North End Boston Restaurant Cafe Vittoria
(290 Hanover Street)
Looking for the best North End Boston restaurants? We’ve been coming here for decades for their delicious can’t be beat tiramisu and cappuccino which will turn any first date into a romantic occasion. Hanover Street is the most popular street in the North End or Little Italy in Boston. You’ll discover an old-world neighborhood when you walk down Hanover Street and no chain stores either.
Bricco Panetteria
(hidden alley behind 241 Hanover Street)
We loved discovering this Old World bakery which can be difficult to find. They make over 1,000 of loaves of bread a day, and it’s definitely worth searching for this spot which is different from Bricco restaurant. It’s one of the most hidden secrets of all North End Boston restaurants.
Bova’s Bakery
(134 Salem Street)
If you’re craving pure comfort food in the form of a chicken parm croissant or even a cannoli or arancini, Bova’s is a great spot and family-owned business that will cure any craving. They also serve late night Sicilian pizza if you can stay up that late! Mmm, we love a good slice, and this is one of the best pizzas in Boston. They also have takeout during Coronavirus.
Check out our award winning food and chocolate tours!
Giacomo’s
(355 Hanover Street)
So maybe it’s not a fancy new North End spot at this point, but for us Giacomo’s never disappoints. From delicious seafood to can’t miss pumpkin ravioli, bring your cash and know the wait is worth it here! Giacomo’s is also a very special place where many local Bostonians choose to get engaged, so be on the look out for a top engagement spot in Boston here.
Al Dente
(109 Salem Street)
If you don’t want anything fancy, and you love all the carbs, we favor the vodka sauce with penne at Al Dente. Heaping portions, solid cuisine, enough said. Salem Street is another famous street in Boston’s North End neighborhood. If you’re looking for simply delicious food, try Al Dente and you won’t be disappointed.
Galleria Umberto
(289 Hanover Street)
There are still some mom and pop places in the North End of Boston, and this is one of them. It closes early around 2-3pm and only takes cash, but it’s a great place for a Sicilian slice during the day! Sometimes we’ve tried to go here and it’s been closed, so aim for the lunchtime rush. You’ll be lucky you did — some people visit here straight from Logan Airport!
Monica’s Pasta Shop
(210 Hanover Street)
If you’re looking to walk away with some handmade pasta, there’s no better place to stop than Monica’s Pasta Shop. The pastel colors of the pappardelle to ravioli will satisfy your window shopping, and they also do curbside pickup during coronavirus!
The Original Mike’s Pastry
versus Modern Pastry
Take a deep breath before you walk in because deciding among all of the carb-y treats at these spots can be stressful. 3 more of those, 1 of those, 2 of those you may shout above the counter as they wrap up your goodies in a box with a string tie. Our favorite at Mike’s is the nutella cannoli and at Modern we love the Italian cookies. The North End Boston treats its guests right, but if you’re looking for a different experience make sure to visit one of our other Boston food tour locations where you can eat how the locals eat and support small businesses.
So if you’re looking for the best italian restaurants in Boston’s North End or a Boston Food Tour, we suggest you explore one of these on your own and then reserve an Off The Beaten Path Food Tour with us in nearby Somerville, Cambridge, Lowell, or Boston to eat where the locals eat and spend a fun afternoon supporting smaller businesses.
Visit offthebeatenpathfoodtours.com to book a tour today.
