Best restaurants in Milan: where a local eats and drinks in the city

Looking for the best restaurants in Milan? Insider Margaret Scott says: "Milan is one of the most misunderstood cities in Italy. People say to skip it, that it’s not beautiful or that one night is enough. I moved here a year and a half ago, and can’t get enough. It’s one of the best food cities in the world and, beyond the Duomo, there’s so much charm and an energy that defines Milan."

Next discover our favourite foodie city breaks by train, the best Italian hotels and the best restaurants in Rome.

Best restaurants in Milan

Start the day at Signor Lievito

A bright Scandinavian-inspired bakery and my favourite place to start the day. It’s small and cosy with wooden tables and some of the best pastries in the city. Come for the cruffin or morning bun, stay for the relaxed vibe. Closed Sundays, so weekday mornings are best. @signor_lievito

Grab paninis at Bar Quadronno

An absolute Milan staple that feels frozen in time. This charming, slightly chaotic panini spot showcases the city’s signature sandwich, soft yet crisp bread filled with fresh ingredients. My go-to is the Mimi with stracciatella, artichokes and prosciutto. Always buzzing, always worth it. barquadronno.it

Have date night at Trippa Milano

If you can secure a reservation this is one of the best date night spots in the city. A true Milan institution known for bold nose-to-tail cooking. The parmesan tagliatelle is unforgettable, dare I say life-changing. The space is relaxed, the staff welcoming and the focus is simply on exceptional food. trippamilano.it

Drink wine at Bar Paradiso

In a city full of great wine bars this is the one I return to most. A red awning, small tables spilling onto the street and a lively, stylish crowd every night of the week. The wine list is excellent and the small plates are just as good. @barparadisomilano

Pick up lunch at Panificio Davide Longoni

One of Milan’s most respected bakeries, with several locations across the city. The Via Gerolamo Tiraboschi shop is a favourite for locals picking up bread or stopping for lunch. The panini are standout and everything revolves around exceptional baking. A perfect casual stop at any time of day. @panificiodavidelongoni

Have a quick dinner at Pizza Stella

A fresh take on casual dining, inspired by New York style pizza by the slice. The ingredients are excellent and the space is effortlessly cool. Ideal for a quick dinner or late-night bite. The spicy pepperoni with hot honey is a must, along with whatever the daily special is. @pizzastellamilano

Embrace café culture at Pasticceria Cucchi

A quintessential Milanese café that works at any time of day. Elegant, timeless and always lively, it’s perfect for coffee, a pastry or an afternoon drink. Come for a cappuccino or stay for a negroni sbagliato. Tucked away and ideal for people watching. pasticceriacucchi.it

Book Giacomo Bistrot for special occasion dining

Giacomo Bistrot is my go-to for a special occasion. Classic, cosy and slightly glamorous, it captures old-world Milan perfectly. The menu balances traditional dishes with a strong wine focus. Don’t miss the agnolotti del plin or the veal cotoletta. A place to dress up and settle in for the evening. giacomomilano.com

Enjoy contemporary fusion at Bentoteca Milano

Bentoteca Milano is a sleek, contemporary restaurant blending Japanese and Mediterranean influences. The menu is built around sharing plates, with the option of an omakase-style experience. It’s a fun, energetic spot for a night out with plenty of bars nearby for drinks before or after. bentoteca.com

Try classic Milanese dishes at Trattoria Masuelli

A historic restaurant dating back to 1921, still run by the Masuelli family. Old-school and full of charm it’s slightly off the beaten path but worth the journey. Come for classic Milanese dishes like ossobuco, risotto and veal cotoletta. This is where I take family and friends when they come to visit. @trattoriamasuelli

Have cocktails at San Milano

There’s no shortage of cool cocktail bars in Milan but San feels like the coolest kid on the block. The city has fully embraced the listening bar trend and, paired with an exceptional cocktail list that makes the classics feel new again, it’s the perfect place to start or end the night. @san.milano/

More places to eat and drink in Milan

Ratanà – for risotto

Each plate at Ratanà fuses old-school Milanese food culture with contemporary flair. Chef Cesare Battisti is a carnaroli whisperer, so make sure you order risotto, either a seasonal speciality or “alla Milanese” (with saffron and bone marrow) to go with ossobuco. ratana.it

