24 Best Restaurants in Boston, Massachusetts

Many of the menu choices here come from the eponymous wood-burning brick oven, which turns out surprisingly delicate thin-crust pizzas simply topped with tomato and buffalo mozzarella or complicated combos like pistachio pesto, fresh mozzarella, and sausage. While the name, which translates to "old oven," gives the pizzas top billing, Antico excels at a variety of Italian country dishes that harken back to the Old Country, like veal parmigiana, osso buco with pork shank, chicken saltimbocca, and handmade pastas; the specialty, gnocchi, is rich and creamy but light. The joint is cramped and noisy, but also homey and comfortable—which means that your meal will resemble a raucous dinner with an adopted Italian family. Its rustic decor of large tiles, huge rectangular bar, and imposing brick archway add even more authenticity as you fill your belly.

Frank DePasquale’s sandwich and pasta shop is easy to miss, but just follow the steady stream of savvy locals down the alley adjacent to his award-winning restaurant to find the tiny spot packed with imported Italian meats and cheeses, vinegars, tomatoes, olive oils, and more. The monumental Italian sandwich is a heaping pile of mortadella, Genoa salami, soppressata, provolone, and all the fixings, while the packed Chicken Parmagiano is a shareable feast. All are served on house-made breads from the panetteria next door.

Established in 1929, Caffé Vittoria—Boston's oldest Italian café—is rightfully known as Boston's most traditional Italian café, which is one of the reasons the place is packed with locals. With gleaming brass, marble tabletops, four levels of seating, three bars that serve aperitifs, one of the city's best selections of grappa, and one massive, ancient espresso maker, this old-fashioned café will make you want to lose yourself in these surroundings. Bring your wallet because they are cash-only.

Comfy armchairs and a grand, high-ceilinged dining room give diners a heightened sense of self-importance, beginning with lunch when the city's power elite stop in for great pastas (half portions are available), prime aged steaks, and oversize salads. For dinner, some patrons snag quick, pretheater bites at the bar while others opt for a more leisurely experience, lingering over sophisticated Italian dishes like tagliatelle Bolognese and succulent grilled veal chops with creamy potatoes and port wine sauce. Gluten-free and children's menus are available, along with a killer Sunday brunch with such options as poached eggs and beef tenderloin with a popover and truffle hollandaise.

With exposed-brick walls and soft lighting, the heart and soul of this charming Italian restaurant is its communal pasta table at which chef Michael Pagliarini spends hours hand-rolling superlative pastas for dishes like buckwheat pizzoccheri and pasta alla Bolognese. Plates such as house-made lamb sausage, monkfish piccata, warm semolina cakes, grilled barramundi, and Sardinian flatbread are original, generous, and, of course delicious. Known for its romantic nature, it's the perfect place for lovers to linger over a chocolate terrine and cappuccino.

The Italian word "scampo" translates to "escape" in English, and that's what this restaurant at The Liberty hotel—the former site of the Charles Street Jail—is: an escape into chef-owner Lydia Shire's delectable, buttery take on Italian-American cuisine. Everything is made from scratch, down to the bread, and including a dozen different exceptional pastas and nearly as many crusty pizzas. Entrees are heavy on meat and fish, and it stretches beyond standard items to lamb chops, duck, suckling pig, and Dover sole. The creative menu is complemented by a sleek orange bar, curved white-leather booths, and one of the city's most connected crowds. Gluten-free menus are available.

Fuel up after your Faneuil Hall trip with dinner in this small yet mighty spot, just steps from the famed marketplace. A gorgeous marble bar wraps around the center, with high- and low-top tables that invite you to share the personal Roman-style pizzas thick and piled high. Seafood pasta dishes like Calabrian Chili Orecchiette and Squid Ink Lumache Frutti di Mare and entrées such as Chianti-Braised Lamb Shank and Livornese-style Local Cod satiate hearty appetites. Their wine-by-the-glass list is over 25 strong, and the craft cocktails range from smoky to fruit-forward and fun.

The allure of Bova's Bakery, a neighborhood institution since 1926, lies not only in its takeaway Italian breads, calzones, and pastries, but also in its hours: 24 a day (the deli closes at 1 am, however). Family owned and operated, this is where you can not only satisfy a hunger with their homemade Italian breads, oversized subs, and Sicilian pizza and calzones, but also a sweet tooth with their famed Sicilian chocolate-dipped cannoli, Florentine cannoli, award-winning tiramisu, and raspberry and blueberry turnovers.

