The North End is my favorite neighborhood in Boston - full of authentic Italian food and bustling with character. I love getting a cannoli at Maria's Pastry Shop (better than Mike's), eggplant parm at Artu, and eating at any of the Italian restaurants here. On Fridays and Saturdays, the Haymarket farmers' market offers incredible deals (such as a dozen limes for a dollar). I also recommend checking out Exhale Spa at Battery Wharf, which has a Turkish hammam and is one of my favorite spots to relax and recharge. read more

The North End - Local Flavor Near Me

Don't call it "Little Italy." I've been to Boston many times, and I've never "done" the North End. I don't know why... I guess I've just had so much bad or mediocre Italian food, I didn't see the need. But on this visit, I decided to give it a whirl. I have been depriving myself! It is such a charming neighborhood! Even off Hanover, the main drag! My first stroll through was during my morning run. It was early, so not all of the businesses were open, but there were a few signs of life. Still, it had such a heartbeat. At that hour, I saw the people who lived and worked there. Lovely buildings, people going about their business opening their shops, spraying down the street, chatting with friends... I would love to live in this area where there's so much history and so much opportunity for food! And wine! And dessert! And a farmer's market! I was so charmed that I came back later that day to try the famous Mike's and Modern Pastry Shops. This time, I saw the tourists. Everywhere! I wanted to come back again for dinner, but I just couldn't fit it in my itinerary. Another time, North End. read more

Here's an unpopular opinion: I think this neighborhood is over-hyped. North End was near the top of my list when I was planning my Boston trip. Because I have never been to Europe or even a Little Italy in America, I went with no standard, yet I was still disappointed. Sure the ambiance is nice especially in front of Paul Revere House and Old North Church, some restaurants and cafes (Mike's Pastry and Caffe Vittoria) are good, and few churches are charming. However, the neighborhood itself is not as extraordinary as the majority has claimed! Maybe you have to go to Europe to truly appreciate what North End has to offer. Go if you are exploring Boston. Unless you are aiming to go to all Freedom Trail establishments or targeting specific North End restaurants though, you are honestly not at a huge loss if you had to miss this neighborhood. read more

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Of all places that I really enjoyed, it was the North End; the designated Little Italy of Boston, Massachusetts. I really wished that I had at least one more day to spend in Boston so I could spend it exploring The North End. Walking through the narrow streets are neighborhood gem Italian markets, restaurants, cafes, gelaterias, bakeries, salumerias, and delis. Some establishments have been opened decades like Modern Pastry for instance. There are so many dining options in the North End that one can eat their way through the all Italian food is a manner of days, weeks, and months. What I love is the old school charm throughout the North End and the a strong sense of community. History has it that the North End was Irish community until the Italians came to establish themselves by opening markets and restaurants. Across from the Paul Revere House, the Sacred Heart Italian Church and the Mariners House in the North End is the oldest public square in America called North Square. It was really neat to walk across this public square, sit down at one of the picnic tables in the middle, and take in the surroundings. My time there with the walking tour was peaceful yet I could only imagine what this place looks like with thousand upon thousands of people during the Italian feasts and religious processions. It's pretty neat to see that most of the buildings are original ones. The streets are narrow and it looks impossible to find a parking spot. What I like about the North End is how easy it is to walk through although there are some spots that can be slightly hilly like the street that leads to the Copps Hill Burial Ground. I noticed that my stroll back to Fanueil Hall from the North End Church was about 10-minutes. read more

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I love the North End. Unlike North Beach in San Francisco and Little Italy in New York, which have both been taken over by sprawling Chinatowns and touristy restaurants, the North End feels authentic and it's full of charm. You'll still see old Italians sitting out on a bench smoking a cigar, and you'll still hear Italian being spoken in the streets while you stroll around. I love the cute shops like Polcari's Coffee which transport you back in time. Definitely make sure to stop in a pastry shop for some Italian desserts! My favorite pick is a Lobster Tail pastry at Mike's Pastry, but you won't go wrong with a canoli at any of the bakeries! read more

