Serving Since

Boston Area

Where Locals Eat in Boston: Old-School Places Off the Tourist Trail

Long-running Boston places that are mostly found by regulars, not tour groups. Each one has served the city for at least fifty years.

12 Boston institutions worth knowing

  1. Serving since 1903 123 years

    Santarpio's Pizza

    East Boston · Pizza

    Known for Cheese pizza · Grilled lamb skewers · Homemade sausage

    Thin-crust pizza and grilled lamb from an East Boston family business that has been going since 1903.

    Founded as a bakery in 1903.

    Locals + visitors See why it's a classic

  2. Serving since 1909 117 years

    J.J. Foley's Cafe

    South End · Tavern / Pub

    Known for Fish & chips · Guinness

    The same family has run this Irish pub on the same South End corner since 1909.

    Neighborhood regulars See why it's a classic

  3. Serving since 1926 100 years

    Bova's Bakery

    North End · Bakery

    Known for Florentine cannoli · Rice balls · Rocky road brownies

    A family bakery open 24 hours, at the corner of Salem and Prince since 1932.

    Neighborhood regulars See why it's a classic

  4. Serving since 1929 97 years

    Caffè Vittoria

    North End · Café

    Espresso or a late drink in a Hanover Street café whose original interior dates from 1929.

    Locals + visitors See why it's a classic

  5. Serving since 1930 96 years

    Modern Pastry

    North End · Bakery

    Known for Cannoli (filled to order) · Tiramisu cake

    Made-to-order cannoli from a Hanover Street bakery owned by the Picariello family for about 90 years.

    Locals + visitors See why it's a classic

  6. Serving since 1931 95 years

    Cantina Italiana

    North End · Italian

    A sit-down Italian dinner on Hanover Street at a restaurant serving since 1931.

    Locals + visitors See why it's a classic

  7. Serving since 1937 89 years

    Pleasant Cafe

    Roslindale · Pizza

    Known for Thin-crust pizza · Yankee pot roast · Grapenut pudding

    Thin-crust pizza and weekly roast dinners under a 1949 neon sign, at the same Roslindale address since 1933.

    Neighborhood regulars See why it's a classic

  8. Serving since 1947 79 years

    South Street Diner

    Leather District · Diner

    Known for Eggs Benedict · Boston cream pancakes

    Boston's all-night diner: a 1947 dining car open 24 hours, seven days a week.

    Neighborhood regulars See why it's a classic

  9. Serving since 1951 75 years

    Kelly's Roast Beef Revere Beach

    Revere Beach, Revere · American

    Known for Roast beef sandwich · Fried clams

    The walk-up Revere Beach stand credited with inventing the North Shore roast beef sandwich.

    Locals + visitors See why it's a classic

  10. Serving since 1951 75 years

    Sullivan's Castle Island

    South Boston · American

    Known for Hot dogs · Lobster rolls · Crinkle-cut fries

    Hot dogs, lobster rolls and fries by the water at Castle Island, from the same family since 1951.

    Neighborhood regulars See why it's a classic

  11. Serving since 1966 60 years

    Pinocchio's Pizza & Subs

    Harvard Square, Cambridge · Pizza

    Known for Sicilian pizza · Steak subs

    Square Sicilian slices in Harvard Square, made since 1966 and run by the same family since 1983.

    Neighborhood regulars See why it's a classic

  12. Serving since 1971 55 years

    Armando's Pizza & Subs

    West Cambridge, Cambridge · Pizza

    Known for Thin-crust pizza · Sicilian pizza · Subs

    A cash-only West Cambridge pizza and sub shop, run by Armando Paolo's family since he opened it in 1971.

    Neighborhood regulars See why it's a classic