Last updated on May 25th, 2026
We’re sharing what to eat in Boston, including must-try dishes, specific restaurants to dine at, plus tons of helpful logistical information to help you plan your trip.
Boston’s mix of history, waterfront views, and city life make it one of the best weekend getaways in the US. But the city’s delicious food is also another top reason to visit! Boston’s food scene has a lot more to offer than just Boston Cream Pie (but we definitely think you should try that too!). It is a hotspot for authentic Italian cuisine and fresh seafood, home to Sam Adams beer, and so much more.
In this guide we’re sharing the top foods you must try while in Boston. From the best places to find cannolis, local gems, and where to drink tea on the Boston Harbor. We hope you love the city (and food) as much as we did!
What to eat in Boston
Boston really delivers when it comes to food, and that’s why we love recommending these best things to eat in Boston to others. Whether you’re starting your morning with a killer breakfast sandwich, chasing down the freshest seafood, or grabbing something on-the-go between Freedom Trail stops, there’s always something worth tasting.
1. Italian food
The North End is Boston’s oldest residential neighborhood, inhabited since the 1630s. In its early days it was occupied by 17th century Puritans and over the past four centuries, the area has been home to an African American community, and Irish, eastern European Jewish, and now more recently, Italian immigrants.
By 1930, almost all residents in the North End were Italian. And because of this, there are many Italian restaurants, bakeries, and shops to check out as you wander along the Freedom Trail through the North End. Here are some must have food experiences!
Want to experience the best the North End has to offer? Go on a North End Walking Food Tour! You’ll not only get to try some delicious Italian eats, but also learn the history of the area.
Cheap Italian eats
There are tons of Italian restaurants in Boston, from fine dining to grab and go. For lunch, we’d suggest doing something quick, as there is so much to see in the city! Plus, you need to save room for cannolis 😉.
During our visit, we went to Galleria Umberto, a cheap, no-frills Italian spot that is popular with locals. We got their Sicilian style pizza, which has a thicker, airy focaccia-like crust and is often baked in a pan so that the edges and bottom are a little crispy. It was delicious! We also got arancini, which is a deep fried, breaded rice ball with mozzarella, beef, and peas. It was hot, cheesy, and the perfect quick snack!
Important note: This spot closes when it sells out, so arrive early! It’s also cash only, so make sure to stop by an ATM on the way.
For other quick eats in the North End check out Monica’s Mercato, Dino’s Cafe, and Regina Pizzeria.
Nicer Italian Restaurants
Want something a bit fancier? After a big, busy day of exploring Boston, end the day with a delicious Italian dinner. There are tons of solid spots to choose from in the North End, but recommend either Carmelina’s, Giacomo’s, Mamma Maria, or Arya Trattoria.
2. Cannolis
An iconic food item in the North End are cannolis. It’s a must-eat while in Boston! And there is a huge debate about who has the best. Below are three of the top contenders, ranked in order of popularity!
Mike’s Pastry (Cash only)
This is hands down the most popular cannoli spot in Boston. It has been around since 1946 and while some say it’s overrated, others say the crazy lines are for good reason. We lucked out and only had to wait a minute, but be prepared to spend some time in line here!
Modern Pastry (Cash only)
Started in 1930, Modern Pastry was founded by the Picariello family, who brought their recipes, culture, and hospitality from Italy. One unique thing about this spot is that they fill their cannolis when you order, so it’s a little fresher. You get to choose your shell, filling, and topping.
Bova’s (Cash preferred)
Another bakery in the North End that’s very popular is Bova’s Bakery. They’ve been around for nearly a century, offering Italian specialty cookies, cannolis, pastries, pies, sweet Italian bread, and more!
So where did we go?
During our visit, we tried the two most popular spots, Mike’s Pastry and Modern Pastry.
From Mike’s Pastry, we got the Florentine (we heard it was the best!), which has a shell made of nuts and honey. It was SO good, especially the shell! From Modern Pastry we got a plain shell, with ricotta filling and pistachios. It was also heavenly!
