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
Neighbourhood: 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
  • Aquarium • 8 min walk
Reach out directly
See what travellers are saying
  • texazcharlie
    McKinney, Texas89 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Food, food, food (and history)
    If you love to eat, then head for the North End. It's the Italian part of Boston and the smells and sounds along the narrow streets are amazing. Open windows and doors everywhere. Tried cannolis from Mike's and the next day got sandwiches from Salumeria Italiana and walked to Paul Revere Mall for a picnic on the benches there. Dines ad Lucia Ristorante the next night and the food was wonderful. Toured Paul Revere's home, walked past the North Church and walked through Copps Hill Burying Ground.
    Visited July 2023
    Written 11 July 2023
  • KD2
    Houston, Texas9 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Enjoyable taste of Italy
    We’d just returned from Rome and Amalfi -then visited Little Italy in Boston. It did not disappoint. We were decided to have dinner early and were fortunate to get right in a Mamma Maria’s. The tuna tartare was eatable but I’d NEVER order it again. The Lobster Ravioli entree saved the day- it was delicious! We took a delightful evening stroll…saw the Paul Revere statue, Freedom trail and took home a Little Regina’s pizza pie (for a late night snack)
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 27 July 2023
  • homie41
    Larbert, United Kingdom6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fantastic Boston
    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
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 1 August 2023
  • 363cymru123
    Cardiff, United Kingdom129 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    A pleasant area
    A walk around the North End is great for families. Visit the Boston tea party ships and museum, and the children's museum which are across the bridge from each other. Along the boardwalk at the moment there are lots of painted statues of cows for charity which the children love. Visit the New England Aquarium on a rainy day. For history buffs there is Paul Revere House, Paul Revere Mall, Old North Church and St. Stephen's Church. While in the north end you must try cannoli's at either Mike's Pastry or Modern Pastry, both are yummy!
    Visited August 2023
    Written 6 August 2023
  • Kate D
    35 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wow just Wow
    You will feel like you are in a little European town, or you can make believe you are there. Don't get lost on the bus line like we did and wind up going to the too far north part of town. The food, the people, the pastries, amazing. The church ladies so sweet unless you try and eat a cannoli in their church garden and then you will have hell to pay. A must see and a must experience, try Modern pastry but take cash, try Ricardo's for the swordfish. So many places and not enough time. Pray in St. Leonard's church but watch out for the church ladies.
    Visited August 2023
    Written 14 August 2023
  • Tee L
    Staten Island, New York7 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    One word- Delicious!
    We loved visiting the North End! Carmelina's is by far one of my favorites (and their meatball appetizer is to die for). Mike's Pastries, although iconic, had a line out the door and I wondered if it was just the hype or a really amazing baked confection. A bit of both, I suppose. The true vibe was incredible and architecture was superb. A must visit for a foodie!
    Visited August 2023
    Written 16 August 2023
  • SnooksintheDesert
    Phoenix, Arizona580 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    North End
    Ride-share dropped us here from our Seaport hotel - easy to walk & very compact. Streets are narrow, cool architecture. Lots of places to eat - some ver pricy, look for neighborhood places instead
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 12 September 2023
  • TheCityBreakers
    182 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Little Italy
    We knew nothing about Boston’s Little Italy until we wandered into the North End and saw many Italian restaurants! A shop owner briefly explained the history of the area and we enjoyed walking its historic streets. We sat on the outside terrace of one of the restaurants opposite the Paul Revere statute and watched the work go by.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 17 September 2023
  • purplevortex
    Charlton, New York49 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
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 14 October 2023
  • Dave W
    3 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
    Travelled with friends
    Written 17 October 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles7,246 reviews
Excellent
5,244
Very good
1,740
Average
221
Poor
25
Terrible
18

christopherbO9687MP
Acton, MA718 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Solo
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.
Written 18 March 2024
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.

Steven M
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Solo
This Pint of Guinness saved my life today! Delicious and creamy! Would recommend if in need of some life saving!
Written 16 November 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.

OrlandoMouse
St. Augustine, FL2,239 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Couples
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.
Written 26 October 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.

pjgrad
Kent, WA502 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Couples
What a fun neighborhood to walk around. Get a cannoli. Get a slice. Do some people watching. There is a thin park at the border of the North End with tables and swings. You can eat your cannoli while swinging.
Written 22 October 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.

Dave W
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Friends
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.
Written 17 October 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.

purplevortex
Charlton, NY49 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Couples
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!
Written 14 October 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.

TheCityBreakers
Lancashire182 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Friends
We knew nothing about Boston’s Little Italy until we wandered into the North End and saw many Italian restaurants!
A shop owner briefly explained the history of the area and we enjoyed walking its historic streets. We sat on the outside terrace of one of the restaurants opposite the Paul Revere statute and watched the work go by.
Written 17 September 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.

SnooksintheDesert
Phoenix, AZ580 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Couples
Ride-share dropped us here from our Seaport hotel - easy to walk & very compact. Streets are narrow, cool architecture. Lots of places to eat - some ver pricy, look for neighborhood places instead
Written 12 September 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.

TravelingBum10
United States2,741 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Couples
This is a great part of Boston. It’s very busy so have patience if you drive there. There’s some street parking but also parking garages.
Written 28 August 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.

Lori M
31 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Friends
I loved this area. It has beautiful architecture, lots of things to look at and tasty food. This was my favorite area to explore during my trip. I felt to so at home here and would recommend any visitors to Boston to check it out.
Written 20 August 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.

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

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