North End

The North End exists as a dense, compact neighborhood defined by a maze of narrow, winding streets and brick buildings dating to the seventeenth century. As Boston's oldest residential community, it retains a character shaped by centuries of shifting populations, from Puritan settlers to the Irish, Jewish, and Italian immigrants who arrived in successive waves. The area contains a high concentration of Italian-American cafes, bakeries, and restaurants along streets such as Hanover and Salem.