalier's 2 classically-decorated dining rooms (get a table in the more modern upper dining room if you can) and prepare yourself for high-class French food, catering to no less than serious eaters with serious finances; this is one place that'll get you psyched for Parents Weekend. The menu is a standard three-course prix-fixe for $75: spanning a wealth of tastes, from foie gras to Hawaiian red snapper to grilled lamb, the seasonal selection is substantially varied and guaranteed to delight every palate (course if that isn't enough, there's always the 6-course Degustation Menu for $95; $135 and up with paired wines). But perhaps the best thing L'Espalier has to offer: their special events, like “cheese Tuesdays,” a 4-course dinner with matching wines and a grand cheese sampler, all led by the restaurant's top cheese and wine meisters for a bargain $55. This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard. Afternoon tea: There are two tea service choices offered: 'Make Way For The Ducklings' ($27) - your choice of tea plus a selection of petit fours and pastries - and 'Red Riding Hood's Basket' ($36), which adds tea sandwiches and canapes. For 15 dollars further, a glass of fine champagne can be served with either. Vegetarian substitutions can be requested. The tea choice is a typical 8 or so varieties and your cup is refilled from teapots carried by the staff rather than leaving them on your table. The accompanying food includes lobster salad, cucumber and cream cheese sandwich, strawberry terrine and the classic L'Espalier swan.

A local French bistro with classic decor and a great selection of appetizers and entrees. Tucked below street level where you have a great view of some of the Back Bay's outstanding buildings, and you can watch the Newbury Street window shoppers pass by. Tables are available downstairs near the bar or upstairs in an open, but not-too-noisy atmosphere. A nice selection of wine is available by the glass, half bottle or full bottle. Some menu favorites include the Bouchee burger with foie gras, mussles in white wine sauce with cherry tomatoes, or any of the flatbread pizzas. If you manage to have room left for dessert, there's tarte tartin, creme brulee, and other French treats. Outdoor dining is also available in season. Reservations are recommended on weekends, and can be made on Open Table.

The 3rd location of this hotspot focused on rustic french fare. With the flagship location on the Boston Waterfront, and one in the Natick Collection, this empire is choosing to expand in posh new digs at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.. Two of the franchise's veterans, Louis DiBicarri in the kitchen and Ian Grossman out front, are leading this third installment. As with their other locations, the food is unpretentious and classic French style fare, done simply but well, in a great atmosphere with first rates service. The space is warm, open, and simply but elegantly decorated. Each floor sports a bar and there's usually a crowd at all typical times, as this back bay locale had been hotly anticipated for quite some time. They serve lunch during the week, dinner daily, and brunch on the weekends, and offer a late night menu Wednesday through Saturday until 12:30. Each menu is a unique twist on their general theme: Lunch Menu Brunch Menu Dinner Menu Dessert Menu Late Night Menu Children's Menu

The Jury's Hotel in the Back Bay is part of the Jury's family that is based in Dublin and quite popular throughout Ireland and the UK. This location offers a swanky hotel as well as two restaurants: Stanhope Grill and the bar Cuffs at the Jury's Hotel. Special room rates for the Boston Marathon® available through Marathon Tours and Travel. This is a comfortable business oriented hotel based in a former police station with very busy bar on the lower ground floor.

Mary Baker Eddy founded the Church of Christ, Scientist (aka, the religion of Christian Science) which holds education as a basic tenant. This library building is a testament to this remarkable women. It includes exhibits, a shop, the Mapparium, Quotes Cafe and in the library both Reference and Research Rooms. The Mapparium is a must-see for any visitor (or resident). A stained glass globe of the world - it's truly a wonder to behold. It's also fun to see how the world has changed since it was created. You need to buy a timed ticket for entry. The Quotes Cafe is a little-known spot - quiet and with really good food. The "Hall of Ideas" is really amazing, digital projected quotes on all sorts of topics move around the floor, walls and fountain. To visit Mapparium and the upstairs exhibits there is a $6.00 admission fee ($4 for seniors/youth/students). But the Hall, shop and cafe can be accessed by anyone for free. Stop in on your next walk down Massachusetts Avenue. Hours:

• Exhibits and Shop Tuesday-Sunday 10am to 4pm
• Last Mapparium Show at 3:40pm
• Quotes café Monday-Friday 8am to 3pm. Breakfast, lunch, coffee, dessert: soup, salad, sandwiches, pizza, paninis, entrees, daily specials
• Reference Room Tuesday-Saturday 10am to 4pm, closed Sunday, Monday, and holidays
• Research Room Tuesday-Friday 10am to 4pm, open first Saturday of each month, by appointment only*

Don't forget to save room for their Tiramisu and Chocolate Amarena Cake!!

A hidden gem amidst bustling Newbury Street comes a bookstore that calls itself “Boston's alternative". This diner-style restaurant draws rave reviews from students and families alike. You can cozy up in any corner and peruse the variety of books, magazines, and interesting knickknacks, or munch on Trident's munchies like classic salads ($8-14), sandwiches ($9-11), coffee, smoothies ($4). They have a great selection of loose teas ($2.50-$3.50) and serve breakfast all day (omelettes $7+). The staff will take a book off the rack for you and let you take it into the cafe. This quiet spot to sit back, chill out, and enjoy, is the perfect break from the craziness of Newbury. They also have a public restroom: on the right, halfway down the store.

UPDATE: 33 Restaurant re-opened with new menu items and a revamped interior. Click here for the new eats. A trendy and funky South End hotspot located on Stanhope Street next to Stix. Attire is more business casual. Known for their interesting cocktails and celebrity sightings. The three-course, $33 prix fixe menu is offered at all times and presents a good bargain for scene-chasing diners. The menu can best be characterized by and is known for having a variety of vegetarian options as well as it's ability to meet your dietary needs. Their cocktail list is extensive to cater to the after work crowd that can quickly turn into a party scene at night. There are 2 floors to the place. Downstairs has a small and sexy lounge.