We ordered drinks and asked for a round of water too. The waitress said that "it would be faster if you went up to the bar and got your water there." I don't get this logic... We spent an hour chatting over our drinks and she didn't return even once to check up on us. We waved her down to get the bill and she brought it over but while we were figuring out how to split it and who owed what, she came over THREE times to ask if our check was ready. We kept telling her no since one of our girls was in the bathroom at the time. And of course when we WERE ready to pay the bill, she was at the counter chatting with another waitress and not noticing that we were trying to get her attention. We ended up having to just walk the bill up to the counter. Also, the scarves of all the football teams on the ceiling is a cool idea in theory but it was absolutely disgusting looking up and seeing 20+ scarves CRUSTED in dust. I was worried that with a slight gust of wind all the dust would fall off into everyone's food or drinks. read more

I was hesitant to walk into an italian cafe with Euro techno coming from speakers positioned amongst 5 TVs all showing different soccer games, and sports paraphernalia covering the walls -- but alas, my friends' curiosity trumped my hesitance. My rating: One star for good coffee. One "awh" for only 2 scoops of gelato in a big bowl beckoning to be filled. One "gadzooks" for a $6.50 charge for the gelato, since none of the prices were listed on the menu. And one "f you" for the waitress refusing to give me a glass of water, since serving water is "against Cafe Paradiso's policy." I won't be back here! read more

After reading that this place had the best hot chocolate, I had to try it out. A friend and I came at breakfast time, I had a hot chocolate, she had a latte, we split a cannoli, a rum baba, and a croissant filled with some kind of fruit. Everything was delicious. The rum baba was super boozy, but tasty. The cannoli was fabulous ( better than Modern's IMO), and the croissant was flaky and perfect.... Now for the big question, was it the best hot chocolate? Nope, but it was good. I would recommend this place for delicious pastry and drinks. read more

I ordered an iced coffee with cream and an anisette cookie. I saw the person put milk in my coffee instead of cream, so when he brought it to me I asked, "could I have some cream?" So he goes back and puts more milk in it. Exasperating. The coffee was pretty bad, it tasted like it'd been sitting around for a week. The anisette was good. The place was too dark to read, and the service was gruff and dismissive. I wouldn't return. read more

Packed with a fun crowd enjoying. They are a bit gruff but they have to do a lot of crowd control in such a tourist neighborhood.

Food - Just got drinks. Service - Not so good. People seemed to be in a hurry. Ambience - Can find much better places in North end. Cost - ~$7 for a drink. read more

We went here to get some gelato after eating a delicious dinner elsewhere. But it was the most expensive and ice-y gelato we have ever had. It was $5 for half a scoop of ice cream. I got the lemon sorbet which had several large pieces of ice in it. My boyfriend got the strawberry flavor and it was also fairly icy with barely a full scoop. Definitely not worth it. Go elsewhere in North End for gelato. read more

This place is pretty cool. I like the look and the server is nice and doesn't harass you if you just want to hang out after you're done with your drink. The one dessert and drink I had were good. I'll definitely come back. read more

I'm not revealing too much detail, this is just my spot for many good reasons. Don't expect too many visits from the wait staff just be patient and they will get to you, give them the same space to work that they give you to relax. This is a caffe not McDonalds, so relax and lean back. I enjoy this place very much. read more

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Canoli, Biscotti, gelato, tiramisu, lousy Italian pop music playing, surly staff, creepy bathroom down in the basement, chilled Sambuca, soccer on 10 different TVs, what else do I need to say? I mean, they bolted the tables to the floor because the animals that are their patrons drink espresso and get pissed off when their Serie A team loses and try to kick the furniture. Really, though, the deserts and drinks are excellent. I love this place, and make sure I go every time I am back in Boston. read more

Wide awake six hours after drinking the "Decaf" americano I drank here, I had lots of time to reflect on the dozen other cafes at which I should have stopped for coffee and dessert instead of this unremarkable spot. If you like average coffee based drinks, mediocre desserts, and soccer-themed towels draped on the rafters, then by all means stop in. Otherwise, SKIP. read more

