Bricco Panetteria

A must visit in the North End area. Nice shop off the road in a beautiful, though easy to miss, alley and into a basement where magic happens. We tried that Focaccia bread and Sfogliatella. Sfogliatella was great - crispy outside and soft tasty filling. Focaccia was great as well. Enjoyed both. They are cash only, so make sure to keep some if you’re buying something from here. Definitely visit.

Bricco Panetteria is a true hidden gem. I’ve walked by it countless times without noticing, tucked away in an alley off Hanover Street. Today we followed the sign and found a small spot serving pizza al taglio—thin, focaccia-style pizza by the slice. We tried the zucchini and mozzarella, perfectly warmed and folded to eat on the go—fresh, light, and delicious. The breads looked amazing too, so I’ll be back for a loaf. Cash only and no tables—just great grab-and-go food.

We visited Bricco Salumeria & Pasta Shop as part of The Politically Incorrect North End Food Tour wit Antony, and it was one of my favorite stops of the day. This tucked-away shop is owned by Frank DePasquale, who has built a small empire of restaurants in Boston’s North End. What makes Bricco so special is that it still feels like a neighborhood spot while supplying freshly made pasta and bread for many of his other restaurants. Inside, the shelves were lined with beautiful handmade noodles, sauces, and Italian sandwiches ready to go. Antony explained how the DePasquale family wanted to keep authentic Italian food traditions alive by making everything fresh daily — and you can taste the difference. We tried a sfogliatelle pastry, its crisp, flaky layers filled with a sweet ricotta and orange-flavored filling. It was absolutely heavenly — light, fragrant, and perfectly balanced. Everything in the shop looked so tempting, I could have filled a suitcase just with their fresh pasta. Another fun fact: Tom Cruise has even dined next door at Bricco, which shows how beloved this spot is, even by celebrities. But to me, the real magic was the combination of authenticity, quality, and the feeling that you’ve discovered one of Boston’s best-kept secrets. If you love Italian food, Bricco Salumeria & Pasta Shop is a must-stop in the North End. Go for the pasta, stay for the pastries — and don’t be surprised if you find yourself planning your return trip before you even leave.

Absolute must visit… 5 star sandwiches and stuff, GREAT SERVICE and unique location

The sfogliatellas are incredible. Ended up going back 2 hours later to get more for the road!

Sfogliatella is done by a lot of bakeries in the North End but my favorite is from here! Going down an alleyway to find this place only makes it more of a fun find, but the pastries and breads really are great here. The mini Sfogliatella had great layering, a great custard filling, and all for $3! Definitely try to come at least once to this underrated secret spot!

Literal definition of hole in the wall and a MUST for anyone stopping in the North End. You need to get their sfogliatella. A delicate, flaky, crunchy pastry with a creamy, mildly sweet, lightly citrus and cinnamon filling.

Honestly, I was disappointed. There weren’t many options, and the focaccia we bought wasn’t fresh, it tasted like it had been sitting out for a while. I’ve had better bread from regular supermarket bakeries. Also, I noticed they handled bread and money without washing their hands, which didn’t feel very hygienic.

A must visit in the North End area. Nice shop off the road in a beautiful, though easy to miss, alley and into a basement where magic happens. We tried that Focaccia bread and Sfogliatella. Sfogliatella was great - crispy outside and soft tasty filling. Focaccia was great as well. Enjoyed both. They are cash only, so make sure to keep some if you're buying something from here. Definitely visit.

Summer 2025 trip to Boston. We went to the North End area and of course had to check out Italian bakery places. We heard this place was known for their sfogliatella and just had to try it! This is located off the main road and you need to walk down an alley. Such a cute little bakery shops downstairs! You're greeted by the bakers and in front of you are all the bakery goods. The sfogliatellas were delicious as this was my first time trying them. Super crispy on the outside with a fresh delicious filling inside. Note that this is cash only so be prepared to bring $$$.

