15 Best Restaurants in Massachusetts, USA

French macarons with an Asian spin (think flavors like lychee, taro, Thai tea, and Hong Kong milk tea), fresh strawberry and mango cakes, and many layered crepe cakes (order by the slice), are all stars of the menu at Bao Bao. Grab-and-go baked goods include many types of buns from savory (curry beef) to sweet (pineapple with custard), and taro paste loaf bread. Milk teas, Ovaltine, iced tea drinks, and smoothies round out the offerings. The only con we can find is that there's no place to sit. 

Escape into chocolate bliss here, where even the aromas are intoxicating. This award-winning chocolatier offers wedges of decadent cakes, ice creams, and sorbets, and dazzling chocolates all made on-site. Whether you like your chocolate dark and pure, sugar-free—even with a chipotle filling—you can't go wrong. You can eat at one of a handful of leather couches or wooden chairs and tables, but don't expect so much as a salad or a wrap: it's all chocolate, all the time.

A favorite among Financial District 9-to-5ers, this local mom-and-pop doughnut shop sells crave-worthy flavors, from the standard honey dip to the more elaborate crème brûlée and maple bacon. Kane's also offers 10 different seriously delicious gluten-free varieties.

This upscale bakery and café takes pastries to the next level. From tea cakes to the Jerusalem bagel, expect hearty baked goods with an air of elegance and influenced by the owner's Israeli heritage. Fantastic coffee drinks include the house's signature halva latte. A breakfast, lunch, and brunch menu features hearty plates all day, from breakfast sandwiches to salads, bowls, and shakshuka (an egg dish with tomatoes and peppers). The café's vibe welcomes those who appreciate attention to detail in both the food and the bright, lively atmosphere—so expect to wait in line.

The tiny A-frame at the intersection of U.S. 7 and Route 2 isn't much to look at, but the bakery within sells delectable goods that inspire loyalty in locals and visitors alike. The babka—especially the chocolate, though there's also a cinnamon edition—is second to none and must be ordered a day ahead. It's worth the wait, but be aware that there is no place to sit inside and enjoy it.

This teeny-tiny space on Seaport Boulevard has zero places to sit but absolutely tasty New York--style bagels. It's also a good spot for breakfast and lunch bagel sandwiches.

Fuel up for a beach day at this bustling family-owned breakfast and lunch spot, where options range from a kombucha and a cruller to a balsamic-drizzled veggie wrap and an iced chai latte. Guests order food at the downstairs level, confronted by an array of decadent baked goods (hand-cut doughnuts are a specialty), and take it to go or eat in the upstairs solarium or at a picnic table next to the parking lot.

Springfield's South End is home to a lively Little Italy, including this full bakery that has doled out a wide variety of heavenly pastries (and coffee) since the 1940s.

Challenging the typical cookie weight limit, Levain's freshly baked cookies are the perfect two-person dessert, although it can be tough to share with flavors like caramel-coconut chocolate chip, lemon, vegan and gluten-free chocolate chip walnut, oatmeal raisin, and dark chocolate--peanut butter chip tempting your sweet tooth. The banana--chocolate chip loaf is moist, and the country boule breaks with the perfect outer crisp. There's also a new location in the Seaport.

Every local knows the white box with the blue-and-white string as a to-go treasure chest of Italian delicacies. Known for their cannoli (they're the self-proclaimed "home of" the tubular treat), Mike's has been bringing the best in pastries and cookies to the North End (and presidential patrons like Bill Clinton) since 1946. The glass cases (if you can see them through the constant crowds) are filled to the brim with lobster tails, macaroons, biscotti, and more. There are locations also in Somerville, Harvard Square, and North Station.

Crowds line up for tasty treats at this beloved year-round bakery, in business since 1982, which serves up a lot more than pie, though that is not to be missed. Sticky buns and scones fly out of the kitchen at breakfast, while daily soup specials, wraps, and salads are popular at lunch.

When you need a break, duck into this hot little bakery for piping hot coffees, teas, and cocoa, or you can take yours chilled to perfection. If you're hungry, dig into one of their well-known bagel or pressed sandwiches, filled croissants, or a freshly made salad with a side of homemade soup du jour. There's outside seating when the weather agrees.

It might be short on space, but this Taiwanese bakery has a heathy reputation for fresh, authentic baked goods. There are so very many types of cake here---tiger skin rolls, cheesecake, red bean cake, cream cake, milk rolls, and a wide variety of mooncakes---as well as sticky rice buns, mochi buns, mung bean with pork floss pastry, scallion bread, and the don't-miss shaved ice with half a dozen topping choices. Smoothies, juice, black/green tea, and milk tea are also available.

This small bakery is big on cupcake creativity. Beyond your basic vanilla or chocolate, this spot offers flavors like Root Beer Float, Strawberry Crunch, and the occasional Unicorn Poop, which is a fun, colorful sprinkle concoction.

Recharge with a fresh-baked sticky bun and oversize mug of coffee at this South End favorite. Award-winning chef Joanne Chang and her staff serve up delicious creations including soups, hearty salads, and sandwiches. There are additional locations in South End, Fort Point Channel, and Back Bay in Boston, and Central Square and Harvard Square in Cambridge.