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North End

North End

About
Boston's Little Italy is the city’s oldest neighborhood, famous for its Italian restaurants and pastry shops, and centuries-old architecture. Stroll around this Italian American enclave to discover its narrow, cobbled alleys and iconic streets like Hanover Street. The best way to taste some of the fantastic food here is by joining a walking food tour. Or book yourself on a history tour to learn about the significance of landmarks like Paul Revere's house and the Old North Church. The North End is also part of the Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile path that retraces the early history of the United States across 16 significant locations. – Tripadvisor
Duration: 1-2 hours
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The area
Neighborhood: North End
Wandering around Boston’s North End can feel like being transported to Europe. Stroll down Hanover and Salem streets for the finest Italian restaurants, bakeries, cafes, and a few boutique shops. Take part in the big debate as to whether Modern Pastry or Mike’s serves a better cannoli. Before your food coma sets in, make sure to stop by historic Paul Revere’s home, and follow the Freedom Trail to Old North Church and Copp’s Hill Burying Ground. Take a rest in a cafe on Hanover street and observe the quirky, European character of the North End.
How to get there
  • Haymarket • 5 min walk
  • North Station • 8 min walk
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See what travelers are saying
  • purplevortex
    Charlton, New York66 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Walk around aimlessly! So much to see.
    Walk around aimlessly, there's so much to see. Take the road less traveled. Come hungry. Don't be put off by the lines at the bakeries, they move fast. Grab a gelato. People watch. But make dinner reservations in advance!
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 14, 2023
  • Dave W
    Bradenton, Florida9 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The North End is a must visit if you’re in Boston
    If you like home style Italian food, old buildings , brick and cobblestone roads that are very narrow and pastry shops you’ll love the north end. I’m a foodie so this place is like heaven to me. It really doesn’t matter which restaurant you choose to have lunch or dinner in, they’re all great. You don’t need to wait outside the ones that have long lines and a 1 1/2 hour wait, you can’t go wrong with any of them. Stop in and try them if you weren’t impressed then try another one the next day. About the only difference is the service. Some great, some good but none of them are bad. If they were they wouldn’t be here anymore. The food is great in every one of them. I’ve eaten in at least 50 of them and they’re all good. Same thing with the big 3 pastry shops. Mike’s gets the longest lines but Modern or Bova’s are just as good or better. People I’ve talked to like the cannolis at Mike’s the best but I like Moderns pastries better and Bova’s is open 24/7 and been there the longest. Hanover and Salem are the two streets where most everything is but don’t forget to go down the side streets either because there are a lot of great places to eat on them too. Very narrow streets and lots of people in the north end but it’s a MUST to visit.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written October 17, 2023
  • OrlandoMouse
    St. Augustine, Florida2,318 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    I never knew Boston had a great Italian Food area
    What can one say about the North End, so many restaurants, so many bars, so many bakeries, so much history and so little time to take it all in. The Freedom Trail can take you through some of the historical sights but there is more. Hanover Street is the most dominant of Italian restaurant offerings. Who knew that the North End of Boston would be an Italian Food Haven. Take an adventure on the many side streets and discover bakeries, seafood, small pubs, for any foodie or gastro hunter, it is an adventure zone. So many of these restaurants and pastry shops reviews can be found online. The architecture is also unique and adds character to the neighborhood. Take several hours or several days to explore, to eat, to enjoy.
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 26, 2023
  • christopherbO9687MP
    Acton, Massachusetts745 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great Boston neighborhood to visit on foot
    The North End is a great Boston neighborhood to visit on foot for its many restaurants & shops. The main shopping & restaurant district concentrates on Hannover Street. Italian restaurants of every description (and price point) are along that street, as are numerous pastry shops. Also wander through some of the quieter residential streets (many of them one-way) to see how the community lives.
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written March 18, 2024
  • DannyD81
    Lodi, New Jersey538 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    North End Boston...a Gem!
    Thoroughly enjoyed the time we spent in North End in our recent trip to Boston. Its Little Italy is my favorite of any of the major cities, and they have some of the best food and pastry shops. Very peaceful to stroll around, except for all the Red Sox gear that other people are wearing! Go Yankees!
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written June 19, 2024
  • bakerm2290
    Raleigh, North Carolina435 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Classic!
    Just walking around brings you back in history! Our favs: Mike's Pastry, Carmelinas, Modern Pastry, Salumeria Italiana, the Paul Revere statue, and the list goes on! Take plenty of time to just take it all in!
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 29, 2024
  • Kim C
    La Crosse, Wisconsin883 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    LOVED everything....
    Stayed at a lovely boutique hotel (Harborside Inn) which was just a few steps away from everything we wanted to see and do: Freedom Trail, water, restaurants, etc. Easy to get transportation as well as feel the heartbeat of the city. Loved the restaurants that we could just walk over and pop into whenever we were ready!
    Visited August 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written August 8, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles7,255 reviews
Excellent
5,253
Very good
1,740
Average
221
Poor
25
Terrible
17

DocHowie
Boston, MA43 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2019
I am actually from Boston and have visited the North Bend on numerous occasions. A neighborhood that was once an Italian enclave is now home to overpriced restaurants and crowds of people both day and night, 7 days a week.