[This is for the pizza and service only] Had some time to kill before a lunch appointment in the North End, so I wandered into Bricco Panneteria to see what it was all about. I'd heard good things. I walked down the alley, descended a flight of stairs, and there it was. A bunch of breads, a glass case, and three kinds of giant sheet pizzas, cut into squares. I asked if they were still hot. "They just came out" was the reply. After a mini internal debate I decided to spring for one. During removal of a slice from the case, one of the "flowers" of cheese fell off. The clerk pretended nothing happened. I hoped he'd acknowledge and remedy, but no. I took my bounty upstairs, sat at one of their outdoor tables, took a few pics, and dug in. COLD. It's not like there's a microwave oven around to heat it up. I wanted a hot slice, which is why I asked. The tomato sauce tasted like Contadina tomato paste. Which, to be fair, would be fine if the crust was hot, the cheese was melty (and 25% of it wasn't missing), and everything blended as one. But no, just cold tomato paste. Went downstairs and told him it was cold. Clerk said "It came out 10 minutes ago," as if that was going to make it hotter. I looked at him. He looked at me. Nothing happened (and yes, I tipped 20%). He wasn't planning on making it right. I took it back upstairs and threw it out. In retrospect, I should have thrown it out downstairs. Poor product, poor service.

Came here on a Saturday morning at 11am and was so happy to see they had plenty of sfogliatelles! Tried those, Nutella croissant and apricot jam croissant! All the pastries were great! So fresh and the fillings were amazing. The filling inside the sfogliatelle had an orange flavour to it! So so good! For $2.50, I will be back for more

I have seen this place on instagram so now that I was finally in the area I had to try it! You really do have to go in an alley but it's super cute, almost speakeasy esque. There are so many bread options - I went with the ciabatta but next time I want to try the olive loaf! It is cash only so definitely keep that in mind

What a find!!!! Delicious and fresh and very nice guy at the counter. Would definitely recommend this joint

Best baked goods in the North End are found in the literal hole in the wall here at Bricco. Forget the long lines at Modern Pastry and follow your nose down a tiny alley way and into a basement where fresh baked croissants, danishes, and breads await. The Nutella croissant was a hit and you can't go wrong with the chewy baguette. The best part? 2 pastries and a loaf cost us a total of $9. You can't beat that! Cash only so make sure you hit up the atm. There are also 2 small tables for outdoor seating as well.

I took my dad here with me and my goodness we had so much fun! Service is incredible and people are amazing. Still dreaming about the tomato's i bought here.

Got some desserts, pizza, and some loafs of bread. Nothing wow'd me. All were average at best. Also - too pricey for what I got. Not in a rush to return.

Little hole in the wall sandwich shop. $12 sandwiches, a variety of options. Sandwiches are huge! Can easily split or eat just half. I got the chicken Parmesan and thought it was plain. Too much bread and not enough flavor. My husband liked the Italian. Wouldn't recommend or go back.

Best bread I ever tasted I think about this place whenever I think of truly great bread

Did not realize that this "hidden" bakery and deli/sandwich shop would have some of my favorite eats during my recent Boston trip. The sign for the bakery is a little bit nondescript, but if you follow it down the alley, you will find not only the bakery, but another store selling pasta, cured meats, homemade mozzarella and ricotta, and sandwiches. We got a loaf of prosciutto and parmesan bread from the bakery as well as one of their sfogliatelles. At the deli next door, I bought a porchetta sandwich. We ate the sfogliatelle on this nice dining terrace outside the deli, and it was just as good, if not better, than Modern's (though it is a little smaller). It is the perfect amount of sweet, and the shattery pastry makes you feel like you're eating a croissant on steroids. Would wholeheartedly recommend. We did not get to the porchetta sandwich and bread until 6 hours or so later, when we returned to Southern California. They both held up decently, to my surprise. The sandwich was substantial enough to share between two people, though I think the bread-to-meat ratio could be tweaked a little (too much bread). The porchetta was nice and smoky with a tiny bit of fat, and the roasted peppers in the sandwich were a nice touch. I had never had prosciutto bread, and as a prosciutto lover, it was a dream. The bread is like a denser ciabatta with a bunch of prosciutto chunks and is infused with the umami tang of parmesan. It's even better toasted, too.

We picked up the most delicious lobster tail pastry (also known as Sfogliatella) in this cozy little basement bakery. It's tucked away down a little alley and if it weren't for Yelp, I never would've found it. You can smell the fresh bread down the street before you locate the actual bakery. They offer of variety of baguettes and fresh breads and during our visit, one pastry that was definitely speaking to us. The dough was perfectly flaky and I couldn't get over the orange flavoring and candied orange bits... I'm still thinking about it. The soft ricotta with the flaky pastry was perfection. Unfortunately, we don't have any bakeries in Indianapolis that make this treat. I guess I'll be dreaming about my next visit to Boston to reunite with this pastry. Highly recommend! Also, treat yourself and enjoy the bread on the little patio courtyard outside the bakery that looks into the kitchen where they make fresh pasta. Especially fun with kiddos!

