The best restaurants in Milan (2024)

Kiki Deere Destination expert

The best restaurants in Milan (1)

Milan offers one of the most exciting restaurant and dining landscapes in Italy. Although a constantly changing culinary scene, with new fads and foods coming and going to serve the city’s cosmopolitan crowd, it would appear that traditional Italian cuisine remains at the vanguard – though you’ll still find quirky pop-ups, cute cafés, designer restaurants and fashionable hangouts aplenty tucked away in all pockets of the city.

For more Milan inspiration, see our guides for the besthotels,barsandattractions.

Find a restaurant by area

  • San Babila
  • Brera
  • Missori
  • Pagano
  • Cadorna
  • Repubblica
  • Greco

Duomo & Montenapoleone

Identità Golose

This restaurant and gastronomic hub sees acclaimed chefs from Italy and beyond take to the kitchen, working closely with the Identità Golose team to prepare some of their most sought-after dishes. The chefs, some with one or more coveted Michelin stars, rotate weekly to prepare special dinners, while the rest of the time Executive Chef Edoardo Traverso rustles up Italian and Milanese dishes such as his signature fusillo milano with saffron risotto cream, ossobuco ragout and gremolata (parsley, lemon zest and garlic sauce). With past guests including Alain Ducasse and Massimo Bottura, this is a great opportunity to experience new flavours and techniques all under one roof. Check the website for who’s cooking.

Contact:identitagolosemilano.it
Nearest Metro: Montenapoleone/Duomo
Reservations: Lunch: Recommended; Dinner: Essential
Prices: £££
Best table: Ask for a table in the leafy courtyard at the back of the restaurant (retractable glass panels provide insulation in winter).

Seta

Acclaimed chef Antonio Guida is at the helm of this elegant two Michelin-starred restaurant where chocolate-coloured tones marry with teal blue chairs and green marble fittings. Guida aptly transforms traditional Italian dishes from cucina povera (peasant cooking) into wonderful creations, using ingredients to their full advantage and combining them with French and Asian produce (seaweed; tofu). Sit back in the courtyard and peer at the chefs at work as you tuck into spaghetti with sea anemone, red prawn tartare, black lime and pickled radish cream, a zesty, refreshing creation that is one of the chef’s signature dishes.

Contact: mandarinoriental.com
Nearest Metro: Montenapoleone
Reservations: Essential
Prices: £££
Best table: Book the Chef’s Table to fully immerse yourself in the theatrics of the kitchen.

The best restaurants in Milan (2)

San Babila

Paper Moon Giardino

Set in a 19th-century palazzo, this stylish spot offers al fresco dining in a gorgeous leafy garden. Inside, expect elegant terrazzo floors and frescoed ceilings, delicate shades of eau de nil and pearl-grey, and walls livened up with decorative wall mirrors and quirky portraits of celebrities.The focus here is on Italian cuisine, with elegantly presented dishes spanning from fish and seafood tartare to homemade pappardelle with bacon, tomato and cream, alongside Milanese favourites such as veal ossobuco (braised veal shank with saffron risotto).

Contact: papermoongiardino.com
Nearest Metro: San Babila
Reservations: Recommended
Prices: £££
Best table: Book a table in the pretty garden, one of Milan’s best spots to enjoy an al fresco meal.

The best restaurants in Milan (3)

Brera

Casa Fiori Chiari

This neighbourhood restaurant offering all-day dining in the heart of Brera is set in a 19th century building with granite columns, bare brick walls and rustic ceiling beams exuding an informal yet sophisticated feel. Fabrics and upholstery in orange and ochre tones lend a lively touch, contrasting with whitewashed walls adorned with black and white prints. Tuck into Italian favourites such as aubergine parmigiana and spaghetti al pomodoro, and make sure you don’t miss the excellent vitello tonnato, a starter of thinly sliced veal topped with a wonderfully creamy caper and anchovy tuna sauce. There are pizzas too, prepared with dough made with only 0.01% yeast, resulting in an exceptionally thin and light base.

