We enjoyed espresso drinks and sweets near the front door where we could eavesdrop and watch the world go by. Although there are four levels of seating, including a full bar and cigar bar but we never made it past ground-level. There are vintage coffee and espresso-making machines around the register that kind of look like rocket ships and oldies playing in the background. The cafe may be well known but it is most certainly not a tourist trap. Still, breakfast was affordable and generous, sustaining us through a long day of exploring Boston by foot.Įstablished in 1929, Cafe Vittoria was the first Italian cafe in Boston. Mine was stuffed with white American cheese, mushrooms (might be canned) and juicy slices of tomato. Jake ordered the Western and I created my own. I’m not sure if omelets are the must-order food here. Get here early on weekends – the space is indeed cozy and people line-up outside for seats. Theo’s is a small, cash-only restaurant that serves American diner food, Italian dishes, and a small Brazilian menu. I enjoyed this Boston Globe article How To Eat Like A Local In The North End. A combination of all five is how we ended up at the following places for breakfast: In the end you just have to pick something. You can scour the internet, ask a local, follow your gut instincts, or trust long lines. There are so many restaurants in the North End it will be hard to choose. Be ready to pay $11+ per cocktail and glass of wine. The state of Massachusetts bans drink discounts in an effort to prevent drunk driving. You can find discounted food in the afternoons, but not alcohol. An all-day pass costs $12.Īlso, there is no happy hour in Boston. If you are mobile, this is an easy and affordable way to visit different parts of the city. The closest train station is a 5-10 minute walk. You don’t want to navigate a car around the narrow streets or try to park. Fees ranged from $2.75-$3.ĭon’t try to drive around the North End. Grab some money before you visit or stop at one of the many ATM’s around town. As you can imagine, the air smells good whiffs of garlic, pastries, fried food will hit you from any direction. Booze, Brazilian fish stew, cannolis, pizza, and a 94-year-old Italian bakery serving rum cake and arancini 24 hours a day, all within stumbling distance. Our Airbnb was located along a quiet side street, around the corner from Theo’s Cozy Corner (a diner also serving Brazilian dishes), and one block from Bova’s Bakery and Monica’s Mercato. The Freedom Trail runs through the North End, past Paul Revere’s house. People just seem more direct about things, without all of the small talk.īoston’s oldest neighborhood is also known as “Little Italy.” The streets are narrow and lined with Italian restaurants, cafes, and bakeries. Still, random people offered to point us in the right direction when we looked lost. I have this giddy feeling that in Boston they’d get their asses handed to them. In the Midwest, restaurant managers often crumble in the presence of terrible customers, appeasing them free food and discounts to ward off that negative Yelp review or email to corporate. “WE DON’T HAVE CHICKEN, AVOCADO, BACON, OR CLAM CHOWDER” he replied. “Hiiii” we chipperly greeted the bartender as he dropped off menus. Our exit was fitting I crack up thinking about how we sat down at the airport bar for one final drink after getting hollered at by the TSA. But at most, they served us efficiently and pleasantly, just without all of the small talk and niceties. One woman yelled at me for giving her too much space as I let her pass by on the sidewalk.Īt some restaurants, employees seemed visibly annoyed with our presence. From our Airbnb we heard couples yelling at each other on the street. When it wouldn’t open, he cursed it from the heavens to the ground. I watched a man try to open the door to a cheery sweet shop. Twice a day, we observed some sort of profanity-filled shouting match. It was very clear we were Midwestern, with our big, open smiles and enthusiastic, “Hellos!” You haven’t really experienced Boston until someone from Boston gets annoyed and hollers at you.
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