I forgot I was in Boston. THE BEST place for local secrets and best Italian food, and other food. I started at the Old North Church, and then ate... A LOT, and then walked a bit of the freedom trail there because I was bored. Fun Fact: the green building are actually made of copper that has been oxidized over time. Also it seems more humid here for some reason. Also it was trash day when I went, which means every business puts their stinky trash bags out in front of their stores because the streets are too small for the trash truck to weave around in, also meaning no central dumpster, meaning I had to buy lots more pastries to block out the smell, which I have no objections about. One place I went to had recipes 80 tears old! read more

The North End - Old to New or Italy to Boston? - Local Flavor Near Me

Walking through the North End of Boston is intoxicating! The smells of the over 300 Italian restaurants that align the streets will make anyone hungry, not to mention 2 of the best bakeries in the country, Mike's and Modern. The Italian markets and "Connah" Stores intermingle among the many restaurants and churches throughout the neighborhood, but especially on Hanover Street. The Old North Church, Paul Revere's House and St. Leonards Peace Gardens are worth a visit. You can easily walk this neghborhood, but beware.....you will be hungry and will most likely fall victim to the intoxicating aromas that follow you by indulging in one of local establishments. You will be glad you did! TIP: We HIGHLY recommend Carmelina's, Limoncello's, Mike's & Modern Pastry, to name a few. read more

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I enjoy coming to this area whenever we visit Boston. Awesome neighborhood filled with history and yummy places to eat. The North End is also known as the Little Italy of Boston. Going to Modern Pastry and Mike's Pastry at the North End is a must!! Decide for yourself who makes the best cannolis!! read more

The North End - Cool Welcome sign! - Local Flavor Near Me

Haven't been here for years, I miss the italian street fairs and the yummy food but honestly, you can come here any day and get a great feeling of being in lil Italy. The street scene is amazing at night but truthfully, you can get great Italian food at a lot of places in Boston. The main attraction here is the vibe and experience. Parking is...well, not really existent. Most street parking is reserved for residents with permits (as it should be). It's definitely a place that should be on the to-do list when visiting Boston, and if you're a local, then you already know. read more

The North End - North end - Local Flavor Near Me

AN ABSOLUTELY MUST DO & SHOULD BE ON EVERYONE's BUCKET LIST! THE NORTH END ( Boston's Little Italy ) IS FILLED WITH TRADITION , FANTASTIC RESTAURANTS, BAKERIES, COFFEE SHOPS & MUCH MORE. SOME OF THE BEST ITALIAN FOOD YOU WILL EVER EAT IN THE WHOLE USA IS RIGHT HERE. IT IS ALL PACKED IN 1 AREA THAT YOU CAN WALK UP & DOWN THE STREETS. First this is where our country began in the Old North Church & Paul Revere's House The British Are Coming! Yup those are here as well as the walking tour called The Freedom Trail. Let's face it, history class in school was boring, but seeing it in the flesh is something different. Then when you combine history with great food & Entertainment, HISTORY BECOMES FUN! The Italian feasts take place in the summertime. They close down the streets & have even more Food, Music, Entertainment & lots of stuff to buy, as people from all over the US pile into the city. St. Anthony's Feast is the biggest feast & National Geographic declares it " The Feast of all Feasts". Hanover Street is the Main Street here & where many restaurants & bakeries & coffee shops are located. But there are lots more located on different side streets as well. Bring your sneakers for lots of Fun Walking & Exploring & EATING! There is a big debate in Boston which is better Mike's Pastry or Modern Pastry. They are both Excellent But you'll have to try them both & then pick a side like it's The Super Bowl. LOL! The North End is just a mere 12 Minute or so Walk across from Quincy Market & Faneuil Hall - another popular destination spot too. In the North End there was The Great Molasses Flood in 1919 where a storage tank burst. To this day on hot summer nights once in awhile you can still smell molasses. Is it Folklore or True you decide! If you see people SNIFFING, now you know what they the heck they're doing. The North End is a place where both locals & tourists go to the same places. The weekends are packed with people so it's best to go during the week or @ an off time. You'll have so much Fun Learning, Exploring & Eating!!! In The North End there are about 100 places to eat & lots & lots & lots of them are Good to Off The Chart DELICIOUS! You can't leave here without a Classic Ricotta Cannoli & Rum Cake - a tradition here! It used to be, you had to have mega bucks & be really rich to have the Good Life, not anymore. The Game has changed. You've been Upgraded. Now You Can Live Like a King on a Limited Budget! read more

