Bova's Bakery — Restaurant in Boston

Words cannot do this place justice!!! we were wrapping up a fast paced multi-state tour of new england. Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Maine. Fresh Maine Lobstah and same day clams were highlights...UNTIL WE STOPPED AT BOVA'S. We were wrapping up a great tour of boston on one of those open air bus tours you can find in many cities and the Driver asked if anyone had any questions. no-one responded and everyone talked amongst them selves and the low hum grew to a din, then everyone got a little loud and I shouted from the back of the bus..."where's the best CANNOLI in Boston?". You could have heard a mouse trip over the pin you just heard drop. the driver took a deep breath and said.."there are a few typical answers...but the truth..and anyone that tells you different is wrong....is BOVA's!" We got of the bus, got in the car and drove down the narrowest streets that made alleys look huge and illegally parked across the intersection. It was dark as the sun had fallen behind the buildings. The light from the door propped open was a beacon. It drew me in like a port in a diabetic storm. (I'm not diabetic, but If I lived near BOVA'S I WOULD BE.) I walked in and the cases full of cannolis and desserts and fresh breads and italian meats reminded me of when I lived on THE HILL in St. Louis. The women talking to each other from behind the cases were helpful and patient, like a mother who offered you a tray full of treats and told you you could have one.....except there was no limit. 7 selections and 35 dollars later you could not wipe the grin off my face. The oreo cannoli was my favorite with the nutella not far behind. the experience was great and the food was OH WOW. Bova's is the deciding factor that will send me back to Boston. Bova's will be my first stop...and probably my...

This was an amazing authentic bakery. They had everything from ricotta cheese pie, calzone, lemon bars, cannolis, and most importantly, a Boston cream doughnut.

We were there for the Boston Crème doughnut and wish we had room to take home a sample of everything. The displays and food quality looked amazing. The Boston creme was the best Boston creme we've tried and we love donuts! It has an amazing light and fluffy Bavarian cream with your traditional yeast donut and chocolate glaze/icing. Our donut was fresh and delicious, and if we wouldn't go into a sugar coma we would've eaten more and sampled several more items from the store. The store is also open 24 hours a day according to our donut tour guide. She said that dated back to the days of Italian mafia when they said you should pay us to protect your store and they said no thanks we'll just stay open 24 seven and supposedly have kept that up since that time if that legend is true.

The architecture and walk through downtown on our way to Bova's bakery was also something we enjoyed. We were so entranced by all of the baked good selection and how delicious everything looked that we forgot to take additional pictures! We just spent time talking about what we wanted to buy and try but we were traveling and not able to keep them...

Amazing North End bakery with lots of sweet and savory options. Waited in line for about 15 minutes before ordering at 10pm on a Friday night. The line started along the street outside and wrapped around the display cases inside which gives you a chance to check out all of the options before it's your turn to order. I found it helpful to check out the menu online while waiting outside so I could Google menu items I've never heard of and order quickly to keep the line moving as the employees do their best to process all orders efficiently. Everything looked so amazing and anything that seemed to run out was quickly replenished.

It was noted that the tiramisu was the best in the country--my husband loved it but it was a bit too dry and boozy for me. If you like cannoli, do yourself a favor and try the Florentine cannoli; the shell is a delicately rolled Florentine cookie (caramelized sugar and nuts) with the cannoli filling piped in. It was massive and delicious!

Masks required to enter the building, $10 minimum to use a card, and it can be difficult to find parking in the narrow streets of the North End but is a quick walk away if you are coming from the Garden. Security guard keeps the line moving and is...