Boston North End Food Tour: Local Guide, Italian Eats

Eat your way through Boston's North End with someone who actually grew up there

A 3-hour guided walking food tour of Boston's North End led by Anthony, a lifelong neighborhood resident who shares the history, folklore and organized crime stories of Little Italy while you stop at 5–7 local eateries for Italian subs, pizza, ravioli, arancini and pastries. The guide speaks English and Italian; minimum age is 13. Food is included; drinks can be purchased at any stop.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Boston's North End and eat Italian food

• Meet local guide Anthony
• Walk through North End neighborhood
• Visit Paul Revere House
• See Copp’s Hill
• Explore Old North Church
• View former mafia headquarters
• Visit unique Mom and Pop shops
• Stop at 94-year-old coffee shop
• Eat pizza at local spot
• Taste Italian subs and ravioli
• Enjoy Italian pastries and arancini
• Hear folklore and history stories

The Experience

You start in the North End, the pocket-sized Italian neighborhood tucked into Boston's older streets, and walk with Anthony through narrow lanes and hidden alleyways. He knows everyone here—the owners of the pizza shop locals actually go to, the 94-year-old coffee and spice shop, the Italian bakeries—so you move through the neighborhood like someone who belongs. The tour hits historic sites: the Old North Church, Paul Revere House, Copp's Hill, and the alleged mob headquarters. But the history isn't a lecture; it's woven into stories Anthony tells as you walk, the kind only someone born and raised here can share.

The eating happens as you go. You'll taste an Italian sub, cheese ravioli, pizza and/or arancini, pastries and other specialties at 5–7 stops—the operator leaves some surprises out of the list so you discover them as you arrive. Drinks aren't included, but you can buy soft drinks or alcohol at any of the shops you visit. Three hours is enough time to move at a real pace, not a rush, so you're tasting and talking, not just swallowing and moving on.

The whole thing runs on Anthony's personality and his refusal to sand down the neighborhood's actual character. He's funny, he doesn't do the typical tour-guide script, and he treats you like a local from the start. If you show up hungry and ready to hear the real version of this place—not the postcard version—this is the tour that delivers it.

What’s included

• 3-hour guided walking tour of the North End with Anthony.
• food tastings at 5–7 local eateries including Italian subs, ravioli, pizza, arancini and pastries.
• visit to a 94-year-old coffee and spice shop.
• stops at historic sites including the Old North Church and Paul Revere House.
• stories and folklore of the neighborhood from a lifelong local.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Boston's "Politically Incorrect" North End Food Tour

Is this one for you?Book this if you're a small group (or solo) who wants to eat real neighborhood food and hear the actual history of the North End from someone who grew up there—not a polished script, but the stories Anthony knows because he lived them. The 3-hour walk and multiple food stops work best for people comfortable on their feet and genuinely hungry.

Traveler reviews

4.80★★★★★★★★★★

814 verified traveler reviews

5 ★732

4 ★46

3 ★13

2 ★5

1 ★18

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What kind of food will I actually eat on this North End tour?

You'll taste Italian subs, cheese ravioli, pizza and/or arancini, pastries and other Italian specialties at 5–7 neighborhood eateries. The operator leaves some items off the list on purpose so you have surprises along the way. Come hungry.

Is this tour suitable for kids, or is there a minimum age?

The minimum age is 13. The tour is a 3-hour walk through the neighborhood with food stops, so younger children may find the pace or the length challenging.

What historic sites will I see on the walk?

You'll see the Old North Church, Paul Revere House, Copp's Hill and the alleged former mob headquarters, plus hidden alleyways and lesser-known neighborhood landmarks that Anthony points out as you walk.

Are drinks included, or do I need to bring money for them?

Food is included in the tour price, but drinks are not. You can buy soft drinks or alcohol at any of the shops and eateries you stop at during the 3 hours.

Will the guide speak English, or do I need to know Italian?

Anthony leads the tour in English and Italian, so you'll hear both languages, but the tour is conducted in English for all participants.