The North End

'Little Italy' on the waterfront

Noteworthy for: Immigrants from Sicily, Milan, Naples, and Genoa settled in the North End, and their regional dialects, traditions, and culinary specialties are preserved to this day.
In a calorically dense one-square-mile area bordered on three sides by water, a promised land awaits. The North End lures visitors and locals to its beloved Italian restaurants, numbering over a hundred, along with bakeries, cafes, and shops selling exquisite cannolis that can damn the saint and save the sinner.

The streets are narrow and buildings hug on either side, heightening the temptation as smells and sights come at you from all directions. The neighborhood is not for the weak-willed or those who can't handle roving crowds, but the tight space maximizes people-watching.
Neptune Oyster, a seafood restaurant whose popular lobster rolls are priced at USD 25, also features a raw bar offering an impressive variety of oysters. Mike's Pastry serves baked goods that are made fresh on site, including cannolis that are obscene in more ways than one.