Boston’s restaurant scene is studded with local gems of all varieties, from popular watering holes that unassumingly make some of the best clam chowder in the city, to tucked away stalls crafting surprisingly delicious stuffed waffles in Chinatown. We have been giving food tours in Boston, Massachusetts since 2011 and have discovered some of the city’s best bites during that time! We are local experts on Boston’s food scene who love showing visitors and locals alike some of the best-kept culinary secrets in the city. And, we’re here to share them with you, neighborhood by neighborhood in two parts. Here’s part one! We can’t believe we’re spilling the beans *wink*.
If this list inspires you, join us for a Boston walking tour to visit some of these awesome establishments and taste some of Boston’s best bites all together in one curated experience!
Downtown Boston
Baked Beans & Brown Bread – Beantown Pub
This iconic Boston dish is comforting and delicious, while being packed with the city’s storied molasses history. Beantown Pub is the only place we’ve found in the city that has the two items paired together on the menu!
New England Clam Chowder – Ned Devine’s
The best bowl of clam chowder in the city is not where you think you’d find it – at a popular college watering hole / night club. If you wander into Ned Devine’s in the daylight you will be pleasantly surprised to enjoy a bowl of their award-winning, super fresh clam chowder.
Lobster Roll – Bell in Hand
Not all lobster rolls are created equal, as we’ve always said, and it’s easy to be led astray. But, you can’t go wrong with a classic cold lobster roll from the Bell in Hand packed with fresh, sweet, plump lobster meat and honestly some of the best fries we have ever had on the side. A historic establishment that makes one of the best lobster rolls in the city makes it a best Boston bite on our list.
Matcha Latte – Phin Coffee House
We love a matcha latte and have tasted tons around the city and the one that stands out to us the most is at Phin Coffee House. Not only because they prepare the matcha correctly, in the traditional way, but also because they have done a beautiful job creating some fun and tasty variations of the original that celebrate other Asian flavors, such as their Ube Matcha.
Boston Cream Pie – Omni Parker House
This is as classic as it gets when it comes to the best bites in Boston. The OG Boston Cream Pie was born at the Omni Parker House in 1856 and is still being made and served there today. While many spinoffs and variations have been created that we can appreciate, there is nothing like the original in our eyes and it stands strong even after all these years.
Lobster Mac & Cheese – Bostonia Public House
We’re not sure you’re ready to get a bubbling bowl of mac and cheese set down in front of you with as much lobster as this one has in it. We certainly weren’t! Not only does this lobster mac and cheese boast four delicious cheeses and is cooked to ooey gooey perfection, there is a hearty amount of lobster, making sure you don’t go without it in any bite. Run, don’t walk for this one.
Breakfast Sandwich – Archie’s Deli
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, right? So we obviously had to scout out the best breakfast sandwich in Boston. It comes from a no frills deli in Downtown and what sends them over the top is that they put hashbrowns, yes hashbrowns, in their sandwich. Talk about a full breakfast that you can hold in one hand. However, we recommend holding it with two to save your shirt.
North End Boston
Arancini & Pizza – Galleria Umberto
Pizza is not hard to come by in Boston, especially in the North End, but stop looking, because we’ve found one of the best spots for a slice. Or should we say a square. Galleria Umberto specializes in authentic Sicilian slices and giant arancini, which together come in under $10 and are plenty for a meal. They stay open until 2:30pm or until they sell out, whichever comes first. They’re also cash only so be sure to bring cash so you don’t have to wait a moment longer for some cheesy goodness.
Florentine Cannoli – Bova’s
Newsflash – the best cannoli in Boston is not on the iconic Hanover Street, it’s actually found at a 100 year old bakery around the corner that serves Italian food and sweets 24 hours a day. Yes, 24 hours a day. Their Florentine cannoli upgrades the typical pastry shell to a Florentine cookie, which is crunchy, nutty, and sweet. It’s the perfect vessel for creamy ricotta filling and hits the spot for us every time.
Italian Sub – Monica’s Mercato
It’s not hard to figure out that Monica’s Mercato, a family-owned deli in the North End, makes the best Italian sub in Boston. As a matter of fact, it’s been named the best in the country. This legendary Italian sub is huge and packed full of prosciutto, mortadella, salami, provolone, lettuce, tomato, hots, pickles, a drizzle of oil and vinegar, and topped with a sweet balsamic glaze. Don’t go when you’re hangry, because chances are there will be a line, so be sure to hit it before the hangry sets in!
Squid Ink Pasta – The Daily Catch
The Daily Catch is not only one of our favorite places to get fresh pasta in Boston, it’s one of our favorite places to eat in Boston overall. This hole in the wall joint sports an open kitchen and absolutely no personal space, but when the food is that incredible, who cares if you’re rubbing elbows with the person next to you. As is stated in their name, they focus on fresh seafood and they make fresh squid ink pasta daily. Our favorite is prepared with the aglio olio sauce, packed with ground calamari, olive oil, fresh garlic & anchovy. For the final touch, the pasta is served right in the pan it’s cooked in. This is one of the best bites in Boston for sure!
Authentic Cup of Coffee – Polcari’s
This old school coffee shop warms our hearts every time we walk in. Not only has it been a staple in the neighborhood for many years, operating since the Great Depression, but you feel like part of the family when you walk in. More likely than not you will see Bobby Polcari behind the counter weighing out beans on his 100 year old brass scales. They also sell loose spices, teas and other goods in the shop. But we’re there for a simple cup of their house blend coffee – smooth and satisfying every time.
If you’re craving even more tasty temptation, watch these foods come to life in our Best Bites 30 day series on Instagram and we’ll be back with part two soon. One of the best ways to experience these foods is on a Boston food tour with us! Come support our small, local business while also supporting others!
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