North End

One of my favorite places to visit in Boston is the North End. With multiple authentic Italian restaurants and authentic pastry shops you can't miss! In addition to this, there are some great shops, corner stores, liquor or "package" stores. If you're creative you can find some very unique gifts to take home!

Anyone who wants to get to know Boston should walk the North End on a sunny clear day. It's such an interesting neighborhood, full of history, good food, and charm - really worth strolling through. The weekends are nuts here, so this time we came on a weekday and that was perfect. We walked, did a tour of the Paul Revere House, went to North Church (closed), stopped in a friendly coffee shop, bought pastries at Mike's Pastry and had a lovely morning.

The north end or also known as the Italian district is a great place to spend your days. Whether you're starting at one of the many pastry, shops and coffee shops in the morning or one of the restaurants in the evening, you can find everything you want in this area. Easy connection to the wharf as well and plenty of areas to walk around with and enjoy.

Visiting boston you can't miss the north end, also known as the Italian section. There are many stops of the freedom Trail in this area as well as over 80+ restaurants, graveyards, churches, bakeries, and a ton of other amazing sites. If you're going to do a food tour check out Robert Agrippino from feast on food and culture, north end Boston food tour. He's a born and bred local north end guy giving amazing tours of the area and sharing personal stories of his youth. Definitely a must do in my opinion. Nothing like getting it from the source. 617-719-9542

I'll tell yall what.. coming g here alone and trying to find good food is not a good idea. You gotta know where you are going and what you are looking for. So much good food to find, but be prepared because parking is CRAZY and the layout of North End can be a place where you can easily get lost. Great treasure hunt though!

Pros: Exciting vibe, plenty of food places to eat at, huge neighborhood To note: Super packed

This is an excellent neighborhood to visit for the best in Italian food! There are so many Italian restaurants here, along a few blocks all with slightly different styles of Italian food... from Napoli pizzas to homemade pasta dishes, and all the various entrées, as well as sweets - this community has them all! Highly recommend stopping in, but do your research and make reservations, as they're busy! Save room for dessert too, as they have two of the most popular pastry shops in Boston here as well. And, bonus - the Freedom Trail runs through this area too!

Tons of dining options on Hanover street. Be sure to make a reservation if they accept it. You will find a spot no matter how busy,

If you visit Boston and skip the historic North End, you're doing it wrong. You should love authentic Italian food, world class pastries and cappuccinos. If not, the ghost of Paul Revere will haunt you. Boston's North End is the most Italian neighborhood in New England. It is also home to some of the oldest buildings in the city. Ye Olde Union Oyster House is one of the oldest restaurants in the country! The Freedom Trail goes through the North End, and brings tourists to places like the Paul Revere house, Est. 1680. You can travel it alone or follow the tour. Whether you're hungry for pasta, want a quick slice to go, thirsty for aged wines, need a caffeine boost or craving sweets, the North End offers it all and then some! For a small area you could spend hours exploring all of the little shops, cafes, deli's and restaurants. Hanover street is typically the main event with famous destinations like Mike's Pastries, but I'd recommend exploring Salem Street as well. One of my favorite restaurants, La Famiglia Gorgio's, resides there. The famous Regina Pizzeria is located on Thacher. The North End is within walking distance from Faneuil hall and Quincy Market. Although the foodcourt there has some desirable fast-food finds, you'll be missing out by stopping there. During summer the streets are lined with makeshift patios for additional seating, which enhances the atmosphere yet limits street parking. Garages and metered spots surround the area but plan on walking a lot. I suggest taking the T to Haymarket, green or orange line, and crossing over the Rose Kennedy Greenway on foot. Mangia!

When in Boston, The North End area is a most to check out. Paul Revere's house and the Old North Church is located in this area. As well as the Rose Kennedy's Rose Garden. This area has several blocks with incredible Italian restaurants and pastry shoppes to choose from. Remember to check out the side streets to check out shops. Be careful of the cobblestone walk/streets. This area is certainly a must to check out and enjoy the great food!

