Milan is a culinary melting pot where every corner offers unique gastronomic experiences.
From ethnic restaurants bringing exotic flavors to the table, to pizzerias reinterpreting the Neapolitan tradition with a modern twist, and venues offering rich and original brunches, there are options for every taste and budget!
Let's explore together 10 must-visit places to enjoy Milanese and international cuisine.
1. Where to eat in Sempione area: Librosteria
A unique place that combines books and food: a spot that will likely become one of your favorites in Milan. Introducing Librosteria, a charming bar with a bookstore situated right behind the Arco della Pace.
The space is known for its cozy ambiance and cheerful atmosphere. Among the shelves, you'll find a variety of used and hard-to-find books, including novels, essays, art volumes, and selections priced at just 1-2 euros.
There’s also a snack bar, perfect for aperitifs, where you can enjoy wine, beer, and drinks for 5-6 euros. For an additional euro, you can get an individual small plate. What are you waiting for? Come and try it!
Where: Via Cesare Cesariano, 7, 20154 Milano
Price range: €
2. Best restaurant in Isola: Da Berti Cucina Milanese
Timeless elegance and style between the new city and old Milan: we are talking about Da Berti Cucina Milanese.
Here you can enjoy the authentic Milanese cuisine in a large veranda that overlooks the beautiful garden giving life to a green corner in the heart of the city.
It is the perfect place if you want to discover Milan from its typical dishes, find it in its ancient flavors and enjoy it through the selection of the best seasonal ingredients.
From classic Risotto alla milanese or al salto, to traditional dishes such as Cassoeula and ossobuco.
Where: Via Timavo, 8, 20124 Milan
Price range: €€- €€€
3. Aperitif (or dinner) in Porta Garibaldi at Eataly
Eataly's dehors in Porta Garibaldi is the perfect spot to enjoy lunch with friends, have an aperitif, or stop by for dinner or drinks, all in the open air!
You can find classic dishes like charcuterie boards with market goods and pizza with a seasonal twist, as well as many tasty traditional Italian dishes.
If you visit in the evening, don't miss the signature cocktails, perfect for aperitifs. Pair them with delicious snacks or a piping hot pizza.
In short, it's a perfect place for a relaxing break in a green setting (reservations are not necessary).
Where: Piazza XXV Aprile 10, 20121 Milan
Price range: €-€€
4. Where to eat in Milan Navigli: Macelleria Popolare
The Navigli have always been one of Milan's highlights: once known for their navigability, today they are famous for their vibrant nightlife.
Macelleria Popolare, located in Milan's Darsena market, is one of the most gastronomically interesting kiosks in this area of the Navigli.
Its strong point is the constant pursuit of top-quality, grass-fed, pasture-raised, and organic meats.
It's a rustic and "popular" spot: you choose your meat at the counter, decide the quantity, and then enjoy it standing or at the outdoor tables with a beautiful view of the Darsena. If you're unsure about which cut to choose, don't worry – the knowledgeable staff at the counter will expertly guide you.
Where: Piazza Ventiquattro Maggio, 4, 20123 Milan
Price range: €€
5. A special spot to eat pasta: Pastificio Irma in Sant’Ambrogio
Perfect for a lunch break, Pastificio Irma has been a handmade fresh pasta workshop since 1959, now run by two young people between tradition and innovation.
Located on Via Mauri in Milan, this pasta factory has been in business since 1959 and still bears the name of its original owner, Mrs. Irma. Stepping inside, you'll feel as if time has stopped in the 1960s.
The focus here is on pasta: bigoli, tonnarelli, rigatoni, as well as stuffed varieties like tortelloni with ricotta and spinach, plus some seasonal specialties.
The kitchen is open only for lunch: choose your pasta type, sauce, and seasoning, and enjoy!
Where: Via Angelo Mauri 6 (C.so Vercelli), Milan
Price range: €€
6. Where to eat pizza in Milan Porta Romana: Pizza Am
Let's move on a high note with the quintessential Italian food: pizza! And in one of the most fancy areas of Milan, Porta Romana.
Here you can't miss Pizza Am.
Super colorful surroundings, chairs, tables and walls and an aperitif with prosecco offered while waiting for a seat accompanied by a small pizza panuozzo. What is a panuozzo? A kind of large sandwich, the dough of which is made from the same dough as that of pizza... amazing!
At this pizzeria you will find the excellence of simplicity and top quality ingredients such as a slow food extra virgin oil and a dough that has been leavened 48 hours.
Where: corso di Porta Romana, 86, Milan
Price range: €
7. Best brunch in Milan: Upcycle Bike Bistrot
In Città Studi area, from breakfast through to drinks and dinner, Upcycle warmly welcomes you. Relax in comfortable lounge chairs or work using the great Wi-Fi connection.
Alternatively, gather around a long wooden table with friends or even strangers, sharing their delicious Swedish brunch.
Upcycle is the first Bike Café Bistrot in Italy, perfect for those who share a passion for food and bicycles.
It's a place to connect with new people, indulge in fabulous cakes, and enjoy pleasant conversations, perhaps with a mug of American coffee to warm your spirits.
Where: 59 Via A. M. Ampère, Milan
Price range: €-€€
8. Madama Hostel & Bistrot: where to eat in Lodi Milan
As the name suggests Madama Hostel is a hostel yes, but also a restaurant and bar where you can have brunch, appetizer, lunch and dinner.
The menu varies greatly according to the season and market availability. The atmosphere here is youthful and you often meet foreigners and students, some staying at the hostel and others taking advantage of the proximity to the Prada Foundation.
There is something for everyone: from burgers - about 10 euros - to salads: the food here is a mix of tradition and revisited street food. And there are plenty of veg options!
Where: Via Benaco, 1, 20139 Milan
Price range: €
9. Best restaurants near Duomo Milan: a little bit of Asia at Il Giardino di Giada
We understand how challenging it can be to find a convenient place to eat in the Duomo area. Look no further: we have just the spot for you—a classic Chinese menu featuring dim sum, soups, steamed fish, rice noodles, and soy.
We are talking about Il giardino di Giada.
Located on a narrow street at the foot of the Duomo and the church of San Gottardo in Corte, in a beautiful 20th-century building. Sun Jonan, known as Carmen, arrived from China in Milan in the 1980s.
Since then, Carmen has been serving a range of dishes, from simple steamed sea bass or bacon with steamed dried vegetables to haute cuisine options such as Peking duck and numerous spicy dishes.
Where: Via Palazzo Reale, 5, 20122 Milan
Price range: €-€€
10. Where to eat in Milan Porta Venezia: Botoi bistrot
Gourmet restaurants, bistros, pizzerias, pastry shops, trattorias, wine bars and international addresses: increasingly, Porta Venezia is the city's gourmet district.
Botoi Bistrot is a neighborhood bistrot inspired by French bistros and Venetian bacari -the typical osterias of Venice where glasses of wine are served accompanied by small samples of food (the "cicheti").
This restaurant offers artisanal and informal, at times home-style cuisine, with a seasonal menu and a selection of organic and natural wines.
Where: Piazzale Lavater, 2, 20129 Milano MI
Price range: €€
In summary, Milan stands out as a diverse and exciting culinary destination that caters to every taste. And so, what’s your favorite spot?