Sfogliatella, baguette, and panella were great. We got there when they opened but a bunch of stuff was not ready yet. Prices were incredibly reasonable.

Wow. GREAT authentic bakery! As good as we have found over the years. We got some bread and pastries and everything was amazing! It can be a little hard to find, so pay attention to the signs.

I got both a sandwich ($12.95 I believe) and a pastry ($5 I believe). Pianini sandwich was flavorful and fresh and the pastry was soooooo crispy. The lemon filling was quite mild though. I typically like my lemon to have more of a zesty punch. Quick and easy service.

Cute but small little hidden bakery! The bakers are polite and efficient in getting peoples orders And I tried the sfogliatella! It was a great $3 snack (cash needed!!) The crust layers were super crunchy in a slightly hard but satisfying way, and the inside had a nice soft and thick not too sweet filling The dusting of powdered sugar added a great extra hint of sweetness! Would come back to try the beautiful breads

A well known deli in the Italian area of North Boston, with a very hard entrance to find, serving classic Italian cured meats and cheeses. We got to sample their prosciutto and provolone cheese, and both were very good. The provolone cheese had a lot of body, and some bite...did not taste like any other provolone we've had before. Would be great as a serving cheese in a charcuterie tray. The prosciutto was good, obviously cured with a lot of care. It doesn't take many people to fill up the place and make it hard to move around.

This is a must stop if you're in North Boston. Pastries are to die for, great ambience, and service!!

Overhyped sandwiches. Bread and meat are very fresh, but I got the Italian sub and although there were 3-4 different kids of meats, there were literally about 8 pieces of thinly sliced meat on a 12" sub. Think they'll make up for it with customer service??! Haha. Think again. Don't mess with the old lady. She is not there to please you. We had great Italian food and lobster in Boston. This was def the meal we would've replaced with something else.

A MUST when you find yourself in the North End in Boston. My friend who lives in the area showed us this place as he goes here frequently. I was a bit skeptical going to this place- it's tucked deep in a narrow alley and you definitely wouldn't think the best bread in Boston would be located here! But it totally is!! You then go down a couple flights of stairs and find yourself in the CUTEST bakery. There are tons of different kinds of bread everywhere. It was beautiful! The workers are so friendly and nice too. They make bread for local restaurants all around Boston. They are very humble! There were all different types of bread so I wasn't sure what to pick. I knew I wanted some type of Italian bread but they have all different kinds it was so cool. After some debate, we went with their prosciutto and parmesan bread and it was fantastic!! Definitely make your way here! My friend even said if you go early in the morning you may get yourself some freshly baked warm bread- def on my list next time I travel to this area! Check them out!

The sfogliatelle here was delicious! My first time trying this Italian pastry, it's commonly paired with coffee in the morning. The flaky pastry has a ricotta and orange filling that makes it for a not too sweet dessert.

The freshest and most delicious softest bread I have ever had in my entire life! As soon as you open the door you can smell the fresh bread aromas and it makes you want to buy everything haha. They have breads and desserts. You have to make sure to buy two or maybe three of whatever you get because one will not make it back to your place :p Highly recommend to check them out!

One of the best breads I've ever had in the US. A very small, hidden bakery in The North End. Bring cash. Come early before they sell out.

Best flakiest pastry I've had! I will be back and share with my west coast friends. Only got to experience the one item as I was on the best tour ever!

Best bread you're gonna get. A lot of the restaurants around here use them for their dinner bread. It's incredible. We always grab a few loaves and some olive oil in their small market next door. Olive bread if you're a pro, but your really can't go wrong with any. They only make pure fire. Fast service, authentic people using authentic ingredients. Wish we lived closer, but my waistline is glad we don't. Do yourself a favor and grab some loaves and get a sando next door in the pasta shop.

The best sandwich I've had in such a long time! The bread and toppings were so fresh. Highly recommend!!! The staff was helpful and nice as well. Loved the little patio they have open to eat your sandwich at. Cute little hidden gem!

