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Cantina Italiana is the oldest restaurant in Boston’s historic North End—a true cornerstone of the neighborhood and a living testament to Italian-American heritage. Since 1931, it has been serving generations of locals and visitors alike with unwavering warmth, tradition, and unforgettable cuisine. Walking into Cantina Italiana is like stepping into a time capsule of old-world Italy—white tablecloths, vintage photos, the aroma of slow-simmered sauces, and a welcoming atmosphere that feels like home. The menu is a love letter to Southern Italian cooking, featuring handmade pastas, hearty classics, and seafood dishes prepared with care and authenticity. What makes Cantina truly special isn’t just the food—it’s the heart. As the North End’s
Relaxed, old-fashioned trattoria serving traditional Italian-style meals since 1931.
Hours
| Monday | 4–9 PM |
| Tuesday | 4–9 PM |
| Wednesday | 4–9 PM |
| Thursday | 4–9 PM |
| Friday | 12–10 PM |
| Saturday | 12–10 PM |
| Sunday | 12–9 PM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 346 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02113
Phone: (617) 723-4577
Website: http://www.cantinaitaliana.com/
Menu Photos
Photo Gallery
Related Web Results
Cantina Italiana | Serving authentic Italian dishes in Boston, MA
Iconic, North End restaurant and bar with an old world decor, serving traditional and updated Italian-American and southern Italian fare since 1931.
CANTINA ITALIANA (@cantinaitalianaboston) – Instagram
Welcome to the oldest restaurant in the North End. Serving homemade authentic flavors since 1931! We lead the way- 346 Hanover St.
Cantina Italiana | Boston MA – Facebook
Cantina Italiana is truly an icon of the North End! Serving authentic Italian fare since 1931, it delivers bold flavors, rustic charm, and dishes that hit the …
Reviews
Rick Wahl
Outstanding food! If you visit Boston, I highly recommend stopping here for dinner before you leave. The customer service is amazing.
I also recommend to reserve a table. Pretty easy to do and it will save you the hassle of waiting.
Only issue is parking. Do the valet they offer. You will need cash for that service.
… moreI also recommend to reserve a table. Pretty easy to do and it will save you the hassle of waiting.
Only issue is parking. Do the valet they offer. You will need cash for that service.
Mayara Pelin
Wonderful and authentic food! I had an excellent experience at this restaurant. The staff were incredibly friendly, and the service was impressively fast. The restaurant has a unique charm, including a thoughtful detail I really appreciated—hooks next to the seats to hang coats, which is such a smart and convenient idea.
The food was absolutely delicious, and you could truly taste the authenticity of Italian cuisine. The cocktail was perfectly made and complemented the meal beautifully. I highly recommend this place and will definitely be returning!
… moreThe food was absolutely delicious, and you could truly taste the authenticity of Italian cuisine. The cocktail was perfectly made and complemented the meal beautifully. I highly recommend this place and will definitely be returning!
Madeline Klein
A nice spot for Italian food in the north end! The fried mozzarella appetizer was excellent and the eggplant parm was good, just a little smooshy. The pasta that came with the eggplant parm was the best food we had, but there were only a tiny portion, so if we come back we’d try a pasta dish. It was busy but wasn’t too loud and we felt like we had our own space. The staff were friendly and the prices were fair. I’d recommend a reservation.
… moreRick Vattimo
Seems like where the locals go, which is always a good thing! Sat at the bar with several dinner regulars and had a fantastic meal. Bombolotti is the unique item on the menu and it was definitely a treat in a fra diavolo prostration with lobster and shrimp. The seafood was cooked as perfectly as the bombolotti and it was in a deliciously spicy sauce. Great feel to the place!
… moreCynthia Tran
First of, reservations are highly recommended; however, don’t do it via OpenTable because according to the hostess, it doesn’t appear in their system.
