The Best Restaurants in Boston’s North End

On one hand, you can’t throw a cannoli without hitting a great restaurant in Boston’s North End. On the other, when there’s so many options, it’s hard to decide where to go on any given night. Allow us, then, to narrow the scope to a handful of favorites that never fail to deliver—including pasta-filled trattorias, pizza landmarks, amazing bakeries, and more.

Updated January 2025; check back for periodic updates.

See also: Where to Find Traditional Italian Sweets in Boston (and Beyond)

Arya Trattoria

What do Melissa McCarthy, the Rock, and Joey Kramer have in common? They’ve all dined at this intimate second-floor restaurant, where first-time restaurateur Massimo Tiberi has pulled in a crowd of celebs big and…not so big (ciao, Kris Humphries) over the past few years. Maybe it’s his genuinely warm “Welcome to my house” greeting at the start of the meal. Maybe it’s the expert wine-pairing advice—on one visit, a server-recommended nebbiolo was structured and sturdy, the ideal accompaniment to our fall-apart-tender osso buco. Or maybe it’s just the generous portions of better-than-average regional Italian fare.

253 Hanover St., North End, Boston, 617-742-1276, aryatrattoria.com.

Bova’s Bakery

Frequent turnover isn’t usually a good thing in the hospitality industry. But it has helped Bova’s Bakery—the tipsy college student’s go-to spot for a cream-filled lobster tail or cheese-and-meatball-stuffed arancini at 3 a.m.—stay in business for nearly a century. Three extended families, all descendants of founder George Bova, each run the always-open bakery for six months before handing it over for the next “turn” to manage.

134 Salem St., North End, Boston, 617-523-5601, bovabakeryboston.net.

Gnocchi Sorrentina at Bricco. / Courtesy photo

Bricco

If you feel like you’re being taken care of by an entire Italian village when you dine at Frank DePasquale’s Hanover Street flagship, it’s because you are: The restaurant’s breads, fresh pastas, and imported meats are sourced from DePasquale’s own old-world panetteria and salumeria next door. His restaurant group, in fact, is a mini North End empire, with an extended-stay pensione above Bricco and several other eateries dotting the neighborhood. But this modern standby is still the one to beat for its well-executed menu of Italian staples—pillowy gnocchetti baked with bufala mozzarella is a favorite—and classic steakhouse dishes.

241 Hanover St., North End, Boston, 617-248-6800, bricco.com.

Carmelina’s

At first blush, this stylish Sicilian-inspired restaurant, with its open kitchen, exposed brick, and retractable front walls for warmer months, feels like it might belong in the South End. But one spoonful of executive chef Damien DiPaola’s creative pasta dishes—from the vodka sauced, tiger shrimp-topped ravioli stuffed with fresh Maine lobster to the impossibly rich baked rollati filled with prosciutto and ricotta—will bring you right back to Hanover Street.

307 Hanover St., North End, Boston, 617-742-0020, carmelinasboston.com.

The Daily Catch’s squid ink linguine aglio olio with scallops. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

The Daily Catch

Not many restaurants with a $95 entrée (the lobster fra diavolo for two) can get away with serving wine in disposable cups, not accepting credit cards, and asking guests to tiptoe through the dishwashing station to get to the restroom. But the garlicky squid-ink pasta; golden, greaseless calamari; and surprisingly addictive monkfish Marsala at this intimate, family-run hole in the wall will make you quickly forget about those minor inconveniences. While there’s no dessert menu here (who needs one when there are a half-dozen bakeries within walking distance?), at the end of a meal, you may find yourself lingering at the table, mesmerized by the one-man show in the open kitchen and the endless plates of seafood coming out hot and fast.

323 Hanover St., 617-523-8567, North End, Boston, thedailycatch.com.

Farmacia. / Photo by Chris Vela

Farmacia

From the team behind Tony & Elaine’s, the Red Fox, and more, this intimate and highly creative cocktail bar is one of the hardest seats in town to book. If you manage it, your prepaid ticket gains you access to a magical themed journey through multiple cocktails (and very light bites—consider carbo-loading somewhere ahead of time). Example: Fall Flavors of New England, where you’ll choose from beverages with ingredients such as roasted pumpkin, maple smoked bourbon, butterscotch, and Eggo-and-maple-syrup liqueur.

5 North Sq., North End, Boston, farmacianorthend.com.

A slice at Umberto. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

Galleria Umberto 

From appearances, you wouldn’t know there’s anything special about this nondescript North End pizzeria: The cash-only operation kind of looks like a cafeteria, has no website, offers only a few items, and closes once everything sells out (usually by mid-afternoon). But anyone who has ever tasted the decades-spanning institution’s perfect, doughy-delicious Sicilian slices knows that even in a historic neighborhood flush with competition, these are truly landmark squares.

289 Hanover St., North End, Boston, 617-227-5709.

La Famiglia Giorgio’s. / Photograph by Nina Gallant

La Famiglia Giorgio’s

“It might even be as good as my mom’s” is a sentiment echoed over and over again inside this cozy Salem Street brownstone, where the Giorgio family has been churning out gargantuan portions of red-sauce classics for nearly three decades. Favorites range from the irresistibly spicy frutti di mare with fresh fettuccine (worth the $3 upcharge) to the tender eggplant parm with a bright marinara.