Off the main drag, follow signs down a cramped alleyway and then down some stairs to get to this tiny bakery which boasts being the best in Boston. Seems like a secret hidden find, but I was highly disappointed with our purchases and the poor knowledge of the staff who assisted us. We purchased a prosciutto ciabaata bread which did not have a crusty exterior. There was so little prosciutto that it was appalling; the $12 price tag is highway robbery (to quote a fellow Yelper) for this assumed level of quality based on reviews. There also appeared to be cheddar cheese in the bread, so no idea where the Parmesan was. The baguette tasted almost exactly the same as the ciabaata--no difference in texture whatsoever and the only difference in taste was more saltiness with the ciabatta. However, while the baguette price was most reasonable at $3, I can get better tasting breads at the local supermarket bakeries. When we inquired about another bread on display ( as there were no signs), we were told it was ciabatta although it looked nothing at all like it. I just don't get the hype.

Great service, cute, and hidden bakery and deli. We were disappointed that the bread we were told was sourdough was not even remotely sour. We had no butter for the dry, plain Italian loaf, and consequently, we were let down. If I am ever in Boston again, I think I would give this place another shot. I think there was a miscommunication because of a language barrier. Lesson learned BYOB--bring your own butter folks--and choose the loaf that most looks like the sourdough you're craving.

Baker Charged me $12 for a loaf of bread! Highway Robbery! Yes it has olives but $12??? Web site said $9. Still way to high a price for what you got. Up date your web site. Stop playing on old Italian Grand mothers. Not nice.

We went to the bakery downstairs as part of a food tour and we really enjoyed watching the bakers work. I came back later and purchased some pastries for breakfast and they were amazing. Awesome place to visit when in the North End area of Boston!

I LOVE BRICCO! Their bread is always fresh and warm when you pick it up. Crispy outside and soft chewy inside, my go to is a baguette but the ciabatta is great too. While it's tucked away and a small downstairs, it's warm and smells delicious. Super affordable (everything's around $5), just know it's cash only!

Bricco Panetteria is located at the end of an alley by Bricco Panetteria and it's definitely a hidden gem. The decor is humble, simple and tiny-spaced, so people need to line up by the stairs but the staff served everything quickly. We were recommended to get a loaf with prosciutto & cheese and focaccia by a loyal customer. It was absolutely delicious with moist & delicate texture and the price was so reasonable with the size.

I know all the reviews have been saying this place is a hidden gem, but there is no better way to describe it! Tucked away behind an alleyway, Bricco Panetteria does kid around with their bread. I believe this bakery caters bread to a few nice restaurants around the North End area so you know its legit. Beware this place is cash only! I tried the proscuitto & parmesan bread and wow it was good. Not only was the inside soft and chewy the outside was perfectly crisp. Definitely a must try when you come!! I've never had bread with meat or cheese baked inside of it but it's quite a genius idea! The lemon sfogliatella was amazing as well. I've never had sfogliatella before but it was soo crispy with just the right amount of filling and the hint of lemon flavor. Next time I visit Boston, I will surely be back to try their other flavors of bread and pastries! They all look so appetizing.

Great sandwiches and bread. Super cute down a little alley off Hanover. Sandwiches are huge.

Pro-tip: Grab some bread here and then pop next door (up the stairs) for some cold cuts and enjoy a great sandwich Ambience: 4* Prices: 4* Taste: 5* Quality: 5* Down a hidden alley, walk to the end, defend some stairs and you are in bread heaven. Once you enter the smell of yeast and hot and fresh bread hit you in the face. It really makes you want to buy everything. Well worth a stop.

We got fresh olive bread, which was great - crispy exterior, and fluffy interior with an appropriate spread of olives. We also got the sfogliatella, and while it says lemon ricotta, the same candied orange is very much present, which I don't enjoy. The pastry itself is super crisp and fun to eat, so if you like sfogliatella, you've like this.

Thank you Yelp for helping me find this bakery just steps away from Modern Pastry. You have to go down the steps to get to the bakery. We were greeted by the most wonderful scent of bread. It pays to get there early. We picked up a loaf with prosciutto and cheese and it was absolutely delicious. The outside was hard and crunchy and the inside was fluffy and flavorful. It was $10 for a loaf but it was well worth it. I will be back to Bricco's for sure. Plus there's a little picnic table you can sit and have some bread and other yummies.

Hidden gem! Amazing bread and pasta and unusually reasonable prices! Had a Nutella croissant and loved it.

Best sfogliatella in Boston, and I've tried a lot! Beautifully flavored and full with ricotta and still crunchy on the outside. The square pizza wasn't my favorite, but breads looked good. Cash only!