A sophisticated but unpretentious enclave of nouveau Italian, Bricco has carved out quite a following, which is no wonder because the handmade pastas alone are reasons for reservations, not to mention the buzz-worthy stuffed zucchini flowers just like nonna used to make. Simple but well-balanced main courses, such as veal osso buco, roast chicken marinated in seven spices, and a brimming brodetto (fish stew) with half a lobster and a pile of seafood, may linger in your memory. You're also likely to linger in the warm room, too, gazing through the floor-to-ceiling windows while sipping a glass of Sangiovese from the Italian and American wine list. The signature bread pudding and caramelized bananas is rivaled only by the warm chocolate cake with molten center and hazelnut gelato.

An Italianate version of a sports bar, Caffè dello Sport has two wide screens transmitting live soccer. The buzz is from not only the world games excitement but also the espressos, pastries, beer, wine, cordials, and gelato. They also offer freshly baked croissants, muffins, turnovers, and breakfast sandwiches in the morning, and panini (using imported Italian products), salads, and pizzette for lunch.

Located on the Freedom Trail and overlooking the country's oldest public square, the vintage-looking facade of Ciao Roma is an elevated alternative to dining old-school in the North End. Classics are simple in nature but complex in taste, with dishes such as squid ink linguini, chicken parm, and Sunday ragù vying for your attention. Save room for mini cannolis, tiramisu, and cheesecake, or add a shot of liqueur to your meal-ending dessert of affogato (vanilla gelato drowned in espresso). Campari cocktails, tonics, and spritzes abound, and there's a section featuring kitschy throwbacks like the espresso martini or Godfather cocktail (scotch and amaretto).

While the sweeping Back Bay views and neoclassical–meets–art deco decor are something to behold, the menu is just as captivating at this new crown jewel atop the luxurious hotel The Newbury. Fanciful dishes such as melt-in-your-mouth squash carpaccio, spicy lobster capellini, and a signature 40-oz. dry-aged bistecca fiorentina are as dazzling as the crowd, a blend of well-heeled locals, city socialites, and trend-seeking singles (mostly at the buzzy bar). Designed like a conservatory with a glass roof and retractable panels for open air dining, this is one of the few year-round rooftops in Boston.

A small enoteca with a whole lot of personality, Coppa is the definition of a neighborhood staple. James Beard–winning chefs Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette have made this the South End spot to share Italian plates, charcuterie, and a spritz on the outdoor patio.

An epicenter for all things Italian, this powerhouse is all about one word: mangia. There are four restaurants, a marketplace, wine shop, cooking school, and seven to-go counters, so you can find anything you want to eat or drink here, and maybe discover a few things you didn't know you needed (perhaps a snack size of Piave Stravecchio DOP, a hard cheese from the Belluno province in northeastern Italy). Of note is the gorgeous new outdoor rooftop extension of the greenhouse-inspired third-floor restaurant, Terra, which is perfect for grabbing a glass of vino, some food, and some conversation.

Grand and resplendent in appearance—it is located in a luxury hotel and former Federal Reserve Bank, after all—Grana features upscale yet casual Italian dishes for lunch and weekend brunch that invite you to dig in. The only drawback to this place is that it isn't open for dinner.

The Frattaroli Family, who opened Lucia shortly after emigrating to Boston from the Abruzzo region of Italy, pack the kitchen with classic dishes that showcase flavors from their beloved home, which is why weekend evenings get packed. The long menu includes apps, such as fresh caprese salad and crispy calamari, and entrée favorites, including a buttery-smooth sogliola pescarese (filet of sole dipped in egg and fried with limoncello), pollo marsala, and ammazzafame, a house specialty of penne rigate, porcini mushrooms, sausage, broccoli, sun-dried tomatoes, and capers. If you take to the outdoor patio to dine, don't expect more than a beer and wine selection on Sunday, as the adjacent church grounds forbid serving hard liquor that day.

