My fiancée and I signed up for the Cocktail and Cannoli tour on a whim one Sunday afternoon, and we had a blast (and left full of dessert). Our tour guide, Pat, led a small group of us on a walking tour of the North End—he was incredibly knowledgeable about hidden gems in the neighborhood and kept us all laughing the whole time. I’ve lived in the area my whole life, and I still learned a lot of interesting Boston historical facts I didn’t know. Some highlights:
-Cocktails at a local speakeasy: it was a refreshing start to the walk, since it was a warm day, and a nice chance to meet the other people on the tour
-Chocolate history: we got to see a historical reenactor make chocolate from scratch and try samples as she explained its importance in Colonial America
-Cannoli taste-off: We sampled two local staples, Mike’s vs. Modern, then voted, while Pat gave us some background on the dessert’s history
-Cool facts outside Paul Revere’s house
-Wine tasting with a local expert in a beautiful wine cellar
-Gelato and tiramisu cupcakes
We were pleasantly surprised with how much food the tour included, without getting overly full. It was fun as a couple, but I think it would also be a great day activity for when I’m hosting out of town friends, a company retreat, or even a pregame for a bachelor/bachelorette party. Highly recommended, whether you’re a local or just visiting for a weekend and want a taste of Boston history ... and cannoli. 5/5