The most famous bakery in the North End, opened in 1946. Mike's Pastry is famous for two things: cannoli (filled to order from a refrigerated case behind the counter, in maybe twenty varieties — ricotta, chocolate chip, pistachio, Florentine, espresso) and the line of customers that often stretches halfway down Hanover Street.
The signature white-and-blue striped boxes are a North End fixture; you'll see them on the T, on the Esplanade, halfway across the country. Beyond cannoli, the case holds sfogliatella, lobster tails, tiramisu, biscotti, and gelato. There is a small seating area inside but most people grab a box and go.
Modern Pastry, directly across the street, is the eternal rival and at least as good — many locals prefer it. Both are reliable, and walking back and forth between them is a North End tradition.