Where a bowl of pasta Bolognese will cost you almost $20 (that’s basically pasta with meat sauce) where parking will require you to cash in your 401(k) plan to get your car back..

Where restaurants don’t publish prices on their online menu. Where asking for Veal Parmesan is met with “No we don’t have that but you can choose Our Veal Marsala”. Which is $31 and good luck finding the veal in all the mushrooms.

The old neighborhoods are not what they used to be!
Written January 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jim Curtin
Walpole, MA12 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2020 • Couples
Walking through the streets of the North End reminds me of my visits to Florence. The pandemic has one silver lining with the restaurants being allowed by the City to conduct al fresco dining on the sidewalks and parking spaces; hopefully a new seasonal trend that gives it a European flair.
As it is a part of the Freedom Trail it as well is a treasure chest of historic sites and tails. You will occasionally hear conversations in Italian that gives you appreciation for one of the romance languages.
A must see for tourists and residents alike.
Written December 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

jack M
New York City, NY1,191 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2021
I had visited the North End in the past. I always liked its atmosphere and historical aspects. This time, however, I realized on VERY difficult it is to visit this neighborhood. Access and parking is inexistent (unless willing to pay as much as $40 dollars in a private garage). I have a handicapped placard and yet I could find no place for me to park. And what's with the residents only parking places on the street? In other words it took me cc. 40 minutes of driving in circles before I could park the car far from the Norg End.
Bottom line. Will not visit this tourist unfriendly place again.
Written September 19, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

HK3864
13 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2020
It's more charming than Little Italy in NYC where it's been overtaken by Chinatown there. (I'm from Hong Kong so it is not racist statement.) And not sure if any Italians still live there. But I think there are still Italians/Italian-Americans living in the North End. Many delicious Italian food places.
Those 2 old men who played a few tunes of their violin and asked people sitting outside for money were annoying. They were just UNPLEASANT. And never smiled. One could tell they did NOT enjoy doing what they were doing. Why would any couple want to pay THEM any money?
Written January 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

frank p
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022
We met Bobby Agrippino our tour guide and proprietor of North End. He was very friendly and grew up in the Northern part of Boston. Bobby's tour consisted of walking along each street with information about the restaurants, churches, schools and the home where Rose Kennedy was born. With each restaurant we entered there was pizza, Italian sandwiches, araicini, foglio and cannolis from the famous Mike's Bakery. Do not eat lunch. Bobby will make sure you leave full!
Written May 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

AngelRay
Russell, MA3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2022
This was our first trip to Boston's historic North End. There are so many wonderful restaurants and highlights to see. We ate the most delicious cannoli and drank the frothiest cappuccino at the oldest cafe in the North End! It was full of antiques and warm with the buzz of comforting conversations. Can't wait to go back!
Written February 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

homie41
Larbert, UK13 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Family
Fantastic city would recommend Boston to anyone looking for a grown up American city adventure. Everyone is so nice and polite . We went to a Red Sox game on a Friday night what a amazing exciting night . Headed off to the ocean to see the whales ( they did not disappoint) looking forward to going again some day

Boston we miss you very much
Written August 1, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mel C
coral gables140 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2019
The Italian restaurants are fine, but what you really want to do is steel your nerves and drive through the neighborhood for over an hour to find a place to park. Negotiating narrow one-way streets that abruptly end is a wonderful way to pass the time. NOT. Honestly, I got so frazzled that I drove out of the place all the way to our hotel on the South Shore and ate a pizza while the rest of the family dined somewhere on Prince Street. Paul Revere's Old North Church is here, if you have the temperament to find it. Ciao.
Written February 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TrailTrekker15
Tallahassee, FL5,496 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2022 • Solo
I spent much of my time in Boston in the North End Neighborhood. The neighborhood has the feel of an old European city with narrow streets and old buildings. Part of the Freedom Trail runs through the neighborhood including Paul Revere’s House and the Old North Church. The food was incredible! I had dinner at BenCotto Italian and dessert a couple of times at Bova’s Bakery. This is a must-visit area of Boston!
Written March 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Katie
10 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2019
If you like italian food (like myself), this is pretty darn close to cuisine heaven. Even the scenery feels very italian-ish, narrow streets, lots of old buildings everywhere and a mixture of gelato and pasta just about everywhere you go. The only bad part is how crowded it got. Friend and I went on a Friday and saw a huge line outside Giacomo's, which we had heard was the best restaurant. It seems however, they did not take reservations. If you are walking around it is hard to know where to go or what prices to expect, as the menus outside don't always reflect serving sizes. However, despite the trouble navigating I would definitely recommend checking this out to all the foodies out there!
Written February 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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NORTH END (2024) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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