Highest-rated dessert shops in the Boston area by diners
Highest-rated dessert shops in the Boston area by diners
There's no denying that Americans have a sweet tooth—nearly 41% say they enjoy a sweet treat at least once a day, according to a November 2024 YouGov survey.
One of the most popular desserts to dig into is ice cream. An International Dairy Foods Association survey from May 2024 found that just about all Americans (97%) love or like ice cream. The frozen confection has held a special place in the U.S. since the turn of the 19th century with the invention of insulated ice houses. By the mid-1800s, ice cream was manufactured and sold to the masses. Soon, old-fashioned soda fountains started selling sundaes, milkshakes, and ice cream sodas, becoming a gathering place for young people. Today, more than 150 years later, those dessert options not only remain perennial top choices but also evoke a sense of nostalgia and community.
Over the years, Americans' dessert tastes have led to some other tasty trends, from the cupcake craze of the early 2000s thanks to bakeries like Magnolia, Sprinkles, and Crumbs, to the self-serve frozen yogurt frenzy that followed in the early 2010s via Pinkberry, 16 Handles, and Red Mango. Most recently, the 2020s have seen cookies sweep the nation, with chains like Insomnia and Crumbl stoking childhood memories, launching TikTok trends, and growing exponentially.
Today's desserts also go far beyond ice cream, cupcakes, and cookies. Many modern dessert shops are redefining the experience by fusing timeless recipes with multicultural flavors, offering creative twists such as matcha-infused cupcakes, horchata ice cream, and Basque cheesecakes that celebrate both tradition and innovation.
To keep up with the ever-evolving dessert trends, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated dessert shops in the Boston area based on diners' reviews on Yelp as of February 2025. Restaurants tagged as "desserts" on Yelp within a 10-kilometer radius of Boston were included. As a result, some restaurants featured may primarily serve other food items.
Whether indulging in a time-honored pie or exploring a fusion delight, the world of desserts remains as vibrant and diverse as the communities that enjoy them. Keep reading to see if your favorite spot made the list or to find your next sweet treat!
#30. Bistro du Midi
- Rating: 4.0/5 (797 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 272 Boylston St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: French, Bars, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#29. Oakleaf Cakes
- Rating: 4.0/5 (288 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 12 Westland Ave. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Bakeries, Coffee & Tea, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Amorino Gelato
- Rating: 4.0/5 (596 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 249 Newbury St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Desserts, Macarons
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Sugar Bakery
- Rating: 4.0/5 (243 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1884 Centre St. West Roxbury, Massachusetts
- Categories: Bakeries, Cupcakes, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#26. La Summa
- Rating: 4.1/5 (457 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 30 Fleet St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Italian, Desserts, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Honeycomb Creamery
- Rating: 4.1/5 (442 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1702 Massachusetts Ave. Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Categories: Desserts, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Custom Cakes
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Tous Les Jours
- Rating: 4.1/5 (193 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 152 Harvard Ave. Allston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Bakeries, Coffee & Tea, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Taiyaki NYC - Boston
- Rating: 4.1/5 (728 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 119 Seaport Blvd. Ste B Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Desserts, Japanese
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Saloniki Greek
- Rating: 4.1/5 (325 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 181 Massachusetts Ave. Ste 2 Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Categories: Greek, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Prezza
- Rating: 4.1/5 (456 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 24 Fleet St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Italian, Desserts, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Sweet Spot Bakery
- Rating: 4.2/5 (111 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 163D West Emerson St. Melrose, Massachusetts
- Categories: Bakeries, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Moon Flower House
- Rating: 4.4/5 (209 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 110 Brighton Ave. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Burgers, Bubble Tea, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Butternut Bakehouse
- Rating: 4.5/5 (113 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 787 Massachusetts Ave. Arlington, Massachusetts
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Bakeries, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Via Cannuccia
- Rating: 4.7/5 (113 reviews)
- Address: 1739 Dorchester Ave. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Italian, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#16. C Fruit Life
- Rating: 4.1/5 (264 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 171 Brighton Ave. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Desserts, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Mike's Pastry
- Rating: 4.2/5 (9275 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 300 Hanover St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Bakeries, Desserts, Gelato
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Bar Volpe
- Rating: 4.2/5 (128 reviews)
- Address: 170 West Broadway Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Italian, Desserts, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Kyo Matcha
- Rating: 4.2/5 (116 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1010 Beacon St. Brookline, Massachusetts
- Categories: Desserts, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Bakeries
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Modern Pastry Shop
- Rating: 4.2/5 (2791 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 257 Hanover St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Bakeries, Desserts, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Alma Gaucha
- Rating: 4.2/5 (176 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 401 D St. Boston Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Steakhouses, Desserts, Brazilian
- Read more on Yelp
#10. L.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates
- Rating: 4.2/5 (628 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 220 Clarendon St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Desserts, Chocolatiers & Shops, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#9. L.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates
- Rating: 4.3/5 (1214 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 52 Brattle St. Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Categories: Chocolatiers & Shops, Desserts, Tea Rooms
- Read more on Yelp
#8. La Luce Pastry Shop
- Rating: 4.3/5 (112 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 591 High St. Dedham, Massachusetts
- Categories: Bakeries, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Sweet Waffles + Boba
- Rating: 4.3/5 (261 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 18 Hudson St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Bubble Tea, Coffee & Tea, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Flour Bakery + Cafe
- Rating: 4.4/5 (284 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 30 Dalton St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Bakeries, Desserts, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Levain Bakery - Back Bay, Boston
- Rating: 4.4/5 (322 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 180 Newbury St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Bakeries, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#4. SALT Patisserie
- Rating: 4.4/5 (111 reviews)
- Address: 792 Beacon St. Newton, Massachusetts
- Categories: Patisserie/Cake Shop, Coffee & Tea, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Cafe Weekend
- Rating: 4.4/5 (276 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 120 Harvard Ave. Allston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, New American, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Dessert Works
- Rating: 4.4/5 (192 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 302 Providence Hwy Westwood, Massachusetts
- Categories: Desserts, Bakeries, Custom Cakes
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Cookie Time Bakery
- Rating: 4.5/5 (150 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1375 Massachusetts Ave. Arlington, Massachusetts
- Categories: Bakeries, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cynthia Rebolledo, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 241 metros.
