Best Pastry Shops in Boston

Boston offers an assortment of top-notch pastry shops. Here are a few that really take the cake (including a couple of extra cheesy ones!)

Mike's Pastry
Likely the most well-known bakery in the area, this Italian establishment is always packed with locals and tourists alike. Mike's has cupcakes, rum cakes, cookies, turnovers and most importantly, their famous cannoli. Have your plain or chocolate-dipped cannolo shell filled with your choice of traditional and innovative fillings: ricotta cheese, chocolate cream, yellow cream, chocolate chip ricotta, New York cheesecake or Florentine ricotta. While you should expect Mike's to be busy at any time of the day, the staff knows how to move the line quickly.

L.A. Burdick Chocolate Café
The chocolate capital of Harvard Square, Burdick's vast selection of sumptuous cocoa goodies almost eclipses its excellent pastries. From tiny Luxembourgers to whole birthday cakes, Burdick infuses its treats with ginger, almond, lavender, and of course, lots of chocolate! While the pastry selection is narrower than at other establishments, Burdick's focuses on a few truly special items and makes them shine. In particular, the hazelnut-orange cake and the chocolate lemon cake get rave reviews; you can buy them by the slice if you don't trust yourself in possession of a whole pie!

Flour Bakery and Café
The South End packs a double whammy with Flour Bakery and Café. This bakery's fine offering of sandwiches lends sweet tooth folk a great excuse to stroll in "just for a curried tuna sandwich" ... and maybe a sticky bun, and a cupcake, and perhaps one of their giant homemade Oreo cookies (for the road!). Flour is not a well-kept secret by any stretch, and it will be crowded, especially for their weekend brunch hours, but their loyal patrons will maintain that the experience is worth squeezing yourself into one of their cramped 15 tables.

Modern Pastry
When Boston locals aren't ordering a cannolo at Modern Pastry, they're either standing in line at Mike's or debating with other Bostonians on which is the superior North End establishment. Modern Pastry fans love that the staff will pick a shell off the shelf and fill it with fresh ricotta cheese on the spot, rather than serving you a pastry prepared in advance. While you're there, consider trying the less cheesy but still delicious chocolate-dipped pizelles, fig-filled cookies, or lobster tails (sfogliatella). Perhaps we'll never agree which is better, but it's more fun to keep running taste tests!

Bakery Information

Mike's Pastry
Address:
300 Hanover Street
(between Lathrop Place & Prince Street)
Boston, MA 02113
Telephone: (617) 742-3050
Website: www.mikespastry.com

L.A. Burdick Chocolate Café
Address:
52D Brattle Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
Telephone: (617) 491-4340
Website: www.burdickchocolate.com

Flour Bakery and Café
Address:
1595 Washington Street
(between Concord Street & Rutland Street)
Boston, MA 02118
Telephone: (617) 267-4300
Website: www.flourbakery.com

Modern Pastry
Address:
257 Hanover Street
(between Board Alley & Parmenter Street)
Boston, MA 02113
Telephone: (617) 523-3783
Website: www.modernpastry.com