An authentic little Italian cafe on Hanover. I had never been in but no doubt took notice. Every time you walk by and there are always a bunch of Europeans watching football. Finally headed in and tried their pistachio gelatto. It was good, not the best, but did the trick. They also have a ton of baked goods, pastries, sandwiches on baguettes, and what looked like some yummy coffee drinks. Caffe Paradiso reminds me of a little cafe that I went to in Rome. I'll definitely be back! read more

I went here with a friend and we really enjoyed our tiramisu... until we got the bill! They charged us up the wazoo! Really disappointing since this is one of few places in the North End where you can sit and sip your coffee in peace. read more

Caffe Paradiso - Desserts Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Love love love the chocolate cannolis. I ordered the chocolate cannoli and it was heavenly. The cream was light and fluffy and the shell was delicious. My tea was pricey for over $2... It's a tea bag and water.... My sister in laws espresso was cheaper. But the cannolis..... Yes! read more

Caffe Paradiso - Chocolate and regular cannoli - Desserts Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I only got take-out pastries and gelato from this shop, but it didn't disappoint. The atmosphere certainly seems pleasant, and the man behind the counter was friendly and helpful. My party ordered a slice of the chocolate cake, a slice of the cappuccino cake, a cup of vanilla gelato, and a cup of hazelnut gelato. All were delicious, especially with a small glass of Averna back at the apartment! The chocolate cake is rich, dense, and a bit dry, with an intense chocolate flavor. It isn't overly sweet, but it is certainly rich. It is coated on top with a sticky, gelatinous layer of dark chocolate, which definitely adds to the richness. The cappuccino cake was much lighter, with layers of mousse interspersed between ultra-moist cake layers. The coffee flavor is not overwhelming, but is a wonderful combination with the rich chocolate cake. Unfortunately, I did not try the hazelnut gelato, but the vanilla gelato was some of the best I have had. It had a perfect consistency, stickier than ice cream, with a great vanilla flavor. This was my first dessert venture in the North End, and it did not let me down. I can't wait to return! read more

Best cannoli in Boston? We shall see about that... After a lovely waterfront lunch, my sweetie took me here to try the "Best of Boston" cannolis. We had a regular and a chocolate dipped, two espressos and a shot of sambuca to top it off. While the cannolis were tasty, and the view from our sidewalk table were great, the service is very slow, and the tab must be paid at the register. A great cannoli, an OK time. read more

This was recommended by our North End Tour guide as having the best Sangria. I'm not sure if it's the best, but it was not disappointing. Strong and refreshing on this hot summer day. I can't give them 5 stars only because I didn't try the food, but the quality of service was attentive and the environment was fun. We could participate in the one of the many parades that was going on, because of the el fresco seating. I'd recommend this to others. read more

Charming little cafe, with that word being used incorrectly 9 times out of 10 here in America, this is the real deal. Howard Schultz, the founder of Starbucks once said that espresso should paint the tongue with exquisite flavor. Sadly starbucks doesn't remember that. This place however has some of the best espresso I've ever tasted. Even fifteen minutes after it was pulled it still retains its explosive flavor. The chocolate canoli was amazing. Some places overdo their zest but the mix here was perfect. The shell was the perfect mix of fluffy and crunchy. The service was courteous and prompt. You can just sit there and watch the mix of regulars, locals, tourists and Italian speaking locals. A very great place that I plan to return to the next time I am in the north end. read more

Caffe Paradiso - Canoli and espresso - Desserts Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I live in Boston, but had not tried this Cafe, yet. It left quite an impression. Pros: The chocolate mousse cake is decadent and delicious. Having soccer on one tv and the Partiots on the other is a big plus. The espresso is very good, but far from the best in the North End. The decor is kind of cool. Cons: This place does not serve water at your table, no matter how much other good you order. They will bring you bottled water, but if you want a drink of water from the tap, you can either go get it yourself before you're brought your other items or afterward, of wait until you have received them, but they won't bring it to you. This also indicates a lack of environmental awareness. This policy, alone, is reason enough for me not to go back. Service is unremarkable. The price is average relative to the North End. read more