The North End is one of my favorite areas in Boston. I felt like I was in Europe on our visit this past week. Between the bakeries, cobblestone streets, and authentic Italian food, it's quite the charming place to go. Paul Revere's house and Old North Church are an absolute must. Make sure you have cash on hand to visit Mike's Pastry. For those with gluten intolerances/celiac, there are several restaurants (Al Dente has amazing GF garlic bread and penne).

Totally worth it to visit! Love the food and old historical Italian feel of the North end.

Whats not to LOVE about the North End? Easy to walk, so many options of food and drink. Lots of history. One of my favorite places that we visit frequently.

We had Cookie Cream Sandwich. Overall it was very hard and difficult to eat. The cream cheese filling complemented fine with the cookie but I would recommend trying some other pastry.

So the locals called this area little Italy for a reason! The best Italian restaurants, bakeries, pizza shops, bars and more are all here. Everything you try anywhere is absolutely delicious. From Mike's cannolis, Regina's pizza, or even or Ernesto's pizza all sooo good! If you come to Boston you definitely have to check out the north end.

For my 100th review. Boston's N.End is ready for outdoor dining, feels more European with all the sidewalk seating areas popping up!This neighborhood has oodles of Italian eateries, bakeries, speciality food shops. Also the historic Paul Revere House, Old N. Church and St. Leonard of Port Maurice Church built by early Italian immigrants.

Can I live above one of the restaurants? Or the basement? I fell in love with north end and I really didn't think I would. Cute little area with its narrow, cobblestone streets. I've heard all my life how Boston has the best Italian. I grew up in Savanah, but now live in Fort Worth. My favorite Italian restaurant was in Savanah. I haven't found any Italian restaurant in tx that I actually enjoy. I thought ppl were bs'ing about the good Italian in Boston, they weren't. The two restaurants I ate at was the best Italian food I've had in awhile. I need a week here just to eat at all restaurants in North end!!!

The city's leader has really hurt the North End businesses. Shocking compared to other parts of the city. No doubt this neighborhood was not allowed to regain and recover from the pandemic like other parts of the city, back bay, south boston, downtown and china town.Before you couldn't go wrong with any restaurant in the North End. They are hurting all over the place in the North End. We were offered 20% off our bill IF WE PAID CASH. Very sad to see one of Boston's most historic and oldest neighborhoods which serves millions of visitors and tourists annually disregarded by the city's leader and someone who doesn't understand Boston at ALL. Previous leaders cared about ALL of Boston and not just some areas. Very sad to see the beloved North End in this current state. We were all shocked tonight after years of outstanding food and now seeing every establishment hurting in this part of town compared to other neighborhoods that are thriving and recovered. From dinner to the pastry and coffee shops one could tell business was suffering badly. We have never seen it like this before.Heartbreaking. Boston deserves better! If you want to see first hand the results of exclusive and selective policies and the damage done go visit the North End. Wow!

The North End, unlike Times Square, is a favorite for locals and tourists alike. Word to the wise: plan your parking ahead of time. Finding parking here is difficult even in dreams! Haymarket garage is one nearby option, and there is parking at the waterfront. Though, if you're going to wine and dine, take an Uber or the T. North The North End is known as Little Italy, and for good reason! Narrow(-ish) streets, lots of brick and stone, and of course, TONS of options for food, drink, and some more in-between items like a barber shop, realtor, etc. Even if your hair is cut, your stomach full, and you are on a Cannoli detox, the North End is still a superb neighborhood for taking a stroll and just exploring. P.S. Mike's Pastry is the famous one, but Modern Pastry is absolutely worth a visit!

