In Milan the dining options are truly endless. From street food to restaurants on rooftops and in gardens, whatever you choose the experience will be special.
Milan is the capital of fashion and contemporary design. It stands out not only for its elegance and window displays, but also for its culinary scene. From end to end you’ll find old hidden gems, while new openings are growing fast. From traditional trattorias serving authentic Risotto alla Milanese, to osterie with fresh pasta, pizzerias and street food, the city offers an endless variety of flavors for every palate.
If you find yourself in Milan, one thing’s certain: you’ll discover countless options in every neighborhood and not only in the tourist center. Don’t forget to make reservations where needed and check opening hours, as most restaurants close for a few hours at midday.
10 places to eat in Milan
Pasta & Meat
Paper Moon Giardino
Fashion lovers from all over flock to the beautiful garden of Paper Moon for lunch and post-shopping dinners. It is located in the heart of the Quadrilatero della moda (the fashion quadrangle), the area that includes Via Montenapoleone, -the city’s most famous shopping street- and Via Manzoni, Via della Spiga and Corso Venezia.
Since 1977, Pio Galligani and his wife Enrica Del Rosso have managed to maintain and grow the restaurant’s reputation, remaining faithful to the philosophy and values of Italian cuisine. In its famed garden, a meeting point for fashionistas, they serve Italian dishes such as pappardelle with fresh tomato, cream and crispy bacon, risotto with porcini mushrooms and the traditional Cotoletta alla Milanese. From the 1990s they began opening outposts around the world, including in Istanbul, Doha and Hong Kong. Via Bagutta, 12, Milano
Osteria del Binari
An elegant courtyard in the Navigli district bridges history and the modern era. Since 1972 Osteria del Binari has stood beside Porta Genova station, in Milan’s liveliest area for nightlife and going out. Time seems to have stopped at the restaurant, with design details both indoors and out that create a warm and welcoming environment. In a neighborhood that’s not quiet, their lush garden with its centuries-old vine is a hidden secret that offers moments of calm.
There you’ll taste traditional dishes of Lombardy, the region to which Milan belongs. Their typical Milanese cooking tells the area’s story and ranges from classic risotto and the Milanese cutlet to ossobuco and fresh pasta. The menu also emphasizes their house-made desserts such as classic tiramisù, semifreddo al pistacchio and gelato. Via Tortona 1, Milano
Trattoria Trippa
An authentic culinary experience awaits at the retro trattoria of Pietro Caroli and chef Diego Rossi. A traditional, welcoming restaurant in the Porta Romana area, it has earned a place in the Michelin Guide, marrying tradition with high gastronomy for a decade now. If you manage to book at Trattoria Trippa weeks in advance, you’ll savor dishes from different regions of Italy signed by the chef from Verona.
It has been described as one of the best trattorias in Italy, with its unpretentious, simple cuisine. With respect for prime ingredients and local products, specialties range from the city’s famed Risotto alla Milanese to vitello tonnato and various pastas of the day. The menu always features their famous tripe, which also gives the restaurant its name (trippa means tripe in Italian). Via Giorgio Vasari 1, Milano
Osteria da fortunata
The story of Osteria Da Fortunata begins in the 1920s in the Eternal City. It is a restaurant born in Rome from Fortunata, a woman who cooked for laborers and managed to pass on her passion for cooking from generation to generation. Today, besides the restaurants in Rome and Bologna, there are three outposts in Milan.
You’ll find them in the city’s most popular areas, frequented by visitors and locals alike. You’ll immediately notice the small tables filling and emptying at great speed at all hours of the day. The fresh pasta is prepared before your eyes in their workshop and the choices are many. Recipes come from Roman tradition with flavors from other regions too. Choose among Bolognese, tomato and basil, amatriciana, and more. Via Fiori Chiari 13 / Via della Moscova 52 /Via Casale 4, Milano
Casa Tua Osteria
In the Porta Romana area where the city’s gastronomic heart beats you’ll find Casa Tua Osteria. It is housed in a building that was once an ancient bakery, with authentic vaulted ceilings and red brick. Its atmosphere will sweep you away with soft lighting, wooden tables and bottles of wine that evoke an old cellar.