How can you not love a place with good espresso, good drinks, and awesome people? Answer- you can't, unless you're a robot. And ain't nobody got time for that. read more

Here's a joke. Two kids and two adults walk into a bar. The kids run to the bathroom and the two adults sit down at a small tabletop and order a berry martini and 3 orders of limone/berry granita (sorbet) and ice water. The waitress points to the bartop at the end of the dim bar and says, "They serve water there, otherwise you have to buy a bottle of water". The two adults look at each other and say no thanks. The waitress comes out with three small servings of granita and a virtually non-alcoholic martini. Afterwards the waitress brings out a bill for $30.00 before tip. The bar is called caffe paradiso. There is no punchline. Just a punch in the cojones [the only reason this place got stars instead of just my flaming wrath is because the kids told me they sincerely enjoyed the lemon granita]. read more

Great espresso and gelato shop! Always a stop when I come thru Boston. Most importantly, it's the perfect dessert afyer and walking distance from Neptune's. I love Boston! read more

This place gets points for making you feel like you walked right out of Boston and into a European cafe. Not touristy in decor or crowd, appearance neither sleekly modern nor dumpy. Its a cafe/dessert/sports bar with bar seating, bright glass case with desserts that look homemade, a line of small tables and chairs against a mirrored wall, and wooden rafter ceiling lined with football (i.e., soccer) flags. Staff are not in a hurry nor obsequious, just straightforward and often scarce. Atmosphere is laid-back. I made the unfortunate choice of one of their alcohol-spiked coffees, which was NOT good, so much alcohol it drowned out the coffee, and the coffee made the alcohol taste odd. Reading other reviews, I apparently should have just had normal coffee and tried a cannoli or tiramisu. Still, at least for now, have to rate them based on what I had, which was a substantial section of their drinks menu. read more

The waitress here is very friendly, and the sangria is outstanding. We felt welcomed the moment we walked in. We will definitely be back. read more

Caffe Paradiso - Desserts Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Absolutely nothing negative to say about this place. I went there with my friends a few nights back and enjoyed a nice hot cup of mocha cappuccino with a cannoli. A friend got the hazelnut gelato, which was delicious. Come here if you want a relaxing little coffee break with some treats, but don't want to deal with the insanity of Mike's up the street. read more

We snagged a table for a quick gelato and coffee break over Labor Day weekend. Clearly, the whole area was packed with tourists and locals alike coming by for the feast (I think it was St Anthony's, but as a Jew it's hard to keep other people's religious icons straight). I love the hazelnut gelato here (I am not even going to try to spell it out in Italian), and the Parisienne coffee is fantastic too (coffee with Grand Marnier). The only downside is the prices - for 2 coffees and 2 gelatos it was close to $30! Holy cow! read more

This is the coffee I wish I had all the time. Strong, not acidic, amazing flavor. This time I got a cappuccino that came dusted with cocoa powder and I savored it for a good long time. Around 8am, when the place is mostly empty but there are a few tables taken at the front and a couple people at the bar, I find it quite relaxing to just sit and mentally prepare for the day. ...*unless* there's some person sitting at the bar spewing on and on about specific details regarding how horrible people can be to each other and how miserable her life and how all her relatives make terrible decisions, etc etc. So the coffee gets five stars. Sometimes the environment gets five stars...sometimes it gets one star. read more

I've came here 3x in the past year. Best gelato and cannolis I've ever had in my 25 years of existence! Every visit always leads to another visit! Still have my first photo before walking into the place.. read more