I've lived in and/or hung out in almost every neighborhood in Boston. The North End is definitely the best neighborhood to live in. It is a big tourist neighborhood so you have to be tolerant of the noise and foot traffic. Once you get over that, it's pretty cool to be living in a place that everyone wants to visit! The food is obviously great. You learn which places are tourist traps pretty quickly and can avoid them. There are some non-Italian options too. It's easy to access most of the other parts of the city if you need to go elsewhere. Just all-around a great place. read more

Nice spot. 1) Great place to walk around. 2) I will recommend to hit up some restaurants and Mike's Pastry. 3) Overall, it is a must visit for tourists. read more

Boston Gem the most special neighborhood anywhere. It is magical and doesn't feel like anywhere else.

There's a really great mall here somewhere, I can't for the life of me remember it. Check out the shops and restaurants and of course just walk around to enjoy the highlights. read more

Being half Italian this part of Boston is special to me. The streets of the north end are where my family began their adventure in Boston from Italy. My great grandfather and great uncles worked here. When I walk up and down Hanover Street I know the rich history. This is Boston's version of Little Italy. You can literally eat your way from one end to another. Yes, there are tourist traps, but I recommend you eat where the old Italian men are eating those are probably the best places to get your manga on. In the summer there are amazing street festivals honoring various saints. Check out this area any time of year. You will leave with your stomach full and if you're lucky the moon might hit your eyes like a big pizza pie!!!!! read more

The North End - The essence of The North End. - Local Flavor Near Me

The reason the neighborhood is laden with so many tourists in the summer is because it is MAGICAL. Why do I love my neighborhood so much? The sound of the North End church bells waking me up when I sleep with windows open. The fact that sometimes I go downstairs to get a coffee and find a marching band composed of little old men. Or someone strolling down the street playing their accordion. Or a small parade is taking place. Or instead of going to CVS to buy toilet paper you end up playing carnival games for 20 minutes and eating funnel cake and italian ice because you have discovered the end of Hanover has been closed off for a carnival on a random Friday night. All the old ladies and gents hanging out on their lawn chairs or park benches. The whole place is very community oriented. Ridiculous amounts of quality italian food, pizza, espresso, coffee, gelato and pastries within less than a minute of walking distance year round. The fruit/veggie market at Haymarket. Christmas lights somehow managing to look appropriate strewn on the trees 12 months out of the year. St. Leonard's peace garden. Copps Hill graveyard. A bevy of random parks (including one with A PUBLIC POOL costing only $10/summer). You can leave your laundry sitting in the washer or dryer at the local laundromat without having to worry someone will steal your clothes if you don't stay to keep an eye on them. The feasts! I can't even keep track of all of them and as long as you don't live on Hanover St. they aren't disrupting if you just want to skip them. So actually, please don't move to my neighborhood. Don't do it. I want everyone to think it is horribly inconvenient to get to and constantly crawling with tourists so that it doesn't get overly popular and everything stays just as it is. read more