Contact:casafiorichiari.com
Nearest Metro: Lanza or Montenapoleone
Reservations: Recommended
Prices: ££

Missori

Gastronomia Yamamoto

The interiors of this family-run Japanese deli are laid out like a traditional Japanese home, with simple, clean minimalist features (solid wooden tables; weaved mustard tatami inspired floors) that are typical of Nipponese interior design. Run by a mother-and-daughter team, the restaurant serves authentic Japanese cooking, although you won’t find any sushi or sashimi here. The chef creates dishes that recall much-cherished childhood family meals, with the likes of gyudon, a comforting dish of rice topped with thinly sliced marinated and stewed beef. In winter, you’ll find kabocha no nimono (stewed pumpkin), while come summer, fried aubergines marinated in Japanese dashi (stock) are a firm favourite.

Contact:gastronomiayamamoto.it
Nearest Metro: Missori
Reservations: Lunch: Walk-ins only during the week; Dinner: Recommended
Prices: £
Best table: If you’re after a quiet spot, reserve a table close to the deli counter.

The best restaurants in Milan (4)

Navigli & Porta Genova

Langosteria

If you’re after fresh fish and seafood then look no further than Langosteria, which has firmly established itself asMilan’s best go-to fish and seafood restaurant. Sit at the oyster bar and sip on a glass of bubbly before settling into one of the partitioned dining areas to feast on fresh langoustine tartar with foie gras and juicy Catalan-style king crab. Burgundy velvet seating and suffused lighting create an intimate environment, while naval and nautical memorabilia, from lanterns to miniature boats, add a pinch of fun. Sister restaurants Langosteria Bistrot, Langosteria Café and Langosteria Cucina offer a more informal experience.

Contact: langosteria.com
Opening times: Mon-Sat, 7pm-12am
Nearest Metro: Porta Genova
Reservations: Recommended
Prices: £££

The best restaurants in Milan (5)

Pagano

Insieme

This neighbourhood restaurant, located in a residential district, blends comfort with urban sophistication, with pastel-coloured walls, fabric chairs and wine bottles neatly lining shelves. It’s run by a young energetic couple – Alessandro in the kitchen, Federica serving customers. The menu, presented on a wooden clipboard, is straightforward, with a compact list of starters and mains, with the likes ofpappa al pomodoro, a rustic tomato and bread dish with rich intense flavours, served in pretty blue and white bowls made by a potter from Puglia. This is comfort food served with an elegant creativetouch.

Contact:insieme.restaurant
Nearest Metro: Pagano/Conciliazione
Reservations: Recommended
Prices: ££
Best table: For a more informal meal, ask to sit at the open-plan kitchen counter where you can watch the chefs at work.

The best restaurants in Milan (6)

Cadorna

Terrazza Triennale

Offering one of the city’s best terraces to enjoy an al fresco meal, this stylish spot on the rooftop of Triennale Milano is all handsome wood, floor-to-ceiling windows and muted tones. The cuisine is Italian with an emphasis on flavours that celebrate Milanese culinary traditions. You’ll find the likes of confit of guinea fowl – once a Sunday lunch staple traditionally enjoyed with polenta – served here with cardoncelli mushrooms, herbs and beetroot cream. Soak up the views with an aperitivo before settling in for dinner.

Contact:terrazzatriennale.com
Nearest Metro: Cadorna
Reservations: Recommended
Prices: ££
Best table: Bag a terrace table for panoramic views of leafy Parco Sempione and the modern skyline beyond.

Repubblica

Frangente

Headed up by Chef Federico Sisti, this intimate little spot surprises with its elevated fare prepared with carefully sourced ingredients. At the open-plan kitchen, you can watch the chef hard at work plating sophisticated creations designed to use every part of the ingredients, buoyed by a desire to reduce waste. The compact menu includes the likes of pig’s head served with cannellini beans and mussel ragout as a starter, and meat cappelletti served with butter, aged vinegar and tuna bottarga lending a punchy, briny flavour to this much-loved primo. The cotoletta alla Milanese is a firm favourite; cooked to perfection, its juicy centre and crunchy golden breadcrumbs burst with flavour, marrying beautifully with a bed of creamy mashed potato.

Contact:frangentemilano.com
Nearest Metro: Repubblica
Reservations: Recommended
Prices: ££
Best table: Grab a seat at the counter and watch the theatrics of the kitchen unfold in front of your eyes.