We went on a Saturday night, there was a line and it was a bit of a wait. The hostess was wayyy better than the host. She was more informative and helpful. The guy was not helpful whatsoever, like he didn’t even suggest for us to see if there was seating in the bar, which is on a first come first serve basis. He also didn’t offer to put us down in the waitlist either. He plainly and bluntly states that they were not talking any walk-ins.
We made way to the bar and wait for a spot to open and after 10 minutes we managed to get two seats at the bar. The bartenders were very nice, accommodating and attentive! The food was freaking delishhhhhious! It was perfect portions and we did also order the scampi for appetizers and we received complimentary bread to start.
… moreWe went on a Saturday night, there was a line and it was a bit of a wait. The hostess was wayyy better than the host. She was more informative and helpful. The guy was not helpful whatsoever, like he didn’t even suggest for us to see if there was seating in the bar, which is on a first come first serve basis. He also didn’t offer to put us down in the waitlist either. He plainly and bluntly states that they were not talking any walk-ins.
We made way to the bar and wait for a spot to open and after 10 minutes we managed to get two seats at the bar. The bartenders were very nice, accommodating and attentive! The food was freaking delishhhhhious! It was perfect portions and we did also order the scampi for appetizers and we received complimentary bread to start.
Rick Beyer
We have eaten at a half dozen restaurants in the North End now, and Cantina Italiana is my favorite so far for the overall experience.
For starters, the food was good and did not seem like an American interpretation of Italian cuisine. I had the Gnocchi alla Norcina, which is by far the best gnocchi I have had outside of Italy. My gin martini was also delicious, and was delivered like all martinis should be: quickly.
For me, though, there were two other details that elevated Cantina Italiana above most of the other restaurants we’ve tried. First, the service was friendly and fast. We tend to eat unfashionable early these days, and that often helps us get a table, but here it was bustling and we got a table quickly anyway. Our server checked on us frequently.
Second, there was live music – in the form of an older gentleman walking around serenading diners on his accordion. It was lovely. He played just long enough to be romantic, but didn’t overstay his welcome.
For my money, this is the place. The food is good, the service is great, and the atmosphere was perfetto.
… moreFor starters, the food was good and did not seem like an American interpretation of Italian cuisine. I had the Gnocchi alla Norcina, which is by far the best gnocchi I have had outside of Italy. My gin martini was also delicious, and was delivered like all martinis should be: quickly.
For me, though, there were two other details that elevated Cantina Italiana above most of the other restaurants we’ve tried. First, the service was friendly and fast. We tend to eat unfashionable early these days, and that often helps us get a table, but here it was bustling and we got a table quickly anyway. Our server checked on us frequently.
Second, there was live music – in the form of an older gentleman walking around serenading diners on his accordion. It was lovely. He played just long enough to be romantic, but didn’t overstay his welcome.
For my money, this is the place. The food is good, the service is great, and the atmosphere was perfetto.
Nobie Thrasher
Boston oldest Restaurant and I can tell you why, food was absolutely delicious! I haven’t had Italian food this good in a long time. I had lasagna wife had ravioli. Atmosphere is great old school. You might even get a man playing an accordion at your table.
… moreA R
Stopped by Cantina Italiana in the North End on a whim for a light meal at the bar. The service was great and the chicken salad I had tonight was outstanding. This place was packed on a Sunday night and I see why!
… moreROSE M
Stopped by on a whim when my favorite restaurant was full. Very glad we came here. The service was welcoming and very attentive. Nice cocktail options. We had the stuffed zucchini which was a special and it was delicious served on arugula and cheese. The bolognese was extraordinary. Large portion. I had the chicken w prosciutto, wine sauce, and mushrooms. Came w two large pieces. For an extra charge of $7 you can add a choice of homemade pasta so I added gnocchi and it was perfect. We will definitely return.
… moreCarole Disbrow
It was very busy but they took our group of 5 in quickly where others estimated an hour or more. Our waitress was friendly and efficient. There were musicians walking around and food came quickly.
… more