Modern Pastry Shop
Pastry shop · North End
257 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02113
Highlights
Authentic Italian bakery offering cannoli, sfogliatelle, pies, and cakes
Authentic Italian bakery offering cannoli, sfogliatelle, pies, and cakes
"Bostonians are fiercely loyal to their favorite “authentic Italian” bakeries, but we are, bravely, willing to say that Modern Pastry sells the best cannoli on Hanover Street. Modern has fewer shell and filling options than other bakeries, but what they lack in variety they make up for in quality: the cannolo shell here is thicker and drier than others, and the creamy ricotta filling is only lightly sweetened, helping Modern’s pastries avoid the teeth-achingly rich flavor of lesser cannoli at other spots in town. We go for the chocolate dipped shell with traditional ricotta filling and a pistachio topping. The line outside this cash-only shop is intimidating but moves quickly." - lala thaddeus, tanya edwards
"Modern is hard to miss, with its neon sign and brightly lit windows showing off cannoli, cakes, and other sweet treats. The cannoli at Modern are piped with ricotta filling fresh to order (a key factor that sets it apart from its touristy neighbor). Modern is also home to the city’s best lobster tail, which is a bigger take on sfogliatelle, perhaps the most famous dessert from Naples. Pair your baked goods with a cappuccino, and take some tiramisu and/or amaretto cake for the road." - Erika Adams
"A North End rival to the other famous cannoli shop, pairing traditional Sicilian pastries with an old-school pastry-shop ambiance — a core stop for sampling the neighborhood's cannoli offerings." - Erika Adams
"Not only does this bakery have arguably the best sign in Boston (sorry, Citgo), but it also has the best sfogliatella in Boston. These flaky, orange-flavored, ricotta-filled pastries hail from Napoli, and Modern’s version will (if you close your eyes on a warm evening) take you on a little trip to the city of their origin." - Tanya Edwards
"Bostonians are fiercely loyal to their favorite “authentic Italian” bakeries, but we are, bravely, willing to say that Modern Pastry sells the best cannoli on Hanover Street. Modern has fewer shell and filling options than other bakeries, but what they lack in variety they make up for in quality: the cannolo shell here is thicker and drier than others, and the creamy ricotta filling is only lightly sweetened, helping Modern’s pastries avoid the teeth-achingly rich flavor of lesser cannoli at other spots in town. We go for the chocolate dipped shell with traditional ricotta filling and a pistachio topping. The line outside this cash-only shop is intimidating but moves quickly. Linda Camposphoto credit: Linda Campos" - Lala Thaddeus
