Vaccaro's Italian Pastry Shop in Baltimore: Where to Buy Cannoli and Sfogliatelle by the Piece
Vaccaro's is a standing-room Italian bakery on Mulberry Street in Baltimore's Little Italy, open since 1962, that sells cannoli, sfogliatelle, biscotti, and seasonal Italian pastries individually rather than by the box. Most items cost between $2 and $5, and the shop operates as a walk-up counter with no seating.
What Vaccaro's actually is
A traditional Italian-American bakery focused on filled pastries and cookies made on-site. The shop occupies a narrow storefront with cream-colored tile walls and a display case running the length of the counter. You order and pay at the same window. The clientele is mixed: locals who grew up buying here, people stopping by after dinner at nearby Italian restaurants, and tourists directed to Little Italy. Vaccaro's does not serve coffee, smoothies, or sandwiches. It is pastry only.
Menu and pricing
Cannoli with ricotta filling cost $3.50 each, with your choice of chocolate chips or nuts mixed into the cream. Sfogliatelle, the Neapolitan crispy pastry layered with ricotta and candied fruit, runs $3.75. Biscotti, almond or chocolate-dipped, are $2.50 per piece or $18 per box of a dozen. Seasonal items, like cassata cake (ricotta, marzipan, and sponge cake) appear around Easter and Christmas; these are sold by the slice at roughly $4 to $6. Most pastries are displayed in the case and point-to-order. A few shelf items like packaged biscotti and small gift boxes are available near the register.
How Vaccaro's compares to other Baltimore bakeries
For Italian pastries sold by the piece, Vaccaro's is the primary option in Baltimore. Clavin's in Canton sells cannoli and other Italian sweets but operates as a full-service Italian deli with a broader menu and table seating. The Metropolitan Bakery in Federal Hill specializes in French pastries and breads, not Italian. Vaccaro's niche is specificity: this is where you go if you want a single sfogliatelle now, not a box of six ordered a day ahead. Hours and days can vary, so calling ahead (410-685-4905) before a special trip is wise.
Who it suits and who it does not
Vaccaro's suits people who want a single authentic Italian pastry, nostalgia shoppers from Baltimore's old Italian neighborhoods, and diners finishing a meal nearby who want dessert to walk with. It does not suit anyone looking for coffee, dietary alternatives (vegan or gluten-free options are not available), or dine-in service. If you are buying for a large group or event, the standing-room model and made-fresh daily production mean quantities are limited; calling ahead to order a larger quantity is necessary.
What the first visit involves
Walk in, study the display case, point to what you want. The counter staff will box or bag it. Payment is cash or card. The transaction typically takes two to three minutes. There is no menu board; the pastries speak for themselves. If you are uncertain, asking for a recommendation on what is fresh that day is normal.
Hours, parking, and logistics
Vaccaro's is located at 409 N. Mulberry Street in Little Italy. Hours are typically 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, closed Mondays, though seasonal and holiday hours vary; calling to confirm is advised. Street parking is available on Mulberry Street and nearby side streets. The shop is a five-minute walk from the Lexington Market Metro station (Red Line). No parking lot is attached.
Vaccaro's has held the same corner of Little Italy for over 60 years, surviving the neighborhood's demographic shifts by maintaining strict focus on what it makes well. For a single, authentic Italian pastry without commitment to a full box or sit-down dessert course, it remains the only answer in Baltimore.
