The 10 best restaurants in Milan
Milan is the foodie capital of Italy – at least in the eyes of a true Milanese. Even if, let’s be honest, you could say the same for every other Italian destination. But with a food scene at the top of its game, here is a selection of trattorias, Michelin-starred restaurants, and timeless classics you should not miss when in Milan.
Yapa
Helmed by chef Matteo Pancetti, whose Tuscan nonna ignited his passion for cooking, Yapa manages to be a truly unconventional restaurant in a city where everyone claims to be. The name comes from a fitting Quechua word meaning "that something extra". Bending the rules and blending flavours from Matteo's escapades through Asia and South America, the stunningly beautiful and seasonal dishes intersect with Matias Sarli's artistic cocktails (try the spicy Americano Kimchi for something really special). Everything is made with seasonal, ethically sourced and occasionally niche ingredients, from staples like vegetarian ceviche to the daring, ever-changing daily specials.
Address: Viale Monte Nero, 34, 20135 Milano MI, Italy
Book online- Massi Ninni
Andrea Aprea
Since it opened in 2022, Andrea Aprea’s eponymous restaurant has already claimed its first Michelin star. In a splendid Milanese palazzo, it has a hidden garden and a cosy bistro on the ground floor. Architect Flaviano Caprotti’s touch adorns the 400-square-metre dining space, complemented by a remarkable wine cellar with coveted labels from Ornellaia to Romanée-Conti. The aesthetic resonates with Etruscan influences, paying homage to the museum below, Fondazione Luigi Rovati. The Caprese is an explosion of flavours – the softness of the mozzarella, the sweet acidity of the tomatoes, and the sugary shell make it a knockout. The pasta with lobster, crowned with grated frozen green apple, is equally enchanting.
Address: Corso Venezia, 52, 20122 Milano MI, Italy
Book onlineSilvano Vini e Cibi al Banco
You only need to step into this former bakery to feel the distinctive old-time Milan vibe, perfectly placed within the buzzy NoLo neighbourhood. Silvano Vini e Cibi al Banco is the latest brainchild of Cesare Battisti, the visionary behind iconic Milanese restaurant Ratanà, just across Bosco Verticale, and worldly culinary ventures like Remulàss and Pan-African bistro Marcel Boum. Sit at the counter and let the food take you back to the simple joys of homecooked lasagna and Nonna's apple pie. Glasses of natural wines range from five to eight euros, and dishes start as low as five euros for crudités with Piedmontese bagna cauda (a garlicky anchovy dip) and bread with ragù, both of which taste almost decadent in their humbleness. With dishes like the signature tartare with aioli and anchovies served on legacy porcelain plates, here, the bygone era of the osteria meets the changing tastes of a new crowd.
Address: Piazza Morbegno, 2, 20125 Milano MI, Italy
Book online - Fabrizio Donati
DaV
The experience starts with a trip up one of Italy’s tallest skyscrapers in the bustling City Life district. You enter through a sleek American Bar, but despite the glitziness of it all, DaV Milano is actually the more casual iteration of three-Michelin-starred Da Vittorio by the Cerea family, whose culinary journey began in 1966 and has since conquered Paris, Shanghai, St Moritz. The menu proudly states which dishes are a must, like the legendary paccheri or the Milanese veal cutlet “elefantino” with baked potatoes and candied cherry tomatoes. Then there’s the pizza, ranging from the thick-crusted Neapolitan to the thinner Roman-style and, obviously, gourmet-topped creations. No trends can hold against the pleasure of informal Italian cuisine made with high-quality ingredients. Every weekend here brings a festive Sunday lunch that feels like home.
Address: Allianz Tower, Piazza Tre Torri, 3, 20145 Milano MI, Italy
Book online D’O
Davide Oldani opened his restaurant D’O in 2003 in Cornaredo, just outside Milan, and got his second Michelin star in 2020. His founding idea was to provide high-quality dining for everyone. And that’s what he achieved. Since then, his caramelised onion, saffron risotto and duck magret have been delighting discerning palates at a reasonable price. The waiting list is long – very long. Check out the stunning sculptures by Velasco Vitali on the little square in front of the restaurant, as well as the old café where locals gather all day to play cards.
Address: Piazza della Chiesa, 14, 20010 San Pietro all'Olmo, Cornaredo MI, Italy
Book online
San Maurì
I live next door to this restaurant and go there more often than I should admit. It’s an Italian bistro with excellent wines and a menu of interesting pairings such as cod and coconut, as well as one of the best Milanese risottos. You’ll find farm-to-table ingredients and kind service. Don’t miss the toilets – the sink is 500 years old.
Address: Via S. Maurilio, 4, 20123 Milano MI, Italy
Book online- Francesca Moscheni
Horto
In Piazza Cordusio, a few steps away from the Duomo, Horto is a creation of Norbert Niederkofler, a chef from South Tyrol that's achieved three Michelin stars. Now, he is bringing his plant-based approach and “Cook the Mountain” philosophy to Milan. Unforgettable views and sublime flavours.
Address: Via S. Protaso, 5, 20121 Milano MI, Italy
Book online - Brambilla Serrani
Aalto
This is an intriguing restaurant, mainly because the chef, Takeshi Iwai, is in another league. He combines the flavours of his native Japan with Italian ones, so you can have pasta with parmigiano garnished with traditional Japanese ingredients. It’s not a coincidence he calls it “cucina libera” – free cooking. The result is an unforgettable experience. The location, on the ground floor of Torre Solaria in the new and improved Porta Nuova district, is sleek and aesthetically pleasing, and the restaurant has been awarded one Michelin star.
Address: Piazza Alvar Aalto, 20124 Milano MI, Italy
Book online - George Apostolidis
Seta
Antonio Guida is the chef of Mandarin Oriental Hotel’s restaurant Seta, very close to via Manzoni and via Montenapoleone. He draws inspiration from French cuisine – he worked with Pierre Gagnaire in Paris for a long time – but also from his native Puglia. Antonio’s risotto is to die for, as is another one of his most famous dishes: oysters with potatoes. It’s also lovely to be able to dine in the kitchen, watching the crew work in perfect harmony.
Address: Via Andegari, 9, 20121 Milano MI, Italy
Book onlineLa Latteria
La Latteria’s chef, Arturo Maggi, has spent a lifetime in this tiny kitchen. He cooks with organic ingredients grown in his small patch of garden while his wife waits on a handful of tables and his son pours the wine, or rather the “vinello”. You will find all of Milan here – from Barnaba Fornasetti to Japanese students, designers, and intellectuals. Subtly spicy, perfectly cooked, al-dente spaghetti is served with green chilli and lemon; thinly sliced vegetables and eggs are fried in a silver pan to preserve the flavours. Of course, there are also puddings such as the extraordinary pastries of Cordon Bleu graduate Galdina Della Seta or signora Maria’s apples with gelato. Sometimes Arturo comes out of the kitchen – a bit of a grump – grunts a greeting and goes back in.
Address: Via S. Marco, 24, 20121 Milano MI, Italy
La Latteria doesn’t take reservations.