Caffe Paradiso - Tells it all.. - Desserts Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I love this joint. My friends and I have been going here for the past 6 years. It is our go to spot to chill and talk on a relaxing, and not so crazy kinda night. We like to be away from the usual spots that others normally go to so this is the place that takes us away from all that. I love the way they hang football scarves and banners on the wall and ceiling .. So awesome. To me it represents diversity in the way they accept their customers. Although we(asians) were out of place being in North end(historically an Italian community) and all, it's great that the people here are very friendly and modern. Their coffees are alright not special or fancy or anything. But that's what I wanted just simple coffees with a light desert. I normally get the hazelnut cake but the tiramisu is nice too. They have an outside seating space which they transform into an indoor area for the winter. Overall, decently priced. They can use an upgrade though since their Tvs aren't in HD. Other than this place is just like any other coffee shop even though it might not be everyone else's cup of tea. read more

Very nice place in North End. We came here as a recommendation from our tour guide and it was great. We order plain cannoli that, for me were amazing!!! Highly recommendable. read more

Caffe Paradiso - Desserts Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Really nice, cozy little cafe in the North End right next to Modern Pastry. Saw a friend's review and decided to give their cannolis a try - it did not disappoint! The chocolate-covered shell was fantastic and the ricotta cheese filling had a smooth, creamy texture. Quality-wise, it's very close to Modern. My only gripe is that Paradiso offers far fewer options - no custard/chocolate/cream filling and no chocolate chips. Sadness. read more

This is a quirky little place that's good for a coffee, a cannoli, a cordial, or a drink. It's both bar and coffee shop. I find this place is relatively uncrowded while the tourists slam every other part of the boulevard so it makes it a good place to sit with a friend and chat. The staff is super nice and the atmosphere is casual and friendly. read more

Such a quaint little Cafe. The coffee is delicious and the service is fast. Great place to sit and catch up with friends. Plenty of seating.

This is a nice joint to hunker in and have a nice conversation with friends. They have a TV for viewing games and quite a large selection of coffees (mixed with alcohol). I opted for the pistachio martini, which was delightful. I thought that the prices however were a bit high for the quality of the drinks. read more

We came in as a break in our day for some cannoli and drinks! I had a mini cannoli and a pinot Grigio and my friend has a regular cannoli and the espresso martini. We say at the bar and loved watching the bartenders making drinks! I wish I would have gotten the sangria because it looked great. The cannoli were amazing and so much better than waiting in a long line outside for a more famous one. read more

Caffe Paradiso - Espresso martini and a cannoli ! - Desserts Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

This is a review for their gelato. After lunching in the North End, my friends and I were craving something sweet and cold.. so of course, gelato was the logical solution. One of my friends suggested Caffe Paradiso, which is located right next to Modern Pastry, and so off we went. I ordered stracciatella, which is similar to chocolate chip ice-cream. I also know its a popular gelato flavor, so I figure I can't go wrong with a classic. The lady who helped us also mentioned that she intentionally went to Italy to learn how to make gelato, so I thought great, we hit jackpot. However, I wasn't completely impressed with their gelato. It didn't taste any different to me.. compared to other gelatos. Don't get me wrong though, it was still great, but I'm not sure if it was worth $5 great. Perhaps, I should stick with cannolis from Mike's next time. read more

Stumbled in here while the U.S. soccer team was beating Spain. The place was packed but we were able to get a table and squeeze in. The crowd was great and we just happened to be the right place at the right time. Had lemoncellos with water on the side. The lemoncellos were pretty good but not quite like I am used to in Italy. The bottled still water was very minerally and they wouldn't serve tap water. I would have paid for it just to have some regular tasting water. read more

Love your iced coffee. Love your breakfast sandwiches. Love you. P.S. If you're a soccer fan and looking for a place to watch games where everyone is really excited to be watching soccer, look no further. read more

The coffee tasted like it came from a village in Italy... The cafe has a sports flavour, sort of typical North American Italian lots of local men talking football.. Located in the heart of Little Italy, the coffee doesnt get better.. read more

Absolutely the BEST cannoli I have ever tasted and they are up there on the list of my favorite desert so I have tried a few. Not too sweet, not too bland, PERFECT with a cappuccino. All cannolis will be compared to this one. We only had cappuccino and cannollis so cant speak to anything else on the menu. When in Boston will definitely visit again. read more