Royal Pastry Shop
1 / 10

Royal Pastry Shop

4.6
·491k reviews·,

A cherished family-run bakery offering a delightful selection of Italian and American pastries, cookies, pies, and custom cakes at fantastic prices.

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Social content

Social

From TikTok & Reddit

Best Time

Wed/Fri 18-21h

Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

CrowdLow
Royal Pastry Shop

Royal Pastry Shop

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

A cherished family-run bakery offering a delightful selection of Italian and American pastries, cookies, pies, and custom cakes at fantastic prices.

4.6
(491k reviews)

"This family-run bakery has been praised for its Italian and American pastries, cookies, pies and custom cakes. They have a good variety of choices and are cheap and tasty."

TIP

Visit during off-peak hours

Avoid crowds by visiting during less busy times for a more relaxed experience.

Don't miss the Rum Cake

This cake is generously soaked in rum and offers a unique, strong flavor.

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Quick Facts

Open·Closes 6PM

Cuisine

Italian, American

Price

$

Phone

(617) 547-2053

Address

738 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141, USA

Insta-Factor

Medium

Highlights

Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Authentic Italian Cannolis

Authentic Italian Cannolis

Delight in delicious cannolis with fresh, flavorful fillings, a true taste of Italy.

Affordable High-Quality Pastries

Affordable High-Quality Pastries

Enjoy a wide variety of Italian and American pastries, cookies, and cakes at budget-friendly prices.

Google Review+2
Custom Cakes for Celebrations

Custom Cakes for Celebrations

Order beautiful and delicious birthday cakes that aren't overwhelmingly sweet.

Google Review
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Insider Tips

from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit

Visit this pastry shop next time you’re in Boston! 🍫🧁🍭 #fyp #boston #bostonfood #foodies #modernpastryshop
@withcaromarie
151 likes • 11K views

Visit during off-peak hours

Avoid crowds by visiting during less busy times for a more relaxed experience.

Don't miss the Rum Cake

This cake is generously soaked in rum and offers a unique, strong flavor.

Bostons best Pastry. #boston #pastries
@michaellenoci
93 likes • 9K views

Try the Key Lime Pie

A perfectly balanced sweet and tart treat with not-too-sweet whipped cream topping.

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Tips

from all over the internet

Visit during off-peak hours

Avoid crowds by visiting during less busy times for a more relaxed experience.

Don't miss the Rum Cake

This cake is generously soaked in rum and offers a unique, strong flavor.

Try the Key Lime Pie

A perfectly balanced sweet and tart treat with not-too-sweet whipped cream topping.

What Travellers Say

4.6
(491k reviews)

Reviews Summary

Royal Pastry Shop is a beloved family-run bakery lauded for its high-quality Italian and American pastries, cakes, and cookies at excellent prices. Customers rave about the authentic flavors, fresh ingredients, and generous portions, especially for items like cannolis, rum cake, and custom cakes. While many praise the friendly service and value, a few have noted that some pastries can be overly sweet, and the service experience can vary.

"This is our go to bakery. Everything is delicious. Ordered a rum cake for dessert. It was great and the prices are amazing. The staff is very friendly. Thank you Royal Pastry. You are the best and I’ve been to the other two in the North End so many times too"

Franca Marzilli

"Very soft and tasteful vanilla cupcake"

Jesus Herrera

"price 5/5
service 5/5
food 4/5 (depends on what you get)
I past by this place randomly and decided to give it a try. I was curious about how italian pastries taste like outside of North End.
Cookies: Much cheaper than Mikes, Modern, or Bova pastry shops in North End. The cookies are $10/lb. They have a variety of cookies to choose from (shape and color wise). I will give the cookies a 3/5 tastewise. They are kinda hard and not as buttery as the ones you get from North End. And I'm a little bit disappointed that they don't have pistachio or almond cookies.
Rum cake: 4/5. Taste very good and you can tell the cakes are SOAKED in rum!
Lobster tail: This is more like an americanized sfogliatelle. Unlike the ones in North End which are filled with ricotta cheese cream, the lobster tails here are filled with custard.
Pizza: tasted amazing! they are square cut sicilian style pizza super fluffy dough and plenty of topping!
key lime pie: 5/5. I loved the not too sweet whipped cream on the top! Def balanced out the lime filling inside! I liked it a lot.
The prepacked Hermits bread is amazing!! Very strong molasses/ginger/cinnamon taste! Reminds me of christmas."

Shuang Rohde

What People Like

Delicious and authentic Italian pastries
Affordable prices and great value
Beautiful and tasty custom cakes

What People Dislike

Some items can be too sweet
Inconsistent service experiences

Frequently Asked Questions

Signature items include authentic cannolis with fresh fillings, rum cake soaked in rum, Hermits bread, and custom cakes. They also offer a variety of Italian and American pastries and cookies.

Google Review+1

No, customers frequently mention that the prices are very affordable and offer great value compared to other pastry shops.

Google Review+3

Yes, the bakery is highly recommended for custom birthday cakes, with customers praising their quality, freshness, and balanced sweetness.

Google Review

While traditional cannolis are available, the lobster tails here are an Americanized version filled with custard, unlike the ricotta cheese cream found in the North End.

Google Review

The provided information does not specify gluten-free or vegan options, but they offer a wide variety of traditional Italian and American pastries.

Customers note that the rum cake is very good and noticeably soaked in rum, offering a strong flavor experience.

Google Review+1

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Located in the heart of Cambridge, MA, USA, Royal Pastry Shop is a beloved family-run bakery known for its delicious Italian and American pastries, cookies, pies, and custom cakes. As soon as you step inside the cozy bakery, you are greeted by the mouthwatering aroma of freshly baked goods. The display cases are filled with a tempting array of treats, from traditional cannoli to decadent chocolate cakes.

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If you are in the nearby towns of Cambridge or Lexington, it would be wise to make a pit-stop at the Royal Pastry Shop. It's definitely one of the sleeper hits of Boston's pastry scene at large. You'll find an array of items, including the beloved custard eclairs, Italian cookies, and beautifully decorated cakes on its menu.

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The Absolute Best Cake in Cambridge [Updated 2025]

Let me start by saying that the cakes at Royal Pastry Shop are simply amazing. From the moment I stepped into the shop, the aroma of freshly baked goods enveloped me, and I knew I was in for a treat. One of the things that immediately caught my attention was the generous use of fresh cream in their cakes.

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Located at 738 Cambridge St. in Wellington-Harrington, the bakery is the highest-rated bakery in Cambridge, boasting 4.5 stars out of 67 reviews on Yelp.

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