Don't let the clichéd name fool you: Mamma Maria is far from a typical red-sauce joint. From the handmade pappardelle layered with braised rabbit to the authentic sauces and entrées to some of the best desserts in the North End, you can't go wrong here. The view, meanwhile, is lovely; gaze out onto cobblestone-lined North Square as you finish your fork-tender osso buco before a finale of limoncello (an Italian lemon-flavored liquor). It's set in a 19th century row house. Valet parking is available.

The North End's other favorite cannoli king, Modern is a hit with the locals. Using Old World recipes that were relied on for more than 150 years, their crusts are flaky, their fillings rich, and they have a selection of torrone nougat confections, cookies, French horns, and Napoleons. While the hand-held treats are their mainstay, don't discount the larger traditional Italian, French, and American-style cakes that have their own following (favorites include rum cake, tiramisu, and cassata cake with marzipan). They also cater to the gluten-free set, offering several options including cakes and cannoli shells.

Satisfy your pizza craving with a crispy, wood-fired, thin-crust pie from this Fort Point neighborhood joint. A dozen and a half options run from the traditional margherita to more inventive options; note that the pies are smaller in size, so order a few. The menu also includes house-made pastas, antipasti, and a few types of wood-fired pocket-bread sandwiches. Near as it is to the Boston Children's Museum, Pastoral is a great spot for a family meal.

When the pizzaiolo (certified pizza maker noted by the Napoli Pizza Council) is from Naples and he works on a hand-built brick Marra Forni pizza oven, chances are he's churning out some authentic Neapolitan pizza. Toppings stay simple, with four-cheese, margarita, or prosciutto, while creative combos also keep the customers coming back. Not a fan of the red sauce? Try their white pizzas, with either figs, arugula and goat cheese, or potato and herb. While it's known for its piping hot pies, this lively also serves Italian classics such as chicken parm, cacciatore, and caprese ravioli, along with unique dishes like shrimp limoncello and Italian squash blossoms.

This North End institution has been doing what it does best since the Polcari family took over in 1956—creating thin-crusted, brick-oven-charred pizzas with fresh toppings, excellent sauce, and just the right amount of cheese. With 13 locations, they only offer what they excel in: incredibly well-made pies, like the Margherita, which contains fresh basil leaves baked into the cheese so they don't burn; try a combo from their Old Time Favorites menu, such as the Old World Style Anchovy or the St. Anthony's, a white pizza with sausage, cheese, and peppers. The wait can be long, the ambience boisterous, and the menu limited (there aren't any salads or dessert, but there's beer and wine). But with pizza this good, who cares?

One of the city's most widely awarded chefs, Barbara Lynch serves rustic, hearty Italian food with her team in a casual setting, where diners sit and eat at one long, winding counter. Fare like burrata, lamb meatballs, foccacia, braised rabbit, and bolognese are plentiful and tasty, if on the pricey side of things. To go along with the food, Sportello offers a tantalizing selection of artisanal wines by the glass and the bottle.

SRV, short for Serene Republic of Venice, bills itself as a bacaro, or Italian wine bar, which in the South End translates into a happening cocktail scene. The chic set gathers to sip on aperitifs like Aperol Spritz and negroni bianco before tucking into tantalizing small plates and hand-crafted pastas made from flour the chefs mill themselves from durum wheat berries. Sharing is the way to go and once you've forked up some two-bite pork-beef meatballs and marinated olives it's time for pastas and risottos, like the ricotta gnudi or potato, asiago, and rabbit tortelli.

An intrigue in both meaning and sentiment, this captivating North End trattoria on historic Hanover Street serves up multiregional Italian cuisine through fresh and fine ingredients that fuse together the sights, scents, and tastes of the Old Country. Styled after a Tuscan villa, the dark woods, candles, dim lighting, and marble accents build the perfect surroundings for sipping fine Italian wines from one of the area’s most extensive wine lists. Handmade pastas, Vitello Milanese, Risotto di Capesante (pan-seared sweet sea scallops with brown butter and sage atop seasonal vegetable risotto), Rich's Famous Lasagna Bolognese, and Swordfish Puttanesca all keep mouths watering. Sweet teeth adore the Italian donut holes and chocolate cookie pot pie. A coveted spot is the #77 table (named for co-owner Bruins hockey legend Ray Bourque) for two overlooking busy Hanover Street. It's known as the most romantic table in Boston, so call ahead to beat others to the lovebird’s eye view.