I've lived here my entire life and as much as I love it, I'm going to paint a little picture for those who are thinking about coming for a visit, or interested in moving here. Pretend you're just on your way to work. You go down your steps, and sitting outside on your stoop is a family of three eating greasy pizza, drinking soda, and daddy boy is smoking a cigar. They make no effort to move out of your way, so you stumble over them to get to the sidewalk. As you walk, you pass a yoga equipment store that once was an Italian specialty shop for the elderly people to get food, medicine, and other things that they understand. There were complaints that the men sitting on the street with their little radio was a bother. Then, as you're nearing the train station, fifty tourists are standing in the middle of the sidewalk and street. Standing. Not moving incredibly slowly, standing. What are they looking at? I couldn't tell ya people, but they sure like taking pictures of sky and floor. Your skies look the same annoying tourists! Next, you finally get to work, (which is also in the north end) where people come in all day asking for directions to restaurants that they are positive they're pronouncing correctly but you have no damn clue what they're talking about. Finally you're on the way home from work, tired and such, and you have to fight through even BIGGER crowds waiting in line to eat at very overpriced Italian food that I hate to break to everyone is NOT authentically Italian, and is made by Mexican cooks. You get to the steps and sitting at the top of the stairs and lo and behold, the pizza crust, wrappers, boxes, cigarette butts and soda cans are all sitting there. Sound like fun? Nope. You go upstairs, put on your pajamas and lay into bed, just in time to hear the college educated idiots scream obscene phrases that you have to google to find out what they mean. They're next door with the music so loud that your bed shakes and you can hardly sleep. You finally get to sleep, and then you hear police cars because someone threw a beer bottle out of the window at an oncoming car. After it's all over you finally get to sleep. Now it's 9am, and you get to live this heaven ALL over again. So with this story told , I have a request. If you have no common sense and can't respect anyone other than yourself, don't come visit. Thanks. read more

By far my favorite area in Boston. Why? Because of the food and restaurants. This place is also called Little Italy. There is literally a restaurant everywhere you look, no joke! Pastas, cannolis, gelato, pizzas, etc. My favorite spots are Giacomo's, The Daily Catch, and of course Mike's Pastries. There are tons of restaurants to choose from (all mostly Italian). Also cool places to visit along the Freedom Trail and the Old North Church and Paul Revere House. Must come when in the area for sure! read more

Jane Jacobs referred to the North End several times in her seminal work "The Death and Life of Great American Cities" as an example of a vibrant urban community that planners should seek to emulate: "The streets were alive with children playing, people shopping, people strolling, people talking. Had it not been a cold January day, there would surely have been people sitting. The general street atmosphere of buoyancy, friendliness, and good health was so infectious that I began asking directions of people just for the fun of getting in on some talk." This is the North End of 1959, and due to the artificial seclusion engendered by the elevated central artery of I-93, remained that way into the 90s. I remember going to the North End back in the day and it being teeming with Italian immigrants who didn't speak a word of English. They would be out on their stoops or in front of the cafes or just standing on street corners nattering away about whatever amongst themselves. It always felt like such a real community where the neighbors knew about and cared for each other. Shortly before the Big Dig was finished, this rapidly started to change. As it became easier and easier to get from Haymarket and Fanueil Hall to the North End, real estate started booming. Property brokers caught on that this was prime real estate--kitty corner to the financial district and the seat of government, and utterly charming to boot. The first people to start creeping in who weren't Old World immigrants were the gays (I partied with some of them on their tiny balconies in the late 90s), and the gentrification of the North End increased exponentially from there. The North End still has a lot of charm. The windy, cobbled streets, jumble of architectural styles and bevy of pretty historical sites make this 1/3 square mile of land a real pleasure to traverse. Coupled with the host of wonderful eateries and regular festivals, it's always a great stop on the tourist trail or night out. But the sense of community that used to elevate this little piece of Boston to a truly unique urban enclave is rapidly dissipating. I think this area will retain it's inherent allure--no one would be so foolish as to repeat the mistake of tearing down vibrant area like they did the West End. But the days of immigrants flocking to the densely populated, central city of Boston to make a new life are long gone, and the North End will increasingly find itself with an anonymous population of wealthy urbanites and the children of wealthy suburbanites. read more