Since these were two different styles, we can’t fully compare them. But I think we both agreed we liked the Florentine shell better and the filling from Modern better. If the lines aren’t too crazy, grab a cannoli from multiple spots! The Rose Kennedy Greenway is a great park to go eat them at.
3. Clam Chowder
Located right on the Atlantic, Boston is in the perfect location for fresh seafood, including quahog clams, which are the main ingredient for clam chowder.
This creamy soup is thought to have originated in the 1700s, when European immigrants came to New England. They combined local clams with ingredients they were familiar with, like potatoes, onions, and salt pork, to create what we now know as New England Clam Chowder.
There are many places to eat clam chowder around town, but we went to James Hook & Co., which has been family owned and operated since 1925. They have a super creamy chowder and a nice outdoor patio!
Another spot that came highly recommended to us is Boston Sail Loft. They are said to have some of the best chowder in the city and they add dill to theirs for a unique twist!
4. Breakfast sandwich at Mike & Patty’s
Breakfast sandwiches at Mike & Patty’s are a Boston staple, and they’re absolutely worth planning into your morning. This tiny Bay Village shop is famous for serving creative, flavor-packed sandwiches that are easy to grab on the go.
Their most popular option, the Breakfast Grilled Crack, layers perfectly cooked eggs, melty cheese, and buttery toasted bread for a rich, satisfying start to the day. Portion-wise, these sandwiches are hearty without being overwhelming, making them a great choice before a full day of sightseeing.
The original location does get busy and seating is extremely limited, so it’s smart to arrive early or be ready to take your order to-go. However, there are now a few additional locations that may make more sense for your Boston itinerary. If you’re looking for a standout breakfast in Boston, this spot is always a reliable pick.
5. Lobster Rolls
We can’t write about what to eat in Boston without including lobster rolls, one of the most famous food items in all of New England!
You can find lobster rolls all over town, with multiple styles to choose from. Maine style is served cold with just a touch of mayo, on a toasted, buttery bun. It’s simple, fresh, and lets the lobster be the star of the show. But there’s also the warm Connecticut style that’s tossed in butter, adding an extra richness to the roll. Both styles can be found at James Hook & Co., making it a great one stop shop for both lobster rolls and clam chowder.
Just beware, lobster roll prices can be pretty high and vary based on the market. But you can guarantee it will be top notch quality!
6. Oysters
Oysters are another popular thing to eat in Boston! Thanks to all the cold New England waters nearby, you’ll find super fresh oysters on just about every good seafood menu. They will vary slightly from place to place, so it can be fun trying them at different spots around town.
If you’re visiting on a weekday, keep an eye out for happy hour deals. Boston has some fantastic ones, and it’s a great way to try a bunch without spending a ton. Warren Tavern offers them for $1 a piece before 6 PM, but Neptune Oyster is another classic oyster spot as well.
7. Boston Public Market
Boston is home to some great markets, like the famous Quincy Market and trendy Time Out Market. But we had heard that Boston Public Market was one of the best, so we opted to go here instead! And we loved it, so it had to be added to our list of what to eat in Boston, although it is technically more of a “where” to eat in Boston.
Boston Public Market is a newer market, opening in 2015, and focuses on New England food producers and artisans. Their mission includes supporting food growers and producers and cultivating a diverse community around food.
We really enjoyed the vibe of this market. It’s not huge, but it has a really nice design and a good variety of vendors. Here you’ll find coffee, cider, pastries, seafood, flowers, produce, art, snacks, juices, a bar, and so much more!
We grabbed a frozen coffee from George Howell Coffee, which was perfect for a muggy day. Plus a bowl at Mo’Rockin Fusion, a Moroccan spot, that was bursting with flavor! There were many other delicious looking spots and we hear that The Popover Lady is another must try.
8. Greco for quick Greek eats
While seafood and Italian food are obvious choices of what to eat in Boston, the city is also home to restaurants from just about any cuisine you can imagine!