Ahh the smell. My favourite bakery. This is the same place that serves bread to a lot of local north end italian restaurants. Their bread is always fresh and the people are super fresh. Get there earlier in the morning to get your hands on the freshest of those loafs. Great to buy in bulk and always served with a smile.

Just was walking around Boston and came across this place! Was looking for some bread and this place was a little hidden. Immediately when we walked in it smelled so good of warm fresh bread. It was a sign that this place made good bread. I was originally looking for a bagel which they don't sell but decided to get a croissant because it smelled so good in there. Would love to go back and get a loaf of bread sometime! The croissant was delicious!

We love this cute hidden bread shop in the north end. They have a lot of different options to chose from and are selective with their flour. I could eat the bread all day haha. They also use the bread from here in DePasquale ventures restaurants and for the sandwiches next door at the market- so good!

Whoa, what a hidden gem! Finding this store down the alleyway feels like such an adventure. We got the lemon ricotta sfogliatellas, which were so small and cute. And, most importantly, tasted so good! The exterior was flaky and the interior was so soft. The lemon flavor was very present. There's like two little benches right outside the store in the alleyway where you can sit and enjoy your pastries if you're not in a rush! Just remember that this place is CASH ONLY!

Mixed experience, the Olive loaf was fine so was the basic French baguette. I was very excited to try the prosciutto ciabaata bread, it was a complete disappointment. It tasted as if it were smoked something, not prosciutto. The entire flavor was horrible for $12. I should have gone with the basic baguette and been happier. Staff wasn't friendly in the bakery or across the way in the deli area. There is a restroom and a back room to take a seat for a break.

Talking points: Location / Selection / Customer Service Cash only. Despite having gone to North End countless of times, I actually only found out about Bricco Panetteria (the Panetteria is separate from the 'Bricco' ground level restaurant) through Yelp because their location is tucked away and almost a certain 'miss' if you weren't looking for them. Bricco Panetteria is a very small basement level shop where you can pick up some authentic Italian baked goods fresh out of the oven. To get there, you make a turn next to Bricco restaurant into a narrow alleyway (look for the signage) just steps from the beginning of Hanover Street, and then go down a few stairs. Their baked goods selection will usually include whole Italian bread and loves, and a few selection of Italian pastries and flatbread pizza. Their loaves/breads are huge btw, and will serve multiple meals or guests. On my first visit, I got there around 2pm in the afternoon and the selection was very limited by then so you'll need to get there early for the best selection. The next time I visited at 10am on a weekday and was also greeted by a nearly empty pastry case. Luckily they had fresh bread baking in the oven and I was able to come around in an hour for a better selection of fresh bread. Their first batch of bread is available around 5am and those sell out so quickly as they supply bread to many of the restaurants in North End. The bakers here seem to share multiple responsibilities in both baking and serving customers at the counter. The lady who greeted me at the counter was so friendly to take the time to explain the bread selection to me, including the texture and best uses. With her recommendation, I went with a Sourdough bread for its soft interior, and picked up a slice of pizza as well. Even though it took me three visits to finally pick up some bread, I'd definitely come back when I need more bread in the future.

Can't speak to the food, but the espresso martinis are soooo good here. Also their regular martinis are really yummy instead of using olive juice, I think they use banana pepper juice. Try getting the regular Martini filthy... It's a really nice flavor/twist on a traditional martini. I also really love the bar itself. It's a small space so don't expect a lot of space in between you and others but if you don't mind, the lighting is a mood and the bartenders are hilarious. Def my go to spot for espresso martinis. A little on the expensive side though, so keep that in mind.

Bricco Panetteria... you'll probably pass it as it's a low key underground shop with no seating, but it delivers high quality and fresh subs that are delicious. The bread is really hard if you like that crunchy Italian bread, and the portions are generous! My order: Lady panini (mozzarella, tomato, basil, olive oil) add turkey Go walk across the street and sit outside- the view paired with a great sandwich? Priceless (kinda, it was $12)

If I could give no stars I would. Came here after hearing it's the best bread in Boston. Don't waste your money or time. Worst part is they lied. We asked about the prosciutto bread and they said "oh yes, it has prosciutto and parmigiana cheese." It had HAM AND CHEDDAR!?!? They probably serve egg noodles and ketchup and call that spaghetti marinara at their restaurant and serve Oscar Meyer bologna at their salumeria calling it Mortadella!