What Tourists Get Wrong About Boston: A Lifelong Resident Speaks Up
Donna Marchetti has lived in Boston's North End for 28 years. She grew up in Somerville, went to UMass Boston, and has worked in everything from restaurant management to running walking tours. She's the kind of Bostonian who will simultaneously trash-talk the city and fight anyone from out of town who does the same.
I sat down with her at a corner table in a Hanover Street cafe to talk about what visitors get right, what they get wrong, and why she's never leaving.
So, Donna — what's the first thing tourists get wrong about Boston?
"They go to Faneuil Hall first. Every time. They walk off the Freedom Trail, see the big marketplace, and spend two hours eating at chain restaurants surrounded by souvenir shops selling 'Boston Strong' t-shirts.
Look — the building itself has history. It's where Sam Adams gave speeches. But the marketplace today? It's a glorified mall food court. The North End is literally a five-minute walk away. You could be eating actual Italian food made by actual Italian grandmothers. Instead, you're paying $18 for a mediocre burger at a place with a neon sign. It drives me crazy."
What should they do instead?
"Walk the Freedom Trail — that part's fine, it's genuinely great. But when you get to Faneuil Hall, just keep walking north into the North End. Start on Hanover Street. Smell the air. It smells like garlic and fresh bread. That's real Boston.
Get a cannoli. I don't care where — Mike's, Modern, whoever. Just get one. Sit on a bench. Watch the old men play cards in the park. That's the experience."
The Mike's vs. Modern debate — where do you land?
"Oh god, here we go. [laughs] Modern. Obviously. Mike's is fine — they make a perfectly good cannoli. But the tourists line up around the block because somebody put it on Instagram. Modern is quieter, the ricotta is better, and the shell has the right crunch. I've been going there since I was a kid.
But honestly? The real answer is Bova's Bakery at 2AM. It's the only 24-hour bakery in the North End. After a long night, you walk in and get a warm sfogliatella and a coffee. That's the move nobody knows about."
What about the rest of Boston's food scene?
"People come here for two things: chowder and lobster rolls. And they should — we do those better than anywhere.
But they miss the everyday stuff. Breakfast at Tatte on Charles Street — the shakshuka ($16) is incredible and it's Israeli, not Italian, which surprises people. The burger at Mr. Bartley's in Harvard Square — it's been there since 1960 and it's still perfect. Cash only.
And nobody goes to Southie for food, which is insane. Lincoln Tavern brunch, Fox & the Knife for Italian small plates. The food is just as good as the North End and half the price because tourists don't go there."
What about the clam chowder?
"New England clam chowder. White. Creamy. With oyster crackers. End of discussion.
If you order Manhattan chowder in Boston, you'll get served — but the waiter's going to judge you. It's like ordering a Philly cheesesteak in Pittsburgh. If you love seafood cities, Charleston is another standout. You can do it. You shouldn't.
Yankee Lobster in the Seaport makes the best everyday chowder. No atmosphere, just picnic tables and fish. Perfect. Legal Sea Foods is consistent — I know people love to say it's overrated, but they're wrong. Union Oyster House is great if you want the history angle."
Tell me about getting around.
"Walk. Just walk. Boston is the most walkable city in America and tourists keep taking Ubers for six-block trips. The Freedom Trail is literally a red line on the ground. You follow it. It's impossible to get lost.
The T is fine. It's old and sometimes it breaks down and everyone complains, but it works. Get a CharlieCard from a station agent — $2.40 per ride instead of $2.90 for a paper ticket. The day pass ($11) pays for itself by your third ride.
Do NOT rent a car. I can't stress this enough. The roads make no sense. They were designed by cows — literally, some streets follow old cow paths. One-way streets, rotaries, and the most aggressive drivers in America. Parking is $35-60/day downtown. Don't do it."
Hidden spots tourists miss?
"The Harbor Islands. Absolutely criminal how few tourists go. You take a ferry from Long Wharf — $20 round trip — and 30 minutes later you're on an island with a Civil War fort, beaches, and hiking trails with skyline views. Georges Island has tunnels you can explore with a flashlight. Spectacle Island has a swimming beach. Pack a lunch, spend the day. It's my favorite thing in Boston and most visitors have never heard of it.
The Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain — 265 acres of trees and gardens, free, beautiful year-round. It's run by Harvard and it's one of the most peaceful places in the city.
Acorn Street in Beacon Hill — the most photographed street in America. Cobblestones, gas lamps, brick rowhouses. Go at dawn when nobody's there."
What about nightlife?
"Boston nightlife has gotten so much better in the last decade. The Seaport has rooftop bars with harbor views. South Boston has dive bars that are actually fun. Cambridge has the indie music scene.
My favorite spot is Drink in Fort Point. No menu. You tell the bartender what you're in the mood for and they make something. It sounds pretentious but it's not — it's a small, dark bar with incredible cocktails. Every single time I've gone, the drink has been better than anything I would've ordered.
For beer, Trillium in Fort Point. It's the best brewery in New England and it's not close."
What do tourists always get wrong about the weather?
"They come in March thinking it's spring. It's not spring. It's still winter. Spring in Boston starts in late April if you're lucky.
And they come in winter without proper boots. Boston sidewalks in January are ice rinks. The city plows the roads but the sidewalks are every property owner's responsibility, so coverage is... inconsistent. Waterproof boots with grip. Not fashion boots. Actual winter boots.
Summer is legitimately beautiful though. June through September is gorgeous — 22-28°C, long evenings, outdoor dining everywhere. That's when Boston is at its best."
The biggest misconception about Boston?
"That it's unfriendly. Look — Bostonians are direct. We don't do small talk with strangers. We're not going to ask you how your day is going unless we actually want to know.
But if you need directions, any Bostonian will walk you there. If you're lost on the T, someone will help you. We're not mean — we're just busy.
And we're proud. Maybe too proud. But this is a city that earned it."
Last question: would you ever leave?
"No. Absolutely not. The winters are brutal, the rent is outrageous, and parking is a daily act of war. But the food is incredible, the history is real, the harbor is beautiful, and I can walk to everything I need.
Also, where else am I going to get a cannoli from Modern Pastry at midnight? Nowhere. That's where."
