Instead of going to Mike's or Modern, we did our own thing and went to Bova's Bakery. It was just a few feet from the restaurant we had just dined at, plus it was raining. So this felt like the best choice given the circumstances. The selection is overwhelming. We spent a good five minutes just looking at all the options. Ultimately, settled on a couple of cannolis (plain and chocolate chip) and a peanut butter chocolate bomb. I don't claim to be a cannoli aficionado, but these were fantastic. Flaky, but not overly sweet. I saved the bomb for the following day, and it was damn good too. I just wish we had gotten more of both. This place is open 24/7 and takes credit cards, so two additional pluses. I may be inclined to check out Mikes or Modern next time I am in Boston but I will definitely check this place out again in the future. read more

Bova's Bakery - Chocolate chip cannoli - Bakeries Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

See all

I'm not a cannoli person, so I tried authentic cannoli's, still didn't like it. But the experience was cool, but wasn't great. (From a person who doesn't love sweets). read more

I have never considered myself a cannoli person but after having their oreo cannoli.. I guess I am! It was not too sweet, light and indulgent. The service was quick, it is a take away business but recommend checking them out! read more

The best bakery in Boston! It was so good we came back a second night! The service was spectacular and the treats even better!

A Great local old school Italian bakery with a vast assortment of delicious looking choices! There are breads, cakes, pastries, a variety of prefilled cannolis, cookies, pizza, calzones, rice balls and more. The Pignoli cookies are excellent along with the pistachio macaroons. The cannoli was pretty good, but as it was prefilled it did not taste as fresh or crunchy as one filled on demand. We were lucky to not deal with any lines during our visit. They are open 24 hours and just like Parziale's right next door, this seems an authentic local establishment that has not yet become a tourist trap. Cash only. read more

See all

This is by far the best dessert we had in Boston. We tried the Omni Boston Cream Pie(ehh, underwhelmed and not soft cake). These were the best cannolis in our humble opinion. The shell was flakey and crunchy but not dense. The filling was the least sweet than others but I really liked this. The cannolis were not freshly filled but the shell was still crunchy and dry and flakey. A miracle! I'm craving them all the way in LA a week later. read more

See all

Great traditional Italian pastries. Very busy (but not too). Accidentally deleted pictures.

Bova's is a GEM in the North End and does not get enough recognition as Mike's Pastry or Modern. They are open 24/7 and are super clutch especially after hours when most places are closed for food and dessert. They have cannolis, crème brûlée, cheesecakes, whoopie pies, and more! And if you're not feeling dessert and are super hungry, they have delicious rice balls with your choice of offered fillings that they heat up for you, subs, pizzas and calzones, as well. Parking can be a little tricky because it's the North End but usually you can snag a street parking spot and walk over. They take cash or card. read more

This is my favorite 2am spot - post game after clubbing! Whether you are a reckless twenty something or an old fashioned tourist, this 24/7 spot is perfect and authentically true to its customer base. I have lots of respect for the amount of stress the workers must go through! As for the food! Nothing can be hearty Italian carbs at any time of the night! Highly recommend the steak and cheese calzone - that one changed the game for me. If you do decide to go late at night (because after 1am or 2am that's when the deals happen) please be careful! There's a lot of young people cramped around that corner after clubbing (guilty!). But not to worry - it's always a fun time. read more

Bova's Bakery - Cannolis and Steak and Cheese Arancini - Bakeries Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Bad pastry quality. Not a great service either. Plenty of bakeries in the area, I would skip this one

Came here for dessert after getting dinner. Pretty good pastries and the line goes pretty quickly. They accept card or cash but you get a discount if you have cash. read more

Bova's Bakery - Cannoli - Bakeries Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Bakery #3 for this Boston vacation. And this was the best. Bova's us not trying to be fancy. It's the childhood memory of a bakery. I wanted everything. I tried a Sfogliatella. I had never heard of it. And now I need an Italian bakery close to home. Amazing. If your looking for anything made with flour- they have it. Yum! Kids with happy with their Oreo cake and chocolate bombs too. read more

