The 10 best cannoli in Boston’s North End, ranked

BOSTON — You want to start an argument in the North End? Just ask, “Where’s the best place to get cannoli?

When you go to Boston’s hotbed of Italian restaurants, you really can’t go wrong with most food. You can grab chicken parm or pasta carbonara wherever you want. Tiramisu? It’s great everywhere.

But if you get cannoli, be prepared to get some feedback. People are going to tell you whether or not you made the right choice.

Often, this includes strong opinions about the big three of the North End: Mike’s Pastry, Modern Pastry and Bova’s Bakery.

But those are just the tip of the lobster tail for Italian bakeries.

One person’s legendary destination is another person’s tourist trap. The next place could be a hole-in-the-wall or a detour that isn’t worth it, depending on who you ask. For some, standing in line is part of the experience. For others, you don’t need to follow the crowds to get the “real” best cannoli in the neighborhood.

I’ve heard it all. So I set out to go on a cannoli quest to crown the best in the North End.

The best cannoli in the North End, ranked

As part of my journey, I visited every bakery I could find where I could order a quick-service cannoli. This included counter service, where someone handed me a cannoli, as well as slower cafes with sit-down service.

I did not include full-service restaurants in the North End that happen to have cannoli on the menu.

Here are the 10 bakeries in the North End that banger that criteria (in alphabetical order):

• Bova’s Bakery
• Caffe Della Sport
• Caffe Lil Italy
• Caffe Paradiso
• Caffe Vittoria
• Dolce
• Mike’s Pastry
• Modern Pastry
• Parziale’s Bakery
• Table Caffe

I’m also focusing on classic cannoli here, since it’s the one constant that’s available at each location. As much as I like to get Florentine from Bova’s, a mint chip from Mike’s, or a chocolate-covered with chocolate chips from Modern, it’s tough to compare when not everyone has the same options.

Here are my findings:

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10) Caffé Paradiso

Cost: $5 (Cards accepted, with a $10 minimum)

Let’s make one thing clear: This isn’t the “worst” cannoli. Think of it like a baseball player coming in 10th in MVP voting.

Caffé Paradiso is more of a sit-down spot than a grab-and-go bakery, focusing more on espresso and light food rather than baked goods.

Still, you get a wonderful shell that’s filled to order. The cream in this cannoli is probably the least sweet of any I’ve had.

Instead, it leads more with the milky, ricotta flavors. The powdered sugar on leading was key in adding that little kick of sweetness. I was a big fan of the shell, which was light and flaky.

9) Caffe Della Sport

Cost: $4.75 (Cards accepted)

This is another sit-down cafe. But they also sell cannoli to-go.

That might be a good idea for those who don’t feel like waiting in line. Caffe Della Sport just happens to sit in a spot that typically marks the line for Mike’s Pastry.

If you decide to skip the line for Mike’s and dip in, you’ll be greeted with one of the fluffiest, lightest cannoli fillings you’ll find in the North End.

8) Dolce

Cost: $5 (Cash only)

This is more of a gelato spot that also has cannoli. It’s one of the few places where a staffer used a scraper like they would to serve a gelato order.

The cannoli are a little on the smaller side here, giving you a light, creamy treat.

7) Caffe Lil’ Italy

Cost: $6 (Cards accepted)

I’d never heard of this place until my little cannoli sojourn. That’s surprising, considering it sits directly across the street from Old North Church.

This cannoli had a great, craggy shell that was super flaky. I think I picked up a little bit of cinnamon in there as well.

The filling has a nice balance between the notes of sweetness and ricotta.

6) Bova’s Bakery

Cost: $5 (Cards immediately accepted, was previously cash-only)

This is going to get me some hate mail.

Bova’s has always had the reputation of the scrappy underdog among the Big Three cannoli spots in the North End. It being open 24 hours certainly helps that.

Bova’s has one of the most affordable cannoli at $5. Although some people may take issue with the fact that they aren’t filled to order.

But I’m a big fan of the cannoli from Bova’s. It’s a simpler, sweeter filling that leans a bit away from the tang of the ricotta.

It’s also one of the busier spots. During my trip on a Friday afternoon, it was one of the three places where I had to wait in line. It took me about 20 minutes to get in and out.

5) Table Caffe

Cost: $4 (Cash only)

Only $4? Yup, this is the best discount on the whole list.

One of the lesser-known spots on the northern end of Hanover Street, Table Caffe gets bonus points for being ambitious and standing out from the pack.

Their classic cannoli filling includes a hefty dose of lemon zest, which you can see in the cream itself. That results in a bite of bright, sharp flavor that puts a different spin on the ricotta experience.

Table certainly goes out on a limb with their interpretation. But I’m a big fan of their execution.

4) Mike’s Pastry

Cost: $7 (Cash only)

Here it is: The biggest name in North End cannoli.

People have strong opinions about Mike’s. The lines are insane, especially considering how it breaks up into a chaotic mob of multiple lines inside the building itself.

During my Friday afternoon trip, it took me a little over 40 minutes from the moment I got in line to get my order.

But there’s a reason that this place is so popular. The shell is sublime. Meanwhile, they have the widest variety of fillings by far.

Some people may be put off by the crowds and the flashiness. It’s also the most expensive at $7.

But there is something nice about having different flavors to choose from — and getting that iconic box tied up with string.

3) Parziale’s Bakery

Cost: $5 (Cards accepted)

In terms of bang for your buck, Parziale’s Bakery might be the best on your list.

The cannoli I got was massive, and super-loaded with cream that came bursting out the sides like a sweet cornucopia.

The filling is hefty, but smooth and delicious. It’s got a nice sparkle of sweetness out of the gate before finishing with a mellow drag of the ricotta flavor.

This was also some of the quickest service I got. Tucked away over on Prince Street, this is my most underrated gem in the North End.

2) Modern Pastry

Cost: $6.50 (Cash only)

Modern Pastry is my favorite of the popular big-name bakeries in the North End. If you’re looking to stand in line at one of the famous spots on Hanover Street and have a cannoli handed to you, this is your spot.

With that said, get ready to stand in line. It doesn’t move quite as quickly as Mike’s Pastry. During my Friday afternoon excursion, I waited 30 minutes.

Still, the reward at the end is worth it. Modern has an elite, flaky shell that’s filled with a balanced cream that’s creamy, sweet and tangy.

1) Caffe Vittoria

Cost: $6 (Cash only)

It’s not one of the big names in the North End. It’s also geared more toward being a sit-down cafe.

But if there was one cannoli that I could go back and get right immediately, it’s the classic from Caffe Vittoria.

More than any other cannoli on this list, it ran the full spectrum of flavors for a rich, delightful experience.

When you bite in, you get a satisfying crack from the shell and a vibrant flash of sweetness from the cream. The more you tuck in, the more you get, with the ricotta coming through with balanced waves of tang and creaminess.

Also, I really enjoyed the experience at Caffe Vittoria. In the time I would have spent waiting in line at Mike’s, Modern or Bova’s, I got to sit down and enjoy a cannoli at my own little table. I could even get a cappuccino brought to me.

For me, this is the peak cannoli experience in Boston’s North End.