We may earn a commission from links on this page, at no cost to you. Disclosure
There is no Boston Pizza in Boston. Boston Pizza is a Canadian chain, founded in Edmonton in 1964, and its US restaurants, which trade as Boston's, are in 13 states that do not include Massachusetts. For pizza in the city itself, start with Regina Pizzeria on Thacher Street in the North End, open since 1926, or Santarpio's in East Boston, which pairs pizza with grilled skewers.
This guide explains the name, then lays out five places inside the City of Boston that cover the main styles a visitor is likely to want.
Why is it called Boston Pizza?
The chain's own history says a Greek immigrant, Gus Agioritis, opened a single pizza restaurant and bar in Edmonton, Alberta, in 1964 and named it after a city he hoped to visit one day. The Boston name stuck as the chain grew across Canada. Its US arm, Boston's Restaurant & Sports Bar, lists locations in Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. If you want that menu, you will not find it on a Boston trip.
Where to eat pizza in Boston
| Pizzeria | Neighborhood | Style | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regina Pizzeria (The Original) | North End | Brick-oven round pies, 10 and 16 inches | Since 1926; walk-in; cards accepted |
| Galleria Umberto | North End | Thick Sicilian squares by the slice | Cash only; lunch only; closes when sold out |
| Cafe Amaro | North End | Brick-oven pizza with a full Italian menu | Sit-down; open until midnight Fri and Sat |
| Santarpio's | East Boston | Thin cheese pies plus barbecue skewers | Short fixed menu; no online booking |
| Picco | South End | Cold-ferment sourdough, charred crust | Also makes its own ice cream |
Regina Pizzeria, the North End original
Regina's Thacher Street dining room is where the brand began, and the company still labels it The Original to distinguish it from its quick-service counters at Faneuil Hall and South Station. The dough follows what the restaurant calls a century-old recipe using natural yeast. Order a plain cheese pie as the benchmark, or the Giambotta if you want everything on it.
Galleria Umberto for Sicilian slices
Galleria Umberto at 289 Hanover Street has sold thick, square Sicilian slices since 1974, along with arancini and panzarotti, from a counter that opens late morning, takes cash only and shuts for the day once the pizza runs out. Go early on a Saturday. It has no website, so check its Google listing for the current hours.
Cafe Amaro for a sit-down pizza dinner
A few doors up at 319 Hanover, Cafe Amaro serves pizzas such as prosciutto and fig or broccoli rabe alongside a full list of pastas, which suits a group that cannot agree on pizza. It is the restaurant that used to be Scopa; our Scopa guide explains the change.
Santarpio's, pizza and barbecue in East Boston
Santarpio's on Chelsea Street keeps a short menu of Italian cheese pizzas and house combinations, with lamb, steak-tip and chicken skewers served with a hot cherry pepper and bread. Any pizza can be made white, without sauce. East Boston is on the Blue Line and is also the neighborhood that holds Logan Airport, so it is a practical first or last meal of a trip. More on the neighborhood is in our East Boston restaurant guide.
Picco in the South End
Picco on Tremont Street makes its pizzas with a cold-ferment sourdough charred in the oven, and makes its ice cream and dairy-free sorbets in-house, so dessert is part of the plan. It takes reservations online and suits a relaxed dinner in the South End's restaurant row.
Is there a Boston style of pizza?
Not one that most Bostonians would agree on. The city's pizza history runs through Italian-American bakeries and pizzerias in the North End and East Boston, and the styles above are the range you will actually meet. The closest thing to a regional style is the greasy, crisp-edged "bar pizza" baked in small pans at pubs south of the city, outside Boston itself.
Pizza pairs well with a walk: after the North End, our guide to what to eat in Boston covers the city's other signature foods.