I have not been home in Boston without a trip to the North End. I park in the Haymarket Garage. Look it up and you will begin a three hour adventure. Modern is where true Bostonians go for excellent cannoli and so much more. I enjoy sitting at Modern in the morning for a cup of coffee. Bova's bakery has excellent bread and delicious stromboli. Last week I got a delicious loaf with sesame seeds and you could smell it through the bag. I ordered half a dozen of the pistachio macaroons. They looked picture perfect but they were way too sweet. I think someone was heavy with the hand with that batch or something. Regina pizzeria is another must for me. There is usually a line out the door. I either get there before they open at 11:00 am, sit at the bar or order to go and find a bench nearby. I've been to many good restaurants here. I even have the North End cookbook in my collection. Overall, there is something special when you mix history with really good food in an old Italian section of town.

Though rife with tourists, Boston's North End is nonetheless clean, orderly and visually appealing, offering an abundance of artifacts and artifices suited to the needs of the most fanatic of Revolutionary War history buffs. But the place has another history, as well. The North End is Boston's oldest residential neighborhood. Rich folk, hookers, the Irish, Eastern European Jews, and eventually, people from Italy top-to-bottom, have all taken a turn at occupying the blocks running from today's Central Artery to the waterfront. By 1930, the neighborhood was entirely Italian. But, over time, the housing stock deteriorated, while the City pursued a plan to improve Boston's transportation infrastructure, no matter the affect on its citizens, and the majority of Italians left the North End for the suburbs. More recent preservation and investment have revitalized the old neighborhood, but, notwithstanding local efforts to hold onto the North End's Italian heritage, there are fewer Italian families living there now than at any time in the past 100 years, they having been replaced by gentrifying, white-collar singles. Today's North End resembles an Italian-American theme park, where more Italian restaurants operate now than did so 90 years ago, and where the occasional feast or procession will draw as many as a quarter-million visitors to a neighborhood of 10,000 residents. But the restaurants serve good food, and the festivals are promoted by local Italian-Americans, so there's a thread of authenticity running through this scaled-up, 21st-century iteration of the North End as an ethnic haven. One wonders what the rising population of Millennial renters will offer the community, when responsibility for its care falls to them.

If a city has a Little Italy you can bet your cannoli that I'll be visiting. So on a trip to Boston I sought out the epicenter of all things Italian and we went for a stroll. The North End is a lively neighborhood, filled with old brick buildings, colorful shops, and enough Italian restaurants/bakeries/pizzerias and gelato shops to get you full and happy. Don't dream of parking here- it's not even worth trying and it's a pedestrian filled area. Have a car drop you at Mike's Pastry where you can window shop the obscene pastries and take it from there.

Day # 8 of our Drive Across America. It was the shortest and last leg of our trip, 467 miles, 7.5 hours, Niagara Falls to Boston. We made it through a lot of bad weather and our rental Toyota Sequoia which we named "Stormy" got the job done and kept us safe. We have 3 days in Boston before heading home and decided to spend some time in the North End. Boston is my favorite town in the US, and the North End is my favorite part of Boston. It is the best and biggest "Little Italy" in the U.S., sorry NY. ha ha It is like being in Italy. Lose yourself in the culture and the food. The food can be pricey so check out the menu before choosing a restaurant. Yelp reviews are helpful too. There are some bargains if you shop around. Check out the markets and stores too. It's a foodie nirvana. In addition to food, it is the location of some our most treasured historical landmarks, The Old North Church and Paul Revere's house. This is a must see in Boston. Check it out. Listed in Drive Across America: https://www.yelp.com/collection/4_4-FCUBHEQBq43u7DXRig

It measures less than one half of a square mile, and its the oldest residential community in Boston -going way way back to the 1630's. But despite its diminutive size, the North End can boast that it has about 100 businesses and some of the very best Italian food you have ever tasted. What a joy it is to stroll up and down Richmond and Hanover Streets, or explore some of the side streets as your mouth waters reading the menus and catching glimpses of all that great looking food through the restaurant windows or on the outdoor patios. The streets are narrow and crowded, and getting a parking spot is all but an impossibility, but don't let any of that deter you from visiting one of the very best places to visit in Boston. Buon appetite !!