I am head over heels in love with NYC but...I gotta give it to Boston and say that Boston's North End beats New York's Little Italy. It is just so quaint and wonderful. Walked around on a beautiful sunny day and did not want to leave. If you're visiting Boston, do the right touristy thing and come here. Grab some lunch, pick up some pastries at the bakery, and simply walk around. Yeah, the streets are crowded but it's worth it. read more

Lots of Italian restaurants very tasty and goodThere's a lot of Italian culture Italian music lots of fun for the family on a date night and kids the food is very extravagant and it's authentic Italian read more

Visiting the North End of Boston made me want to move to this city, like yesterday. I am sure I am not alone with this feeling. The entire area just smells like one awesome loaf of garlic bread. The amount of Italian restaurants here is just insane and they all look unbelievable. Tons of bars, wine shops and bakeries. It is such a quaint area with beautiful apartments and such classic architecture. Not sure if this is some sort of good luck tradition but a lot of the storefronts have utensils cemented into the ground which is so neat! I cannot wait to come back and explore this area some more! read more

It's a nice afternoon walk around the neighborhood. It's easy to access and sprawling with restaurants. read more

The North End - Love the old soul, particularly. - Local Flavor Near Me

Food, food, food Wine, wine, wine Drink, drink, drink Desert, desert, desert Yum, yum, yum If you're told to wait more than 10 min, go somewhere else because theres so many places. read more

The absolute best place for Italian food in the ENTIRE state of Massachusetts....nobody even comes close...doesn't matter where you go...they are all fantastic...don't try to find a place to park...ain't gonna happen....after you eat take a walk around...it will help you to digest your food....if you are looking for dessert....some of the best Bakery's are also located here...one of the truly "LITTLE ITALY"...so MANGIAMO.... read more

The North End - Local Flavor Near Me

What has happened to the North End restaurants is appalling. Since when is it OK to serve shitty food, provide horrendous - almost belligerent - service, and charge astronomical prices? Easily the worst dining value in the city. The area has basically become just an extension of the Quincy Market area - an overpriced tourist trap. This is just another example of what urban success breeds - complacency and a steep decline in quality. read more

Exploring a narrow alleyway, stumbling on a hidden park, attending a street festival on a summer night... I could never get sick of spending time in the North End. Come here to cast your lot in the "cannoli wars": which is better, Mike's Pastry or Modern Pastry? Conduct methodical research about where to find the best gelato and espresso. Try a different Italian restaurant once a week for a year and never run out because there are so many. Admire Italianate churches on sleepy cobblestone plazas. Stop at Old North Church, where the famous "one if by land, two if by sea" signal was given. Observe a woman yelling out her window, to the neighbor across the street, in Italian, or a trio of old men sitting on a park bench smoking cigars and watching the world go by. Note the higher-than-average Vespa-to-person ratio. I have heard people say that the North End is a) full of obnoxious barely-21s barhopping on weekends, or b) a mere tourist trap. I disagree; I find it wholly charming. read more

As someone who spent my summers in Italy this place is not representative of Italian culture, aside from the cuisine. I think this place tries too hard but unfortunately caters to tourists that don't know any better. I've come here many times and have yet to hear any Italian being spoken, only in the bookstore. As an Italian myself, I really wish the north end could have been more/better. Bronx little Italy in New York is the perfect representation of Italian American culture. read more

North End, I think I'm in love with you. Granted, I was just a dorky tourist from San Diego, and I was wandering about the city, partaking in teh Freedom Trail and other delights, but then I jsut wandered up and down back alleys and side streets, and fell in love. The North End is ridiculous historic, and entirely layered; you can see the layers of Old British colonial, early Irish, and Italian immigrant populations scattered throughout the area. I love seeing the culture and community that inhabit the North End, yet one small thing stood out very clearly: I was the darkest person there. No seriosuly, my halfrican self was the darkest person around. I didn't htink about it, until I got my fourth long hard stare from an old Italian lady as I walked past St. Leonard's Catholic Church. And dont' get me started on when i decided to actually go IN the church for mass. You'd think I'd have a third eyeball or a second nose, for crying out loud. I don't. I just have long curly hair and olive skin. I'm like a burnt Sicilian. Huzzah. Am I really that special? Perhaps I was just being a bit paranoid. That aside, i love the North End. Perhaps it's because I see thnings through touristy glasses, but I liked the apartments, the graveyards, the history, the kitsch. It seemed so familiar, yet so unlike home. And I want to make it my own home one day. And then maybe there'll be a 'dark Sicilian' running around. Sweet. read more