The ambiance was great with friendly staff. Unbelievably this place is open 24 hours a day. We were here for some desserts but they do also have some to go entrees. No sit down dining is available. Our goal was to try out their cannolis as they were rated as one of Boston's best. As someone who has been to Italy, I have to admit they were very authentic. We had an Oreo cannoli, a signature crunchy florentine (two thumbs up) and a cappuccino cannoli read more

See all

Came here as a recommendation from my friend who said we had to try the cannolis! My husband and I walked in and were amazed at how many different types there were! They had pistachio, Nutella, chocolate chips. We ended up just getting one Nutella one and it was so good. I can see why my friends were raving about it! read more

Omg this place ... I had to walk out and really focus on what I needed and what I actually wanted haha. The women behind the counter was so sweet. Told me her favorite and the guests favorites and I took some of her advise. I love this is a family owned business and still running. I love supporting these businesses rather than corporate!! (Screams to all you yelpers) SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES!! I had a great variety and will be back on my next trip into town. Gosh I just loved the smell when you walk in. You can really tell they make their pastries with love. L O V E!! read more

Bova's Bakery - Can I have one of EVERYTHING!! - Bakeries Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Authentic Italian bakery with what seems like hundreds of choices of desserts, breads, calzones, pizza, and more! We tried a variety of tea cookies, bread, and pizza! Everything, including service was wonderful. read more

See all

Matt Damon and Casey Affleck filmed at this location in their movie 'The Instigator'...so we decided to check this place out. Bakery is very bright inside and has a huge selection of pastries, cakes, and cookies. Hard to pick just one or two to try. We picked the Ricotta Zeppoli and a cannoli to try. Both were yummy. There's really no line system in this place. Seems people just come in and cut in front of people who wants to order. read more

See all

We are in love with Bova's! The cannolis were everything! We tried the original, chocolate chip, Oreo and creme brûlée...they were all fantastic!!! The girl that helped us was absolutely delightful! We loved it! read more

Best cannoli! Totally worth the waiting time in line! Whether you are grabbing a pastry on the go or enjoying a dessert after dinner, Bova's bakery offers the best cannoli experiences in North End! Highly recommended for anyone with a love for Italian classics. read more

We were visiting from Mississippi for the first time. We'd tried a few other local dessert places and were left very underwhelmed. A local friend suggested Bova's. It was so fantastic, we walked another 30 minute trip back two days later! We'd never tried a cannoli, so we got the chocolate chip. Oh my goodness. No wonder they're so popular! We should have gotten more! If you love apple, the apple dumpling is out of this world. Go ahead and get two. They forgot to give us napkins and forks (no big deal), but definitely grab those. You'll need them! When we visit again, Bova will be at the top of our list! read more

See all

I came here and ordered both the oreo and the peanut butter cannoli. They were excellent. I will definitely come back to try some of the other pastries because they all looked so good! I highly recommend going to this bakery if you are in the North End. read more

Boston Cannolis are next level great. While I tried Mike's earlier, one late night craving drew me to Bova's. It's a typical old school family pastry shop with loud but friendly staff. Located in the picturesque North end amongst narrow alleyways, it's a bustling place filled with lipsmacking cannolis, cakes, pastries, sweet breads and all goodies alike. Tried their famous Florentine cannoli & pistachio one to contrast it. The florentine is unique & delicious with its shell made of almond flour & honey stuffed with creamy sweet ricotta. Loved it! But the pistachio cannoli was a disappointment as it had a very artificial essence like taste and a fake minty green color. Also took a bite of their tiramisu which was really nice too. Good stuff overall. read more

Bova's Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Oh My God! If you don't go here for cookies, cannolis or tomato pie and pizza, you'll regret it for the rest of your life! This place played a starring role in the Matt Damon and Casey Affleck movie, "The Instigators!" See the movie and then go here...but don't break anything! read more

Bova's is is one of the North End staples that's a MUST try if you're in the area. It's open 24/7 so anytime is a good time to visit. There's always a line and the space is small so be ready for a little chaos and be ready to order. They have the best assortment of sweet treats and baked goods. I haven't yet tried something thats not great here. If you're only here for a one time visit I would recommend any of their cannolis. And if you live around here they have great affordable bread. read more

