I escaped to Boston 2 weeks ago to serve academic purposes and used my spare time to explore the North End, the city’s oldest residential community, also known as Boston’s Little Italy.

If you’re short on time (or money), just grab a piece of pizza at Ernesto’s (I’d highly recommend the fried eggplant and fresh ricotta pizza), and enjoy a cannoli at one of the numerous pastry shops in the surrounding area. Opt for Mike’s Pastry if you want the classic experience and don’t mind queues.

On lunch time, grab a delicious sandwich or salad at Bread + Butter, also an excellent spot for people watching on a sunny day, since this café has a cute terrace overlooking the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway.

If you’re looking to get a bit of work done in Laptoplandia, or to get the typical Bostonian student life vibe without going all the way down to Cambridge, grab a cup of coffee at Boston Common Coffee Co.

Burn a few calories with a little jogging through Boston Common, and repeat.

Ernesto’s Pizza, 69 Salem St, Boston

Mike’s Pastry, 300 Hanover St, Boston

Bread + Butter, 64 Cross St, Boston

Boston Common Coffee Co, 97 Salem St, Boston