We never leave the neighborhood – we only walk three blocks. But we metaphorically travel the whole peninsula of Italy, tasting the regional foods so proudly represented in Boston’s historic North. Journey from Sicily for arancini and pizza to Naples for authentic Neapolitan pizza and Sorrento for gnocchi. Visit a neighborhood wine shop to master Italian wine pairing, then uncover secrets of the Mediterranean diet with an extra virgin olive oil tasting. Sample 12-year aged balsamic vinegar, Parma prosciutto, and Sardinian sheep’s milk cheese in a bustling market. Conclude at an artisan bakery with 160-year-old sourdough yeast, ending at a local caffe for espresso, cannoli, and gelato. The most comprehensive telling of how the North End became Italian. Built on 20 years of relationships with the neighborhood’s small businesses... personal enough that every tour is led by myself to ensure the best quality experience possible.
Off the Eaten Path tours is the North Ends most delicious and filling food and history tour. Explore the greatest Little Italy in America with a local guide. We will travel up and down the peninsula of Italy as we taste and learn about regional Italian cuisine. Learn how the oldest neighborhood in Boston became Italian, while visiting small family business. We have 5 stops, including a two course lunch with wine pairing, visit an authentic Italian market and learn about olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and cheese, visit an artisan bakery, and an authentic Italian caffe for cannoli, gelato, and espresso, and many other delicacies. Visit Naples, Sicily, the Amalfi coast, and Emilia Romanga without leaving the North End. You will be transported to Italy without the passports, and become a North End insider at the same time!! This is truly the most special and unique tour of this remarkable district. Come hungry! Leave with your hearts, minds, and bellies full. You will never think of Italian wine and food the same way.
Such an amazing tour! I went in thinking it was simply a food tour, but it was so much more than that. The history shared alongside each food stop made the experience even more enjoyable and fascinating. I loved getting to learn about the area while also experiencing the food. Highly recommend!
I attended the tour with Pauls from Odd the Eaten Path yesterday with Paula and it was fabulous! Paula is so knowledgeable about the history of the North End, and as a Bostonian, I learned so much about the rich history of this area! The stops and restaurants along the way were perfect and we were completely satisfied with the amazing food and wine choices. Thank you Paula for an amazing day!
We have done a lot of food tours and this was by far the best. Our guide Paul was exceptional. Full of information and stories. Her background and years of experience in the neighborhood put her above and beyond any other guide we’ve ever had. The stops and food were as amazing as her stories. If you’re in Boston don’t miss this tour.
This food tour was, to put it simply, amazing! The food was delicious and very plentiful, and Paula is a knowledgeable expert on all things North End! If you love Italian cuisine, and Italian history and culture, take this tour!
This food tour was our favorite thing we did while in Boston for the five days we were there. In fact, this is our second tour with Paula. She loves the North End and is so informative about the area. We were educated throughout the entire tour from the food and what part of Italy it came from, to the wine, pastries and the establishments we stopped at. Everything we ate was absolutely divine. Between her personality, the area of town and the food we ate, this is a must do while in Boston. When I originally was trying to schedule a food tour, I looked at a few, but I kept seeing in reviews how awesome Paula was, and now I see why. This is her business and she loves what she does, you can absolutely tell. Thanks Paula for a great day in Boston. And come hungry, because you will eat a lot of wonderful food.
Off the Eaten Path Tours is such a wonderful way to experience Boston’s North End. Paula brings an incredible depth of knowledge about the neighborhood—its history, culture, food, and the people who make it so special. What really sets her tours apart, though, are the genuine relationships she has cultivated with local North End restaurants, bakeries, and small businesses. You never feel like you’re simply being shuffled from one stop to the next; you feel welcomed into the neighborhood. Paula is warm, engaging, and a natural storyteller, and her passion for Boston’s Italian-American community comes through throughout the entire experience. And come hungry! You will absolutely leave with a belly full of delicious North End Italian cuisine, having sampled some fantastic local favorites along the way. If you’re looking for a Boston food tour, North End walking tour, unique Boston experience, or a memorable activity for friends, family, colleagues, or a private group, I highly recommend Off the Eaten Path Tours. By the end of the tour, you’ll not only have a new appreciation for the North End—you’ll already be thinking about what event you can book next with Paula!
We enjoyed a wonderfully delicious and informative tour with Paula. She lives in the neighborhood and clearly knows the best spots for authentic Italian tastes. We were pleasantly surprised that two stops were seated in restaurants for pasta and pizza. Yum!
We've done food tours all over the world and this experience has been one of our favorites. The tour guide is a local to the area and that helped make the tour feel even more personalized. She provided the right amount of "locals" vibe and stories without it taking over the tour. The cost to quantity and quality was also very reasonable. I'd highly recommend this tour to anyone.
I’ve taken this specific tour twice. It’s that good. Your tour guide is the owner of her business, resident of the North End, and she is highly respected within her community. Paula, provides her customers with an education on Italian immigration into the US and into Boston and allows you to benefit from her experience by tasting the best of the North End!!
Overall the trip was good, the guild was very knowledgeable, articulate, and friendly. We did not enjoy standing outside the locations waiting, especially the market. It was very hot. We loved the presentation content but it was too much. The food was great, a little more variety would have been better. Even though we could hear all that she said, the group was a little too large. Overall though if you love history this is your tour!