A nice part of Boston. We stayed at the Fairmont Battery Park and found ourselves enjoying nice walks around the north end. If you crave Italian food, this is the area to go to. Long lines at the pastry and dessert stores, especially late Sunday night, you will still find a nice dining crowd out and about. The harbor views are beautiful for a walk or run and the Christopher Columbus Park is resplendent read more

The North End - Christopher Columbus Park - Local Flavor Near Me

I was compeled to write this review after an (I am still actually on it) exaustive apartment search across greater Boston, in which I was exposed to, shocked, made partially insane by, and brought tolaughing out loud at, pretty much every minute detail of most of Boston's neighborhoods. The North End was one of the areas I explored, and I just wanted to give my opinion. PROS: Just has an awsome "raison de etre" about it, the Italian, Irish, and to a smaller part Jewish culture here is REAL, not just fabricated and sold on a shelf. Great Natural Beauty- the park that is now where the old overpass that was removed in the big dig (not sure what it is called) is incredibly beautiful, and you can see most of Boston's landmarks in dramatic views from it. The dimly lit, flower lined streets are magical. Some of the Best Italian Resturants in Mass (or greater area? Don't really know) Most have great service and food. The Improv Asylum is Awesome, just go there. CONS: (Why I chose not live there) Fact: There is not a single MBTA bus route or subway stop ANYWHERE in the north end (yes you heard right, and don't say Commerial St, because thats the street the encircles the north end, its not part of it.) So have fun getting to work every day if you work in another part of boston. The concept of "a street" is a novel concept to the north end, most of them there would have trouble accomidating horses, let alone cars. In my first two days of walking around there, I saw two cars get their side view mirrors smashed off by cars trying to pass them on an already completly double parked street. I don't think a single st, besides mabey Hanover, has any actually paving on it, and most are just uneven, crazy sloped trails of asfalt and rocks. It has become the "Little Italy Theme Park", most of the resturaunts and businesses cater almost exclusivly to tourists and it would be almost impossible to eat at them regulary, exept if you are a millionare, which some posh "perminant tourists" that live there are. One third of the people in the North End at any given time are tourists, one third are people from other parts of Boston, and the other third are people that live there, born there, college students, and well to do proffesionals. All there are in the North End are Italian restaurants, bakeries, and cafes, there is practically nothing else. I think there is one Chinese Restaurant and its a store front. 90% of the buisnesses are CASH ONLY, have fun going to the ATM, paying $2 just to get your own money, and then fumbling with and mabey dropin some of it while you have it falling out of your pockets. The apartments in the north end are, while a good value size wise for your money, are horribly antiquated (I don't mean not well mantained, they are ) I mean that a large number (basically the ones you can afford) don't have electric heat, and the heat comes out of the side of your stove(called gas on gas), which is anyoning because you have a big cooktop right in the middle of your living space. Most don't have laundry in the building, so you have to shlep your laundy every week to the next street over and wait there for a couple of hours to do it. Most landlords don't include utilites in the rent so you have to pay everything in fluctuating amounts every month (even hot water). Some don't even have sinks in the bathroom, only one in living area. There is not a single "normal store", besides mabey true value, in the north end. No supermarkets, no big pharmacies, no electronic stores. Most are family run businesses that have widly varing degrees of quality and inventory from one day to the next, and guess what they're CASH ONLY. Conclusion: If you are thinking of visiting there, DEFINATLY DO, you will have a memorable and long lasting experience, give these people you money, they deserve it. But if you are thinking about living there, unless you want to cut your self off from the rest of the world, and become a permanant tourist in the Italy section of Epcot, don't do it. I'm sorry if this review offended any one the lives or works in the North End, but this is just how I feel, and I think I've painted a pretty acurate picture, please correct me on any details if I am wrong. But the North End just isn't for me and I think it isn't for most people. Thanks read more