See all

I made a Cannoli tour in Boston North End and visited the big three: Mike's Pastry, Modern Pastry, and Bova's Bakery. For me, Bova's is #1, Modern #2 and the infamous Mike's is #3. This review is for Bova's. The cannolis were prefilled in the display case, but they were FRESHLY filled. The shell was crispy, an important attribute. Most importantly, the Cannoli filling was proper Italian style. It is sweet (of course) but not overly cloying sweet. It has no notes of cream cheese, which some add to their Cannoli filling, to their detriment. FLORINTINE CANNOLI - you don't want to miss this! It was incredible. Florentine is a standard Cannoli style where shell is made with sugar, honey and almonds. The rich, caramelized roaasty flavors add an amazing dimension to the cannoli! Bova's has perfected this style Cannoli. CREME BRULEE CANNOLI - this was super delicious too. This was slightly creamier than standard Cannoli filling. It is a nice subtle twist on a traditional Cannoli. read more

See all

Tried Bova' Bakery in Boston. This bakery is open 24*7 serving amazing & fresh pasteries, puffs, rolls, bread and what not.. We stopped by around 1 AM and this place was packed with folks.. However, it took no time for someone to ask us our order and give it to us.. We ordered their Chocolate Truffle Bomb (the best), Fresh Strawberry Cheesecake (lovely) & Florentine Shell Ricotta Cannoli (my husband loved it).. We also ordered their chicken rolls and they tasted amazing. Their whole menu is available here: http://bovabakeryboston.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Bova_Menu.pdf They have plenty of sweet and savory options which means there is something for everyone here. Prices are reasonable. Service is quick. Highly recommend this bakery when in Boston. read more

See all

24/7 That in it of itself is grounds for awesomeness! They have a nice variety of sweet and savory options. Don't sleep on the giant chocolate chip cookie because it's pretty good--even a few days later. I really enjoyed the florentine cannoli! The shell has a tasty carmelization to it would 100% get that again as well. Tried an arrancini--cheese and meatball and a calzone-buffalo chicken. They were ok. Nice portions but I don't necessarily feel like I need them again. Parking can be challenging in the area but both times I went on my most recent visit I was able to snag a spot down the street. read more

Bova's Bakery - These ginormous Chocolate Chip Cookies are AMAZING @veefoodlife - Bakeries Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

In the heated debate of Mike's vs. Modern... Bova's wins every time for me. It's family owned, open 24/7, and they serve practically everything! From cannoli, to calzone, to creme brulee, to arancini, to endless kinds of cakes and cookies, you will find something for everyone here. It's a teensy bit off the beaten path, but it is well worth trying. It's always busy but the line moves fast, and everything is fresh with the constant turnover. Highly recommend the Florentine cannoli, lobster tails, and arancini. But really you can't go wrong with anything here! This is my go-to bakery in the North End, just be careful bc you might not be able to stop coming read more

Bova's Bakery - Creme Brulee, cookies, cannoli, Boston Cream Cake, Coconut Cake, Tiramisu Cake, Lobster Tail, Chocolate Dipped Strawberries - Bakeries Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

The pistachio cannoli was delicious and so decadent with such rich flavor. We got the pistachio and regular cannoli and they were both wonderful. I'd recommend the pistachio wholly and the crunchy shell was super good and fresh. The service was so friendly too. read more

Bova's Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Delicious cannolis... There are several other bakeries in the area however, going off the main street to Bova's is well worth the visit!! Customer Service and the selections were perfect!! Florentine cannoli is exceptional with a shell that you will not find anywhere else. It will make your mouth sing with joy!! Take the short walk and enjoy!!! 2026 make it 100 years - they know what they are doing!!! read more

The Boston Crème Donut was so good. We got a few different things and they were all fresh and not too heavy. They are also 24 hours so if you're in the mood for a late snack. read more

Bova's Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

See all

unfortunately, we're not allowed to respond to owner's comments, so i'll just update and say my piece here - yes, we got the florentine, which again i do not think warrants $10. mike's florentine was $7 and tasted much better, and was not pre-filled like bova's was. i wish i could give this place negative stars based on the poor quality of the overpriced cannoli and the owner's nasty response. --- i know inflation has taken a toll on all businesses but paying $10 for a single cannoli is insane. while it is on the bigger side it's barely bigger than mike's cannolis, 1.5+x the price, and tastes so much worse. just walk to mike's and don't waste your time here. read more

