10 Great Places to Spend Christmas
Why Go: -Old-world ambience
-New England coziness
-Beacon Hill's cobblestoned streets dusted with snow
-Roasted lobster in lieu of Christmas turkey
Where to Stay: A gas fireplace warms every bedroom at the XV Beacon Hotel (15 Beacon St.; 877/982-3226 or 617/670-1500; doubles from $295), which combines classic details like an antique cage elevator with 21st-century amenities: CD players, high-speed data ports, a private phone number for each guest.
Holiday Dinner: The dining room at Locke-Ober (3 Winter Place; 617/542-1340; dinner for two $200), a blue-blooded institution since 1875, still feels like a gentlemen's club. Lobster bisque, Dover sole, calf's liver, and baked Alaska continue to draw the Brahmin faithful—and the food is actually delicious.
Stocking Stuffer: Black Ink (101 Charles St.; 617/723-3883) is crammed with presents for all ages—animal-shaped lunch boxes, wind-up metal toys—as well as some unusual children's books.
—Peter Jon Lindberg
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