Ana Sortun and Maura Kilpatrick's Sofra on Belmont Street in Huron Village Cambridge has run an Eastern Mediterranean bakery and cafe in Boston since 2008. Pita, meze and Turkish coffee.
Tip: Park on a side street; the bakery's car park fills by 09:00. Ginger morning bun and za'atar manaeesh are the two breakfast orders.
Address: 1 Belmont St, Cambridge, MA 02138, Boston
Rene Becker's Hi-Rise on Concord Avenue in Huron Village Cambridge has baked hand-mixed levain bread in Boston since 1996. Sandwiches at the counter, savoury pies and a small lunch room.
Tip: The country sourdough sells out by 13:00 most days; pies are the under-ordered savoury order.
Worth the queue: Country sourdough boule
Rene Becker's Hi-Rise on Concord Avenue in Huron Village Cambridge has baked hand-mixed levain bread in Boston since 1996. Sandwiches at the counter, savoury pies and a small lunch room.
Tip: The country sourdough sells out by 13:00 most days; pies are the under-ordered savoury order.
Worth the queue: Country sourdough boule
Frank DePasquale's Bricco Salumeria behind Bricco Ristorante on Hanover Street in Boston's North End hand-cuts fresh pasta and slices imported Italian salumi to take home since 2002.
Tip: Tagliatelle, pappardelle and gnocchi are the daily fresh pastas; closed Monday. Cash and card both.
Worth the queue: Fresh tagliatelle, sold by weight
South End Buttery on Shawmut Avenue has run a bakery counter and cafe in Boston's South End since 2005. Sea salt brownies, cupcakes and the all-day bistro menu next door at the same address.
Tip: The bakery counter at the front is the fast take-away; the bistro at the back is the brunch room. Sea salt brownies sell out by 15:00.
Worth the queue: Sea salt brownie
Haley House Bakery Cafe on Dade Street in Nubian Square has run as a Roxbury social-enterprise bakery in Boston since 2005. Whole-grain country loaves, sandwiches and a Tuesday open-mic night.
Tip: Lunch sandwiches sell out by 14:00. The non-profit hires from local job-training programmes; the country loaf supports the mission.
Worth the queue: Whole-wheat country loaf
Mike's Pastry on Hanover Street has filled cannoli to order in Boston's North End since 1946. 19 cannoli flavours, cash and card, white string-tied box the giveaway.
Tip: The line on weekends runs 20 minutes; the inside-counter line moves faster than the to-go window. Cash and card both.
Worth the queue: Ricotta cannoli with chocolate chips
Modern Pastry on Hanover Street has filled cannoli to order in Boston's North End since 1930. Chocolate-dipped shells, lighter ricotta cream, the local pick over Mike's.
Tip: Locals line up at Modern; tourists at Mike's. The chocolate-dipped shell is the headline item; Italian rum cake is the under-ordered cake.
Worth the queue: Chocolate-dipped cannoli with sweet cream