For about 20 years it has been serving traditional dishes with selected local ingredients, based on 18th-century Tuscan recipes. On the menu you’ll find Italian cured meats and cheeses, eggplant croquettes, salted cod with celery, tagliata, cutlet with roast potatoes as well as spaghetti cacio e pepe or carbonara. Everything is accompanied by wines sourced mainly from the Italian vineyard. Via Bernardino Corio 10, Milano
On the go
Luini Panzerotti
If you find yourself at the most central point of Milan in Piazza del Duomo and want something to eat in hand, the Luini bakery with a history dating back to 1888 is the ideal budget-friendly choice. You’ll immediately notice a huge line outside the shop on Santa Radegonda street, but don’t be discouraged because it moves quickly. Giuseppina Luini is said to have been the first to bring the panzerotto to Milan, arriving from Apulia in 1949 with her family. The recipe of Signora Giuseppina’s grandfather is a well-kept secret passed down through the generations. It is a traditional dough quite similar to the calzone, but the key difference is that it isn’t baked in the oven but fried.
In the display you’ll find varied versions with different ingredients for every taste, savory and sweet. Once you receive it hot, head to Piazza della Scala next door to eat with a view of Milan’s impressive La Scala. Via Santa Radegonda 16, Milano
AllAntico Vinaio
Photos of the enormous queues outside AllAntico Vinaio in Florence have traveled the world. Its story began in the 1990s, when the Mazzanti family took over a small grill shop on Via dei Neri just 250 meters from the Uffizi Gallery. A few years later, they decided to take over the shop on the other side of the street and started making the country’s most famous sandwich.
Over the years they began opening shops in other cities of Italy, with their fame reaching as far as New York. At the Milan locations you’ll find their famous focaccia stuffed with more than 20 different combinations, with cured meats and cheeses from Italy as well as vegan options. Via Orefici 5 /Via Statuto 18 / Piazza Luigi di Savoia, Milano
For pizza
Obicà Mozzarella Bar - Duomo
A mozzarella bar-pizzeria, ideal for a stop after sightseeing and shopping, is located in the heart of the city. Hidden on the rooftop of the La Rinascente department store, the terrace of Obicà has prominent views toward the striking Duomo. Its kitchen focuses on fresh, high-quality ingredients, with Mozzarella di Bufalla Campana DOP playing the starring role. You’ll enjoy pasta dishes and salads with mozzarella and more.
Their pizza is popular with their own slow-rising sourdough. You’ll try different combinations such as burrata with tomato, cacio e pepe, anchovies with tomato and Parma prosciutto. From early on you’ll pair the food with locals’ favorite ritual, the aperitivo. You’ll find locations of the same chain not only in Milan but in other Italian cities too, such as Turin, Florence and Palermo. Rinascente Milano, P.za del Duomo, Milano
Pizzium
A successful concept in the city’s dining scene with many locations in Milan, Pizzium has been loved by the city’s residents and beyond. The idea of this pizzeria was born to bring the authentic flavors of Naples to Italy’s north. With a primary aim of showcasing tradition, it focuses on simple, traditional pizza and selected local ingredients. The space is bright with brick walls, colorful furniture and ornate tiles.
The flavors are many and different, with options for vegans and even for those with gluten intolerance. Try the authentic Margherita, Marinara and Bufala, as well as distinctive combinations inspired by Italy’s regions. Alongside the list of local wines, they also serve their own beer with high fermentation, golden in color and light in taste. Via Arco 1/ Viale Tunisia 6 / Via Vigevano 33, Milano
Brunch
LùBar
Undoubtedly one of the city’s most distinctive restaurants, LùBar has the most Instagrammable indoor garden. To find the best table among the plants you should plan ahead and book early. It fills especially in the morning and at midday, as it is famous for its brunch.
You’ll try their own version of avocado toast, club sandwich, and toast with prosciutto. The menu also includes pasta but the desserts steal the show. Choose between fresh tiramisù, a cannolo with ricotta or chocolate cake. Pair the food with one of their cocktails espresso martini, Paloma, Hemingway Daiquiri. Via Palestro 16, Milano