Tipografia Alimentare – for lunch

Speciality coffee and artisanal baked goods are available all day at Tipografia Alimentare, while the lunch menu changes weekly, with at least four vegetarian choices. Recent dishes include tacos stuffed with wild Nero di Parma pork belly, Lucca red beans, spring onions, chillies and coriander. tipografiaalimentare.it

Crosta – for baked goods

Crosta is a bakery, pizzeria and bottega rolled into one. At lunch, try the pillowy pizza alla pala topped with marinara sauce and stracciatella cheese or prosciutto. Dinner is all about the pies: try the fior di latte, sausage and friarielli (greens typical of Campania). @crosta_milano

Trippa – for meaty dishes

Diego Rossi’s minimal menu at trattoria Trippa might include snails, spleen and horsemeat, and the more familiar gnocchi al ragù; however, the lustrous vitello tonnato (veal with tuna sauce) and crispy slivers of fried tripe are the must-tries. trippamilano.it

Pasticceria & Dessert – for sweets and pastries

Don’t miss Pasticceria & Dessert, Marcello Rapisardi’s pastry shop in the tranquil Piazzale Bacone. As well as classics like cannoncini (little pastry horns filled with vanilla cream), there are chocolates flavoured with marine plankton, and pâte de fruit in edible bonbon wrappers. pasticceriarapisardi.com

Nebbia – for an Italian-style bistro

Located on a sleepy street near the Naviglio Pavese, Nebbia melds Italian traditions with French bistronomy. Keep an eye out for risotto with sweet Montoro onions and tart Calabrese bergamot, finished with a sprinkling of dehydrated capers. nebbiamilano.com

Gelato Giusto – for gelato

Vittoria Bortolazzo puts her Cordon Bleu pastry degree to good use at Gelato Giusto, concocting gourmet gelato from top-quality ingredients. Flavours range from a creamy fior di latte to a velvety Tonda Gentile Romana hazelnut, and there are plenty of vegan choices to boot. If it’s on the list, order a scoop of the refreshing Uva Fragola grape. gelatogiusto.it

Rossi & Grassi – for deli products

At Rossi & Grassi pack yourself a gourmet picnic from the seductive deli counter (try the lentils with artichoke or arancini), or stock up on artisan cheese, dried porcini and homemade pasta. rg.mi.it

La Latteria – for simple cooking

Its handful of tables and no reservations can make La Latteria a tricky place to get a seat. But simple is sensational here: bottarga with juicy tomato, plump slices of goose roasted with potato, and a carafe of house wine costs €60 per person. (Mon to Fri only.) 0039 2 659 7653

La Rinascente – for cocktails on the roof

Have cocktails on the roof at La Rinascente, a department store with the best Duomo views in town. Drink an Aperol spritz within near-touching distance of the cathedral’s curling gothic spires. Inside, buy this season’s Bialetti Moka Alpina coffee pot, styled to look like an Italian Alpino mountain guard, complete with a neat feather-capped lid. rinascente.it

N’Ombra de Vin – for a boozy dinner

Under N’Ombra de Vin’s vaulted ceilings eat fish crostini, veal meatballs and burratina salad, plus a bottle from the 1,000-strong list. At weekends, kitsch crooner acts encourage the polished crowd to push plates aside and dance on the tables. nombradevin.it

Ponte Rosso – for lunch

Lunch at the playfully decorated Ponte Rosso to eat puntarelle (winter chicory) with a punchy anchovy dressing and ‘stinco alla birra’ (beer-marinated ham hock) with Milanese saffron risotto. Find room for a glass of pistachio gelato. trattoriaponterosso.it

Enoteca Cotti – for wine

At cavernous Enoteca Cotti buy regional Italian wine ranging from a €10 chianti to a 15-year old-Barbaresco for €399. Staying at Antica Locanda Solferino? Make a quick bottle stop; it’s just opposite. enotecacotti.it

Da Rita e Antonio – for pre-theatre dinner

Tuck into Neapolitan pizza, cotoletta alla Milanese (breaded veal cutlet) and a carafe of house for around €30 per head at Da Rita e Antonio. This is the perfect pre- or post-theatre dinner spot; Teatro dal Verme is next door, a more affordable experience than La Scala. 0039 2 875 579

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