Much like me, this place is awesome. It's my favorite place to go out to eat. You can't go wrong. Walk up and down the streets, paruse the menus, choose a place, have some solid Italian food and some wine, stumble to Mike's Pastry and get some deserts and make your way home. Perfect night. This is the oldest continutal residential settlement in Boston. It has character and history like you would not believe. I like just walking around the area during the day. I like the streets and shops. Tourists end up here a lot which gets annoying. Movie bonus: "The Spanish Prisoner" was filmed around here. Great flic. LOVE the summer festivals. The 99th Annual Fisherman's Feast is coming up Aug 15. St. Anthony's 90th annual feast is Aug 29. I'll be there. Will you? read more

This area has soooo much to offer! The hustle and bustle of people walking around the area makes it completely charming. The rich Italian history and character of the neighborhood and the pride of the business owners is apparent. Between the walking tours, pubs, oyster restaurants, part of the Freedom Trail, the pastry shops, Italian restaurants- this neighborhood has it all and more! read more

I like the neighborhood. I used to live there for ummm...let's see 4 years I think? I had a good time; the neighborhood treated me well. Very busy neighborhood though - sometimes it can be too busy especially if you live like I lived on Hanover St. I liked the fact that a everything was within 2 minutes walking distance - cvs, pharmacy, hospital, hair salon, nail salon, dry cleaning, great restaurants etc CONS: A LOT OF RATS (some of them are the size of a cat..) ewwwwww read more

This neighborhood is the place to come if your visiting Boston. Little Italy area where food is king and pastries are in high demand here. I love the ability to walk and relax and eat food and have a good time in this area. Lots of tourists here but also lots of locals in the area as well. Visit one of the shops for pizza and you need to stop at Mike's Pastry for a cannolli when you are done. read more

Instant infatuation! I walked around the North End for hours tonight, with a smile goofy plastered on my face like a kid in candy shop.. Amazing espresso on every corner.. Amazing food on every corner... 110% walkable Vibrant, bustling with energy, and while there may be some drunk people.. it's not overbearing at all, and who wouldn't want to walk around this awesome place after too much wine or whiskey.. can't say I blame them. A pastry lovers heaven.. and love pastries I do.. not to mention fresh breads galore... The architecture and atmosphere was simply one of the most amazing I have ever experienced in all of my travels. What REALLY makes this place hold 5 Stars strong for me? You can get all of these things 24 damn hours a day..fresh bread at 3 am? Forget about it. Please don't go to Boston without checking out this place, it is swarming with tourists like me because it's that fascinating. Looking back if I had only one day, or even just a few hours to spend in Boston, this is absolutely where I would choose! read more

I really like North End. Why? Because I love Italian food, and North End is Little Italy! And a LOT of Italian restaurants, coffee shops, desserts, etc. Definitely worth a visit if you're in Boston, and definitely worth it to eat here! Mike's Pastry shop for cannolis was great. read more

I love the North End - unique streets and layout, awesome restaurants, fun Feasts, great people, quintessential Boston. read more

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You want to visit an incredible neighborhood and dine on delectable dishes? Come to the North End. You'll walk the streets where my grandma and her sisters grew up, where my mom was baptized, and where you'll hear an accordianist play the theme to "The Godfather". Plus, you'll have access to some very fine gelato, cannolis, pasta, and so much more. Easy to get to, hard to leave. read more

Cafe Vittoria all the way. Hanover street is such an iconic place in Boston. And thank GOODNESS they had the brains to tell Starbucks and their awkward left wing agenda to take a hike. read more