And one of our favorite spots was Greco, a fast-casual Greek spot. A popular thing to try here are their pita wraps, especially the classic gyro. The meat is tender, the toppings are fresh, and the pita itself is warm and fluffy. And if you’re not in the mood for a wrap, their build-your-own plates are such a great option, loaded with grilled meats, veggies, dips, and tzatziki of course. Their loukoumades (those little Greek doughnuts) are another must!
Greco has a few locations around the city, so it’s super easy to squeeze into your itinerary. Whether you’re exploring Back Bay, Downtown, or the Seaport, you’re never far from a quick, flavorful meal that feels way more satisfying than your typical fast-casual stop. If you want something fresh, and filling, this place is a win!
9. Boston Cream Pie
While in Boston, you have to try a Boston Cream Pie–it’s the state dessert of Massachusetts after all! But despite its name, Boston Cream Pie is not actually pie, it’s layers of sponge cake, with a cream filling between them and chocolate ganache on top. And oh boy, is it GOOD!
Boston Cream Pie was first created in 1856 at the Omni Parker House Hotel. And you can still eat it here today! At the bottom of the hotel there is a small shop where you can buy a Boston Cream Pie and other goodies.
However, for our Boston Cream Pie we went to Flour Bakery + Cafe and we highly recommend it. Not only can you get Boston Cream Pie here, but you can also enjoy coffee and savory items to balance out the sweetness of the “pie.”
10. Drink tea on the Boston Harbor
One of the most iconic events to take place in Boston is the Boston Tea Party. This was a protest by American colonists in 1773 against British taxes on tea. While disguised as Native Americans, they dumped British tea into the Boston Harbor, showing their resistance to unjust taxation and British control.
And if you want to take a sip of history, you can drink tea right on the harbor at Abigail’s Tea Room. It may not be the best tea in the world, but it doesn’t get more iconic! We recommend doing the tea sampling so that you can try the five teas that were dumped into the harbor. The Souchong tea is very smoky and unlike any tea we have had!
You can visit the tea room on its own, but for the full experience, we recommend checking out the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum. It’s a great way to learn about the experience firsthand! During the tour you’ll be a part of a fun reenactment of the Boston Tea Party. The tour starts out with a town meeting, where you’ll get riled up by your costumed leader as you discuss the current taxation (fie!!!).
And then you’ll go to the ship, where you get to see the inside, take an oath, and then throw tea overboard! For the last part, you’ll see an actual tea crate from the Boston Tea Party and watch a video about it. It’s a really fun experience!
Want to save some money on this tour or experience? Join Tripadvisor Rewards to earn 5% Trip Cash on any hotel or experience booking made in their app, which can be applied to future in-app bookings!
11. Samuel Adams Beer
For the beer lovers, Samuel Adams is quite possibly the most famous brewer in the Boston area. There is a taproom downtown, which also serves food if you’re hungry, plus non-alcoholic beers for the non-drinkers. And if you want to take a brewery tour, you can take a trek out to Jamaica Plain, where multiple types of tours are offered year-round.
Want to visit multiple breweries? Check out this brewery tour, where you’ll get to visit 4 different ones!
Looking for more things to do in New England?
- The Perfect 2 days in Boston Itinerary
- 12 Day New England Fall road trip itinerary
- 7 Day Vermont road trip itinerary
- Acadia National Park Itinerary
- Ultimate guide to driving the Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire
- The BEST things to do in the White Mountains in New Hampshire
- Watch all of our New England adventures on YouTube
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About the Author
This article was written by Tori, one of our Adventures of A+K team members. Learn a bit about her below!
Hi, I’m Tori! I live in Nashville, TN with my husband and two daughters. We travel as much as possible throughout the year, around a 9-5 schedule and with babies in tow! My travel blog, Tori Pines Travels, aims to help people plan action-packed and culture-rich vacations around their busy jobs, fitting in as much exploring as possible. When I’m not working for Adam and Kathryn or entertaining my little ones, I’m writing, cooking, crafting or exploring Music City!