Food Lover’s Guide to Boston

Boston’s culinary scene mixes the influences of its longtime Italian community with classic New England specialities and the latest US foodie trends. The result is a city that’s passionate about food and tempts visitors with everything from cider donuts to clam chowder. Read our tips for Boston’s must-try treats and activities.

Must-Try Dishes

Top of Boston’s food tree is its North End district—where the cobbled Little Italy quarter boasts pizzerias, bakeries, andsalumeria (cured-meat delis). Head here for every imaginable variety of Neapolitan-stylethin-crust pizza,authenticItalian cheeses and meats, andSicilian cannoli—pastry shells brimming with cheese, chocolate, and other creamy fillings.

Italian specialities aside, Boston is also hot on New England staples. Dig intoclam chowder, a hearty clam-and-cream broth perfect in winter. Other must-tries includelobster rolls—hotdog buns stuffed with lobster flesh—and cinnamon-sprinkledcider donutsserved withhot apple cider. 

Chocolate heads the sweet-treat list. Artisanal shops sprinkle the city’s Beacon Hill area, offering everything fromorganic sweet and savory chocolatestospice-infused hot chocolate. The city also boasts serious vegan-food credentials, with a growing clutch of cafés and eateries specializing in plant-based goodies such asvegan ice creams, smoothies, and desserts.

Must-Do Experiences

• Take a tour of Boston’s artisanal chocolatiers to sample the city’s decadently flavored chocolates, from organic delights to chile-infused hot chocolate.
• Stroll the cobbled North End to enjoy the thin and crispy pizzas of Little Italy.
• Combine tastings of Italian specialities with a walk along Boston’s Freedom Trail on a combo food-and-culture day trip.
• Explore the city’s vegan repertoire on a tour of its Jamaica Plain district.