Boston!! Had to try the pastries I am glad I asked our waiter as he recommended this place as the local spot. Oh my goodness! What an amazing treat. I'll be back with tons of friends. read more

See all

Ok this is one of the oldest continuously operated bakeries in the north end. We saw this featured on a TV show before coming to Boston and had to try it out. Excellent cannolis and cookies. The Greek wedding cookies are especially delightful. Lived up to the hype. Can't compare to any other bakeries in the area, leave that up to local experts. But we were very happy here. read more

See all

Stopped in on the way to lunch. Without trying anything yet, presentation was amazing! Everything looked so good and there was a wide variety! We also had no wait and the employees were super sweet. We grabbed a creme brulee cannoli, a Boston creme donut, fudge cake, a cream puff, and a small whoopie pie. EVERYTHING was delicious! We had tried mikes pastry's a few nights before and I would definitely recommend Bova's Bakery over mikes pastry's or modern combined! read more

Bova's Bakery - Restaurant front - Bakeries Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

As you probably already know, Bova's Bakery is the only 24-hour bakery in Boston's North End - a historically Italian neighborhood. They've got Italian cookies, pastries, and cakes to appease your sweet tooth. Seeking something savory? They've got you covered with pizza, calzones, subs, and arancini. They do this seven days a week! The selection is impressive. Even more impressive, they are usually pretty well stocked. So how are their baked goods? Everything is pretty damn tasty! I mean, they've been around for 98-ish years, so that's plenty of time to perfect their craft. Personally, I think their cookies are hard to beat and they make excellent gifts if visiting from out of town. I really enjoy their tiramisu, especially the pistachio version. Mike's is my preference for cannolis. Galleria Umberto for arancini and pizza. But still, I've always been perfectly happy with Bova's. Bova's is an excellent bakery and if they were to relocate to any of the places I've lived, they would still be the best Italian bakery in town. As for the ambiance, it's an old-school mom & pop place. There are no tables. There are no chairs. That's fine. Take your baked goods home or eat outside alfresco. Just remember to throw away your trash like a responsible human being. Overall, I like Bova's and I think they are an excellent bakery. I respect the amount of effort it takes to keep that place running. I just think some of their neighbors are a little better. read more

See all

Wow! If you need something sweet, this is the place. Open 24 hours, it's clean and bright. Better have your order ready when it's your turn. There is so much to choose from and everything looks delicious. I picked the coconut cake and salted caramel cannoli. The coconut cake was so moist with lots of coconut flavor. The cannoli was dipped in chocolate and was so rich. Everything was good. read more

See all

Really good! We got a meatball and cheese calzone and a spinach and cheese arancini. The calzone was one of the best things I've ever eaten. It was super doughy and good. The arancini was not my favorite, it had way too much spinach in it. I wish they had one with just the rice and cheese. The eclair was very sweet but the chocolate frosting on top was delicious. There is no seating inside so we took it to some tables a few blocks down. The workers were very friendly. read more

Bova's Bakery - 1/4 Meatball and Cheese Calzone and 1/4 Spinach and Cheese Arancini - Bakeries Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Coolest Italian bakery that I've ever seen! Excellent service; no numbers but customers are served quickly and efficiently. Mouthwatering cookies, cakes, pies, breakfast pastries including about 10 varieties of freshly-made cannoli. We purchased a chocolate covered Milano which was two Milanos with chocolate cream in the middle and dipped in chocolate, a Giant m&m cookie, Oreo cannoli, and S'mores brownie. DEverything was fabulous. Bakery is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Hope to return again the next time we're in town. read more

Bova's Bakery - S'mores brownie, M&M Cookie, Chocolate Dipped Chocolate Milano, and Oreo Cannoli - Bakeries Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Sweets after dinner is a must. Tried the eclair and red velvet cupcake. Could have skipped the cupcake. Loved the eclair! Wish I got to try something else since the cupcake was a bust for me. read more