This place is definitely pretty cool but you must know where to park or take some form of public transportation. There are tow trucks driving around looking to tow people !!!!! We tried to eat here when we visited but being unfamiliar with Boston . We could find any parking every paid spot was taken . We ended up grabbing some pizza from a small shop and heading out . I really had my heart set on a certain Italian restaurant though. If we ever go back we will plan it out better!

Love love love my new home! The North End is definitely one of my favorite places in Boston! The food, the people, the atmosphere are one of a kind!

I instantly fell in love with the North End, or "Little Italy" as it's referred to. It's a vibrant area filled with shops and restaurants - most of which stating how their red sauce, oysters, etc. are the best. While visiting this area, we found the best. I recommend going to Pauli's for a lobster roll, Mike's Pastry for a cannoli, and La Famiglia Giorgio's for the chicken parm.

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!

I've been to the Little Italy in NYC, Murray Hill in Cleveland (emphasis on little, very little), the North End in Boston and North Beach in San Francisco. Of those, Boston and San Francisco have it all over. The North End has the most European feel. It's a great area to bump around. Bova's is the best bakery, Cafe Graffiti for espresso's. (See separate review for Cafe Graffiti) The North End just has a nice feel to it. We always take folks visiting us to the North End. Last time we were there, I took a picture of this ancient Italian woman sitting outside of her apartment, eating fresh fruit from a plate and watching the people go by. That night we were home and we watched Fever Pitch (Drew Barrymore, Jimmy Fallon) and my sister (who was in the city with us earlier) jumped up during an exterior shot of the neighborhood around Jimmy Fallon's apartment and declared, "There she is!" Everyone else had no idea what she was talking about until she rewound the movie and paused at a glimpse of the same old lady sitting outside her apartment... North Beach in San Francisco is a close second to the North End. It just lacks the real old world feel of the North End. In fairness, I've only been to North Beach for a day, while I've been to the North End a bunch of times.

Mongo find pretty buildings from olden days. A lot! Mongo find crooked little streets. Mongo find very nice people. Mongo find many many many eye-tail-un rest-or-rants. A Lot! Mongo find bakeries. A Lot! With cannoli! A Lot! Cannoli at here! Cannoli at there! Cannoli at everywhere! Mongo try to eat all the cannoli!!! But Mongo's eyes bigger than Mongo's stomach. Mongo full now. A Lot! Mongo say you go at here. Mongo think you like. A Lot! Mongo also say ,"Leave the gun, take the cannoli." Ha. Ha. Ha. P.S. Mongo no find "North" Mongo no find "End"

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!!

A true "little Italy". Great restaurants and history. Safe anytime of the day/night. Still a hub for old school Italians...plus they have bocci tournaments. All mom and pop shops. Fun to just walk around. I mean Mike's Pastries is in the North End...nuf said!

I'm Italian...this feels like home: tempting savory smells wafting out windows and old men passionately debating...everything! DON'T MISS: Giaccomo's for lovers, Strega for celebrity sightings and Bova Bakery to buy with the locals. THE DEAL: Drop in on street festivals most weekends June-August. The biggest are the opening parade, the famous Fisherman's Feast, and the closing Saint Anthony's.

