The 10 best doughnuts in Boston

For 60+ years, the nationally-renowned Kane’s Donuts has pleased the masses with its dozens of doughy offerings each day. The Downtown Boston location in the Financial District keeps worker bees buzzing throughout the day, while Kane's two Saugus spots bring happiness to the North Shore. In addition to traditional favorites like Honey Dip and monthly flavors, you can also find unique staples, such as Turtle (the candy, not the animal). Gluten-free varieties are available.

Situated in Somerville's Teele Square, Mass Hole Donuts specializes in bite-sized donuts—and biting wit. The shop, which also has a pop-up outpost in the Seaport, serves donut holes and only donut holes (their slogan is even "Donut ask us for the bigger ones"). Each week, Mass Hole rotates its menu, offering a different half-dozen of its impressive 60+ flavors. As if the name didn't tip you off, this place also loves to flaunt its state pride, so its donut names include clever puns (like Storeo Drive, a chocolate cake hole with Oreo buttercream and miniature Oreo cookie garnish), local landmarks (i.e. Green Monster, a brioche hole with lime custard, green vanilla glaze and toasted coconut) and pop-culture callbacks (see: How D'Ya Like Them Apples, a brioche hole with apple cider glaze, cinnamon buttercream and caramel crunch pearls). 

Blackbird knows the difference between raised donuts (made with a brioche dough) and cake donuts (made with buttermilk and sour cream), and it's perfected the art of both. Keep an eye out for offbeat flavors, such as sesame sriracha, blackberry lavender and everything bagel (brioche doughnut filled with whipped cream cheese, topped with toasted garlic, onion, sesame and poppy seeds). This shop started in the South End but it now boasts six additional locations throughout the Boston area: Beacon Hill, Fenway, Cambridge, Brighton, Watertown and Newton.

This no-frills joint in South Boston has been a fixture for more than 40 years. Craving a doughnut at 3am (probably after you've hit up one too many bars on West Broadway)? You’ll find a wide variety of fresh ones at any hour: Maple Frosted, Honey Dip, Boston Cream, Fruity Pebble, crullers and more. Even the drive-thru is 24 hours, so you can indulge any hour of the day or night.

How can you tell this place is a relic? “Do-nut” is hyphenated in the sign, it’s cash only and it closes at 1pm. But what’s old is still delicious, which is why regional residents trek over to West Roxbury to grab a dozen from this tiny shop. Here, the donuts are light and fluffy; coconut and honey dip are two of the musts, as well as a jelly stick that might take two people to consume. 

Located across the street from the Forest Hills T station, this hip JP spot serves gourmet coffee and pastries during the day. On any given morning, guests can find about a half-dozen different kinds of donuts, whose flavors regularly rotate (the white chocolate-apricot is one of our favorites). Be sure to get there early, as these sweet treats usually sell out fast.

Want a donut? Go to the light—the pink neon light shining above Twin Donuts in Allston. This long-standing shop’s 1950s facade is a neighborhood icon, as are its cheap, tasty treats. This little spot opens at 6am, making it a regular haunt for early risers and night owls alike. 

Originally hailing from Martha’s Vineyard, Back Door Donuts has made its way onto the mainland, taking up residency at Loretta’s Last Call. The late-night pop-up, doles out "Donuts After Dark" to the crowds on Lansdowne Street every night 7pm-2am. While they're best known for their gigantic apple fritters, the folks at Back Door also offer all of the classics—chocolate frosted, cinnamon sugar, Boston cream and more.

Homemade Greek honey donuts, known as loukoumades, are basically a far superior take on the Dunkin’ munchkin—and they're the perfect way to satisfy a sugar hankering without going overboard. Go to any of Gre.co's four locations throughout Boston and you can take your pick from three loukoumades, including the Classic (honey, walnuts and cinnamon), Bougatsa (custard cream, phyllo, cinnamon and powdered sugar) and Yaya’s (hazelnut praline, Oreo cookies and powdered sugar).

With five locations throughout Boston and Cambridge, Saloniki is keeping much of the metro area satisfied with its Greek donute (aka loukoumades). Brought to us by James Beard Award-winning chef Jody Adams, this local chain offers sweet and fluffy deep-fried donut bites that guests can customize. Topping options for these delicate pillows of dough include sour cherries, Nutella and baklava, carameli and pistachio, olive oil and sea salt, and hot honey.