Pavè

A popular breakfast spot, this laidback café-bakery is perfect for an informal bite at any time of day. Sweet and savoury pastries, tarts and bread are all made in-house and come fresh from the oven, while sandwiches are prepared with cheeses, cold cuts and greens sourced from small producers in Lombardy. At lunchtime, you’ll find salads, pastas and soups, including a refreshing cold minestrone to keep the vitamin count up in summer, and there’s homemade panettone all year round that is available in regular and miniature sizes, making for the perfect gift.

Contact: pavemilano.com
Nearest Metro: Repubblica
Reservations: Walk-ins only
Prices:£

The best restaurants in Milan (7)

Il Liberty

Andrea Provenzani is the talented chef at the helm of this sophisticated restaurant that is located in Milan’s financial district. Indigo-painted walls and simple classic furniture combine to create an intimate stylish environment. Chef Provenzani puts creative twists on classic Italian dishes, presenting them with a touch of elegance, with the likes of a delicious aubergine parmigiana with creamy stracciatella cheese and crunchy courgette strips. There’s a good value two-course business lunch on weekdays.

Contact:il-liberty.it
Nearest Metro: Repubblica or Garibaldi FS
Reservations: Recommended
Prices: £££

The best restaurants in Milan (8)

Ristorante Berton

An elegant and sober linear design set the tone of this Michelin-starred restaurant in the financial district. Chef Andrea Berton gives importance to simple ingredients with little culinary intervention so as not to detract from the purity of the ingredients used. Broth, traditionally used to enhance flavours during the cooking process, is a major component of a number of dishes (there’s a tasting menu entirely dedicated to broth dishes). Savour handmade ravioli served with crustacean broth and stuffed with garlic, olive oil and chilli pepper; the delicate little pasta parcels create an explosion of flavours as they burst in the mouth.

Contact: ristoranteberton.com
Nearest Metro: Gioia or Repubblica
Reservations: Essential
Prices:£££
Best table: Catch a glimpse of the chefs at work from the table that is semi-enclosed in a wooden frame and separated from the kitchen by a frosted glass panel.

The best restaurants in Milan (9)

Greco

Altatto

On the northern fringes of Milan, this vegetarian restaurant led by a dynamic female duo serves fabulously creative fare. High-quality produce is sourced from small Italian producers and reworked to perfection to consistently high standards. There are two set menus to choose from, with dishes changing every month or so. The platter of fermented vegan cheeses is a signature dish, made from legumes such as green peas and beans, and there’s a meticulously thought-out selection of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic pairings, with the likes of fermented red beetroot with wild blueberry, black pepper and thyme. The interiors celebrate essentials, allowing the food to do the talking.

Contact:altatto.com
Nearest Metro: Sondrio
Reservations: Essential
Prices: ££

How we choose

Every restaurant in this curated list has been tried and tested by our destination expert, who has visited to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of budgets, from neighbourhood favourites to Michelin-starred restaurants – to best suit every type of traveller’s taste – and consider the food, service, best tables, atmosphere and price in our recommendations. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest opening and provide up to date recommendations.

The best hotels in Milanview all
  • Mandarin Oriental, Milan

    HOTELMilan, Lombardy, Italy

    9Telegraph expert rating

    With an enviable location in the city’s modish Montenapoleone district, Milan’s Mandarin Oriental...Read expert review

    From£1,570

    per night

    Rates provided by

    Booking.com

  • Ostello Bello

    HOTELMilan, Lombardy, Italy

    9Telegraph expert rating

    This attractive hostel is cool, trendy and has buckets of character, with a hugely popular bar th...Read expert review

    From£108

    per night

    Rates provided by

    Booking.com

  • Palazzo Segreti

    HOTELMilan, Lombardy, Italy

    9Telegraph expert rating

    This secluded boutique hotel in an 18th-century building in the heart of the city combines the ch...Read expert review

    From£359

    per night

    Rates provided by

    Booking.com

The best restaurants in Milan (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Terrell Hackett

Last Updated:

Views: 6009

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (72 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Terrell Hackett

Birthday: 1992-03-17

Address: Suite 453 459 Gibson Squares, East Adriane, AK 71925-5692

Phone: +21811810803470

Job: Chief Representative

Hobby: Board games, Rock climbing, Ghost hunting, Origami, Kabaddi, Mushroom hunting, Gaming

Introduction: My name is Terrell Hackett, I am a gleaming, brainy, courageous, helpful, healthy, cooperative, graceful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.