In the City of Boston, when you follow the red brick road you are off to see vibrant neighborhoods that are rich with history and architecture. One of them is the North End. When I was in Boston, there were a couple of times when I followed the red brick road better known as Boston's Freedom Trail to see the North End. Just like many of the fascinating neighborhoods and points of interest that make Boston a first rate city, the North End is full of interesting facts. Established in the 1630s, it is Boston's continuous oldest residential community. The North End is the Little Italy of Boston featuring the City's best bakeries, Italian restaurants, pizzerias, and coffee shops. When I met up with the Freedom Trail in the North End, I caught it from Commercial Street at the northwest corner of the district, then followed it south toward the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway where we got off the red brick road and explored the cobblestone streets and thoroughfares of the neighborhood. When we stepped on the Freedom Trail in the north side of the district, we were on the hilly part where Copp's Hill Burying Ground overlooks the water. Walking east of it, the trail headed down a hill where we met up with the Old North Hill. As the topography flattened out the historical sites rose. The further east and south we walked we passed one historic landmark after the other. After the Old North Church there was the Prado/Paul Revere Mall, then there was St. Stephen's Catholic Church, the Paul Revere House where Paul Revere said the famous words "The British are coming," North Square, the Moses Pierce Hitchcorn House which is the oldest brick townhouse in New England (Wikipedia), and the historic brick storefronts lining the two commercial streets Hanover and Salem. As a student of urban planning the red brick road did lead me to Oz. The 0.36 square mile district bounded by Commercial Street and the Charles River to the north, Atlantic Avenue and the harbor to the east, the Rose Kennedy Greenway to the South, and Washington Street to the west was a sensory overload of historical architecture, city planning, and restaurants. I enjoyed exploring the pedestrian friendly streets that give the pedestrian precedence over the car. There is only one signalized intersection which is the crossroads of Hanover at Parmentar in the south area of the district. My favorite experience was following the narrow cobblestone streets bordered by Victorian lamp posts, red brick tenement buildings dating back to British rule to one of the most famous Boston pizzarias: Regina's. When I explored Boston's Little Italy I felt that I was in a city within a City. Away from the quiet narrow streets, I explored the jumping Hanover Street peeking into the windowfronts of art galleries, coffee shops, Italian delis, pastry shops, a gelato shop, offices, bars, and the occasional chain store. The southbound walks on Hanover and Salem Streets took in the Boston skyline across the Greenway. The North End of today is a different one from the 1950s to the early 2000s. The removal of the elevated I-93 expressway has had marvelous effects on its connectivity to the downtown. In the pre Big Dig Boston there was an ugly elevated expressway that separated it from the downtown. In the post Big Dig Boston, you can get on the Freedom Trail cut through the Greenway then end up in the Haymarket Farmers Market and Government Center. In our case we picked up a cup of Peet's Coffee that we drank in the adjacent Greenway. The Greenway has also added much needed parkland in the built up North End. The North End is one more reason that Boston is great. No matter where you follow the red brick road in Boston it will lead to experiences and adventures paved with gold. Reviewer's note: I will soon be reviewing the points of interests and places that I visited in the North End.

Unique experience! Now that I've lived in the North End for 2+ years, I can say that it's a great place to go in Boston for a night out with friends, family, a spouse, really anyone! My night of choice looks like.. 1) dinner at Quattro (make rez via open table) - not too expensive but great service and amazing food variety (not just heavy Italian) 2) Improv Asylum 10pm show 3) Espresso Martina night cap (and hookah) at Stanza - see picture. You will not be disappointed

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!

Being from Boston, I'm really upset with myself that I haven't written a review for the North End, but here I am, writing it almost a decade later because I was there last week. This is Boston's Little Italy, and if you've been to the Little Italy in San Diego, you'd know that this Little Italy blows it out of the water. I also think it's better than New York's Little Italy, but that's just me. I've had numerous date nights here, friends' birthday dinner parties here, several meals at Dolce Vita, Taranta, Lucca, Saraceno and of course Modern Pastery and Mike's Pastry for their cannolis. In the summer time, you'll find lots of families here stopping in for lunch and dinner. In the fall, lots of college students from out of state checking it out and in the winter, it'll still be busy with lovebirds celebrating Valentine's day or a special anniversary. The place is romantic, there's no other way to put it. Parking is a pain but if you lucked out like us, you can get parking right in front of Mike's Pastry on a good day. Best of all, you're getting authentic, fresh, delicious Italian food. Make sure to stop in when you're in Boston.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!!!!!

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