Entry No. 4 — the Boston file — filed under: basement-bar
Modern Underground
Below the counter of Modern Pastry — the North End's century-old cannoli-and-pastry shop — a stone-walled room with vintage chandeliers runs martini-and-cannoli pairing classes, turning a bakery's basement into a full cocktail den.
The story
While tourists spend forty minutes shuffling down Hanover Street waiting for a paper box from Modern Pastry, the Picariello family keeps a stone-paved secret right beneath their counter. Descend the stone staircase tucked inside the century-old bakery, and you drop straight out of the crowd and into Modern Underground—a subterranean cocktail den anchored by an 18-foot granite bar, stone walls, and vintage chandeliers hanging beneath low basement ceilings.
It is an absurdly practical clash of worlds. Upstairs, bakers roll pastry shells; downstairs, bartenders shake up Cinnamon Toast Crunch, espresso, and pistachio martinis alongside pub staples like steak tip dinners and steak and cheese spring rolls. For couples or groups, the space runs dedicated martini-and-cannoli pairing classes, teaching you how to match stiff drinks with fresh-filled Italian sweets without ever coming up for air.
You didn't hear it from us, but the real secret here is pure logistics. Because the basement bar serves Modern Pastry's full selection of baked goods directly at your stool, slipping downstairs lets you completely bypass the endless sidewalk line above. You get the exact same fresh cannoli, washed down with a cold drink, while the queue on Hanover Street hasn't moved an inch.
What it's like
Push past the bakery counter upstairs and look for the stone stairs leading into the cellar. Down below, the street noise disappears into a cozy, stone-walled dive-meets-speakeasy vibe featuring flat-screen TVs and a solid local draft list. The play here is visiting on a weeknight, snagging a seat at the granite bar, and ordering a martini with a cannoli on the side, or booking a class in advance for a structured tasting.
The move: Buy cannoli at the register upstairs, then take the stone staircase down for a martini-and-cannoli pairing class as a couple.
- 📍 North End, Boston
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 263 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02113
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Farmacia — Combine two hidden North End drinking spots into one night by walking one block from this basement bar to Farmacia's exclusive, nine-seat cocktail space.
- The Wig Shop Lounge — Pair two disguised downtown speakeasies by heading from a cellar underneath a bakery to a lounge hidden behind a wig storefront in Downtown Crossing.
- The Ether Dome — Follow up an afternoon inside MGH's historic 1821 surgical amphitheater with subterranean martinis and cannoli in the North End.
- Boston Athenaeum — the vault with the human-skin book — Contrast the macabre history of a skin-bound confession in Beacon Hill's library vault with a relaxed underground drink in the North End.
Good to know
How do I find Modern Underground?
Enter Modern Pastry at 263 Hanover Street in the North End and take the stone staircase down into the basement.
Can I get cannoli at the basement bar?
Yes, you can order cannoli and other bakery items directly at the downstairs bar without waiting in the main bakery line upstairs.
How do I sign up for a martini and cannoli class?
Group martini-and-cannoli pairing classes can be booked directly through Modern Pastry by emailing underground@modernpastry.com.
What food and drinks are on the menu downstairs?
The basement bar serves signature martinis (like pistachio and espresso), beer, and pub fare including burgers, steak tip dinners, and steak and cheese spring rolls.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Time Out · bostonuncovered.com · Reddit
last checked: 2026-07-20