112 Salem St., North End, Boston, 617-367-6711, lafamigliagiorgios.com.

Giacomo’s

It’s not uncommon to hear passerby mutter, “Is it really worth the wait?” to a legion of devotees lined up outside this seafood and pasta spot for more than an hour—on a Tuesday night. Answer: yes, especially if you have a big appetite. The budget-friendly restaurant sates the hungry masses with piles of butter-saturated garlic bread and heaping portions of chicken parm, served with $20 bottles of wine. At $60 for two (or more) diners, the oft-Instagrammed zuppa di pesce, a staggeringly large platter of linguine with lobster, shrimp, scallops, calamari, clams, mussels, and your choice of sauce, is the best deal under the restaurant’s tin ceiling—and possibly in the whole neighborhood.

355 Hanover St., North End, Boston, 617-523-9026, giacomosboston.com.

Lucca

Serious tipplers won’t be disappointed by the selection at Lucca, which offers an of-the-moment beverage menu—cocktails like the herbal Moment in Thyme; rotating craft brews on draft; and a deep list of whiskeys—alongside a top-notch cellar of Italian and Californian wines. The kitchen is open past midnight, so before or after the game, post up at the dining-friendly bar for the white wine-bathed mussels with Calabrian chili and chorizo, or baked orecchiette with broccoli rabe and fontina crema—like a northern Italian take on mac ’n’ cheese.

226 Hanover St., North End, Boston, 617-742-9200, luccaboston.com.

Gnocchi Abruzzese and maccheroni amatriciana at Lucia Ristorante. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

Lucia Ristorante

The Frattaroli family opened Lucia nearly 50 years ago, and the wide-ranging menu continues to honor their roots in Italy’s Abruzzo region. An icon on the menu helpfully marks traditional dishes from the area, such as chitarra al tartufo, a pasta dish with mushrooms, sausage, and white truffle cream; guazzetto di mare, a seafood medley in tomato sauce over pappardelle; and carrozza, a must-order app of breaded, fried mozzarella stuffed with prosciutto and topped with marinara. And, perhaps a rarity for such a flour-focused restaurant: Lucia offers plenty of gluten-free options.

415 Hanover St., North End, Boston, 617-367-2353, luciab.st.

Mamma Maria. / Photograph by Jared Kuzia

Mamma Maria

Its name may suggest red-sauce casual, but this North Square townhouse restaurant is quite the opposite, focusing on refined Italian fare: Beef carpaccio with arugula and black truffles is a lighter spin on the mayo-topped version developed at Harry’s Bar in Venice, while fresh pappardelle pasta is tossed in a hearty Tuscan-style rabbit ragu. The service and setting—including several chandeliered private dining areas, one of which seats just four—is white-tablecloth formal. It’s a style that’s falling out of fashion these days but is still comforting to revisit every once in a while, especially when it gives Nonna a chance to break out her pearls.

3 North Sq., North End, Boston, 617-523-0077, mammamaria.com.

Neptune Oyster’s lobster roll (the buttered version). / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

Neptune Oyster

With its sleek, brasserie-like interior, straight-from-the-water bivalves, and buttery, overstuffed lobster rolls, this landmark would earn a spot on any list of essential restaurants across Boston—not just those in the North End. Neptune remains consistently excellent both in the kitchen (try the comforting, seafood-packed cioppino and the sweet-savory johnnycake topped with honey butter, caviar, and Maine lobster) and in the front of the house. Friendly yet firm hosts politely shoo out those keeping the door cracked open on a cold day and make good on promises to call your cell in two hours when your seat at the marble bar is finally ready.

63 Salem St., North End, Boston, 617-742-3474, neptuneoyster.com.

Parla. / Courtesy Photo

Parla

Take your chances rolling the 20-sided die that this quirky, contemporary Italian tavern offers to guests adventurous enough to accept a random selection from its secret list of numbered cocktails—no matter what you end up with, you won’t be disappointed. That said, if you’d rather know what you’re getting into, there’s plenty of spicy, sweet, and herbal tinctures described on the rotating menus of themed drinks, as well as the option to pair your favorite spirit with a shrub, offered in flavors like pineapple-hibiscus and cucumber-dill. All the tipples are equally excellent for washing down Parla’s modern small plates, which tap into some broader Mediterranean influences: lamb skewers with cucumber labneh and a parsley, vidalia, and sumac salad, for instance.

230 Hanover St., North End, Boston, 617-367-2824, parlaboston.com.

Prezza

Twenty-five years after it opened, chef Anthony Caturano’s debut still hits the sweet spot between romantic hideaway (a candle on every table) and neighborhood hang (a game always on at the bar). Nestled on Fleet Street, the restaurant boasts a 27-page wine list and lush dishes such as raviolo di uovo, a single oversize orb of butter-drenched pasta filled with ricotta and egg yolk, and a hearty seafood-stuffed stew. The minimalist dining room, with its gallery-style lighting and a few pieces of stark contemporary art, keeps the focus exactly where it should be—on your meal, and your company.

