Boston’s South End is brimming with charm and style. Off the main streets, in the historic neighborhoods near Union Park, are some of the best boutiques and cafes in the city.

Start off somewhere you might never leave. Stop into Hudson, the home and design store on Shawmut Ave. owned by Jill Goldberg. A designer with an eye for inspiring, lively, provocative pieces, Jill creates a retail space that feels like the living room of a quirky sophisticate. Don’t miss the John Robshaw Bedding, the Roost candle holders, the vintage suitcases, and the stunning chandelier hanging right in the storefront window.

If can tear yourself out of Hudson, reward your self-control with a visit to the South End Formaggio. The delightfully cramped specialty food store filled with artisanal cheeses, cured meats, wine, and lots of other imported delicacies is the only place around where you can find Fregola, the Italian couscous from Sardinia. Do not walk out without a Salty Oat Cookie (or 10), which alone are worth the trip to the South End.

Take a quick browse through Turtle, a retro-inspired boutique that often yields great finds if you’re willing to dig a bit. Then head down the street to Lekker, a housewares store with a modern Scandinavian aesthetic.

Don’t leave without an afternoon pick-me-up at The South End Buttery, where owner Richard Gordon’s perfect lattes can be accompanied by cupcakes named after his four labs. Screw Starbucks.

Read more about Boston’s South End on Misstropolis, the new online magazine for modern women.