If you happen to find yourself with some free time in Boston and are in need of a sweet treat, I have just the list of where to satisfy your craving. After living and working in Boston for 5 years, I have a few recommendations of where to get the tastiest desserts and the locations to skip.
Cookies
WHERE TO GO:
The best cookie in Boston is at the Cookie Monstah food truck! My favorite flavors were the salted caramel and the lemon poppy seed. You can order cookies a la carte, or add ice cream for a delicious ice cream sandwich- like the Salty Dog (Totally Turtle Ice Cream between two salted caramel cookies.) Perfect for a hot summer day in Downtown Boston! Make sure to check their schedule, the truck moves to a different location daily.
BONUS:
If you’re looking to make a late-night cookie run, head to Insomnia Cookies near Boston University, as they are open until 3 AM. In my opinion, the best cookie was the snicker doodle, but skip the ice cream, the soft cookies will harden up.
WHERE TO SKIP:
The Frozen Hoagies Truck. The cookies are dry, uninspiring and left me feeling like I wasted my money.
Donuts
WHERE TO GO:
Blackbird Doughnuts As beautiful as they are tasty, their rotating specials make every visit something exciting. From a Banana Cream filled brioche to Sticky Roll Swirl Bismarks, you’re sure to find something for your sweet tooth.
WHERE TO SKIP:
Dunkin Donuts. Everybody LOVES Dunks in New England, but I was never impressed, especially by their donuts. They never quite hit the spot, and I often found them to be stale. There’s a Dunkin Donuts everywhere you turn in Boston, and it’s worth a try if you’ve never been, however, Kanes is the place for a quality dessert.
Pastries
WHERE TO GO:
If you’re looking for a family owned authentic Italian bakery in the historic North End, offering pastries, bread, cookies, and savory foods like calzones, Bovas is where you want to be. Stop in for a cannoli at any time, they are open 24 hours a day!
WHERE TO SKIP:
Mike’s Pastry. The only reason I suggest skipping Mike’s and heading to Bovas is that Mike’s is so popular, they often have a line wrapping around the block.
Conclusion
The next time you’re in Beantown, you’ll know exactly how to crush a sugar craving and keep your sweet tooth happy!
New England Explorer Cruise – American Pioneer
Roundtrip Boston
- 10 Nights
- May 7, 2026
- From $10,745
- American Pioneer