24 Fleet St., North End, Boston, 617-227-1577, prezza.com.

The Red Fox. / Photo by Assembly Designs

The Red Fox

This swanky 2024 debut—hidden down an unassuming staircase in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it building—offers a more pared-down menu than the enormous books you’ll find at many a North End restaurant. But who needs 100 choices when each of a couple dozen will make your night? The prosciutto and zeppole, drizzled with honey, is a must-order appetizer, and if your group is hungry, split a hefty lasagna. To drink, Negroni and martini variations rule here, including the Aglio e Pepe dry martini with raw garlic, pepper, and parm.

326 Commercial St., North End, Boston, redfoxnorthend.com.

Regina Pizzeria

We can’t vouch for all the secondary locations of the North End-born pizzeria chain, but the original location—founded in 1926 and Boston’s oldest restaurant for brick oven pizza—remains legendary for a reason. The pies arrive with cheese bubbling, crusts crisped just-so, and sauce tantalizingly tangy. The atmosphere is a huge part of the experience too: Regina doesn’t look like she’s had a makeover for decades (that’s a good thing!) and the walls are covered in photos of major celebrities who have stopped by for a legendary slice or two.

11 1/2 Thacher St., North End, Boston, 617-227-0765, pizzeriaregina.com.

“Mamma’s famous meatball” at Strega in the North End. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

Strega by Nick Varano

A glowing shelf with saffron-tinted Liquore Strega. Eight crystal chandeliers. A VIP photo wall. And yes, that’s really The Godfather and Goodfellas playing on multiple televisions in the dining room. The extravagant interior sets the scene for an evening of larger-than-life cocktails—go for the classic espresso martini—and rich, indulgent fare, from luxurious surf-and-turf to spicy penne pasta alla vodka that is prepared table-side in a giant wheel of cheese to an enormous, award-winning meatball.

379 Hanover St., North End, Boston, 617-523-8481, stregabynickvarano.com.

Sunny Girl’s Truffle Shuffle breakfast sandwich. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

Sunny Girl

While most of this guide features sit-down dinner options, we’d be remiss if we didn’t provide a couple casual favorites for earlier in the day. This one, steps from the waterfront, is the place to pick up gourmet breakfast and lunch sandwiches—and then find a place with a view to picnic nearby. We love the herby, earthy Truffle Shuffle: an over-easy egg, black truffle pecorino, burrata, tomato conserva, basil gremolata, and pancetta, served on local focaccia from Iggy’s.

252 Commercial St., North End, Boston, 857-277-0356, sunnygirlboston.com. 

Brown butter and sage tortellacci at Table. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

Table

Table feels like a dinner party: Diners gather at communal tables inside sports reporter-turned-chef Jen Royle’s single-room restaurant. While plates are passed family-style and serving utensils are shared among your own group, you’ll be sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with new friends. Royle’s loyal fans come for the Italian comfort-food classics (including some of the best meatballs in Boston) and gregarious personality. Her following is big enough to support two related projects, too: Table Mercato, a neighboring market for grab-and-go foods, Italian groceries, and popular focaccia sandwiches, as well as Table Caffé, focused on gelato and sweets.

445 Hanover St., North End, Boston, 857-250-4286, tableboston.com.

Tenoch Mexican

Who knew that the Boston neighborhood inextricably associated with Italian food would happen to be home to one of Boston’s best Mexican restaurants? Anyone who has been to Tenoch, that’s who. The Medford-born mini-chain of restaurants opened in the North End in 2014, and we’ve been fiending for the tortas ever since. When you’re not chomping on telera bread sandwiches stuffed with chorizo and gooey Oaxacan cheese, though, you’ll find equally tremendous tacos, burritos, enchiladas, and more.

3 Lewis St., North End, Boston, 617-248-9537, tenochmexican.com.

Theo’s Cozy Corner

This casual Salem Street nook is breakfast-and-lunch favorite of locals. A few Brazilian dishes—including the seafood stew moqueca, fried tilapia, açaí bowls, and, when available, picanha steak—round out the classic American and Italian options. Cash only (with prices that won’t break the bank!), no frills, all smiles.

162 Salem St., North End, Boston, 617-241-0202, theoscozycorner.site.

Tony & Elaine’s upgrades nostalgic Italian-American comfort-food joints. / Photos by Justin Power

Tony & Elaine’s

One of Little Italy’s newer red-sauce joints—well, “newer” relative to the decades-old institutions, anyway—opened on the edge of the neighborhood in 2019 and feels instantly familiar, but way better than you remember. Sink into a plush, red vinyl booth at a red-checkered table and dive into old-school Italian-American comfort foods like mozzarella sticks, spaghetti and meatballs, and crispy-juicy chicken parm, to the sound of Billy Joel’s “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant,” naturally.

111 N Washington St., North End, Boston, 617-580-0321, tonyandelaines.com.