When you are in Milan you owe it to yourself to taste the fine Italian cuisine. Thankfully you will find an abundance of choices in Milan as Italian restaurants can be found across the city. Many of which offer more than just a meal, but a true culinary experience. But which ones should you visit? In this list of the best restaurants in Milan we want to showcase a diverse array of exceptional restaurants in Milan with a variety of cuisines.
In the canal district of Milan called Navigli you will find plenty of romantic restaurants to have a nice meal at, but our very favorite is Al Porto. This seafood restaurant has a comfortable and light interior reminds us of the inside of a ship. And a view into the green gardens of the restaurant. The restaurant is known for it’s quality seasonal seafood dishes, which go well with Italian pasta’s, and welcoming service. So when you visit Porta Ticinese then this is an excellent place to settle down at. As with many notable restaurants in Milan it’s important to make a reservation well in advance.
If you looking for an Italian luxury restaurant then Terrazza Gallia is for you. On top of the dignified Excelsior Hotel Gallia, which can be found next to the breathtaking central station of Milan and next to the Pirelli Tower, you can find this award winning Italian rooftop restaurant with a magnificent view over one of the busy squares of Milan. Of course you can also sit indoors with less of a view, so it’s useful to mention what kind of table you want to reserve. The menu is devised by three star michelin chefs who wanted to bring out the local flavours of the region. But for the adventurous food lover there is also a seasonal tasting menu where each dish comes with it’s own matching wine. The restaurant also offers private dining and has a bar with an expertise in cocktails.
After a day of shopping in the cultural district of Milan called Brera, you might want to sit down for a nice Italian meal. Nabucco is an excellent Italian restaurant that stands out as it offers a wide choice of varied meals, with a strong focus on local specialities. They have you covered regardless if you are looking for pasta’s, sea-bass or a proper steak. The meals have proper portions so you can be sure to leave satisfied. As the restaurant has a street terrace in the touristic part of town, you can sit down and enjoy the people who walk by as you enjoy your meal. If you are looking for a down to earth place in the heart of Milan without compromising on quality then Nabucco is the place to visit.
A rooftop restaurant, with a pool, a panoramic view of Milan and uniquely styled dishes. Ceresio 7 is a luxury restaurant that offers the complete experience. It caters to a wide audience, as it services people who come for a drink and a small bite around noon and the people looking for a culinary business dinner. Chic and trendy is an acquired taste, but the view certainly makes up for it. In the evening you can also enjoy a cocktail here at the bar while enjoying a spectacular sunset.
The Brisket is an authentic steakhouse restaurant that prides itself on its slow cooking methods as they smoke the meat to perfection, keeping the meat as soft and juicy as possible, according to the Texan culinary tradition. The interior of the restaurant has a warm and raw feel to it, giving it a comfortable and informal atmosphere, making you feel right at home. The dishes are spot on and as expected with dishes such as Texan smoked briskets, pork ribs and smoked pork belly. So in short, this is certainly a steakhouse we recommend. The restaurant is also located in the Navigli district next to the romantic Naviglio Grande canal, which you should visit at least once when you are in Milan.
STK Milan is a hip restaurant for both meat and fish lovers where they set the mood for a social evening with a modern interior, dim lights and a DJ playing in the background. The restaurant also has an open cocktail bar inviting people to have a playful evening as they enjoy their dinner. The ambiance is perfect for having a dinner with friends. Many dishes stand out for their own unique twist, like the coconut fried halibut and tuna tartare, but the classic dishes like the sirloin wagyu are of course also available for the traditional meat connoisseur. STK certainly seems to aim at turning your evening into a fairly classy social experience, which means the restaurant is less suitable for a family dinner, but when you want to have a special evening out then it’s very worth visiting.
El Porteno is a classic Argentinean steakhouse restaurant that hits all right notes. A nice variety in different meat dishes, which are served in good portions, Argentinian favorites such as stuffed pastries called empanadas, and a good selection of Italian and Argentinian wines. As usual with Argentinean restaurants it’s not that cheap, but you can be sure to leave here satisfied with a full belly. The service is also quite warm and friendly making it a welcoming place to visit. The restaurant can be found near the center of Milan, to the north of the central park, known as Sempione Park.
Yokohama Fusion Experience is a sushi restaurant located in the very heart of Milan. It is actually one of the highest rated Japanese fusion restaurants in Milan and perfect for people who enjoy fresh fish and rich flavours. This elegantly designed restaurant spoils you by bringing the best of Japan to your table, but they also enjoy giving dishes their own unique twist to give the customer something they haven’t had before.
The menu of the restaurant is actually surprisingly rich, as besides sushi you will find meat skewers, fruit mixes, a variety of pasta dishes and a lot more. So it caters to a wide range of tastes. At Meet The Cities we certainly enjoyed the different flavours of this sushi restaurant and can recommend a visit to all seafood lovers.
Su Garden is a Chinese and Thai restaurant in Milan where you can get your much needed dose of dumplings, chicken mango and Thai shrimps among other traditional favorites. By offering a combination of cuisines while providing top notch quality the restaurant has founds its unique selling feature. Unlike many Chinese restaurants. Su Garden has quite an inviting interior as it is fairly open and modern. So if you are looking to eat out with the family and have some proper Chinese food then Su Garden is certainly worth checking out.
Ever wondered where you can get Kimchi and Bibimbap in Milan? Seoul Ristorante Coreano is an authentic Korean restaurant near the touristic harbor of Porta Ticinese. The menu of the restaurant is a bit on the short side, but this also means you can’t go wrong if you are new to the Korean cuisine and wish to dive into some new flavour experiences. This Korean restaurant is a welcome change of pace in Milan and the dishes are as tasty as they can be.
Seta is a classy two star Michelin restaurant that gives a spin to the Italian cuisine. Notable for its colourful bites offering unconventional flavour explosions livening up your taste buds. The selection of dishes vary from tributes to Milan, to seafood and various meat dishes to sweet pastries among other things. If you wish to be surprised it is even possible to give the chef a carte blanche to create a nice multiple course dinner for you. The restaurant has a formal luxury design and is located in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in the heart of Milan. The restaurant also has a beautiful inner courtyard which has a more green and less formal feel to it, which is one of the nicer places to enjoy your meal at.
In one of the havens of the most impressive modern architecture of Milan, the business district Porta Nuova, where you can for example find the Unicredit Tower, you will find Ristorante Berton. The restaurant prides itself on fairly light dishes and the art of turning ingredients to life with uncommon and distinct flavours. The restaurant has a deserved Michelin star as the experimental flavours are a joy to experience. The interior has a certain minimalistic design fitting the theme of the restaurant.
In the city of Milan you can find multiple Ethiopian and Eritrean restaurants. Our personal favorite Eritrean restaurant is Adulis. Traditionally Eritrean food is eaten with your hands and with bread, which makes for a pretty interesting experience. Once you enter the restaurant you will also notice it has a distinctly African design to it with lots of wood and drapings which gives off an exotic vibe. The restaurant can be found next to the shopping street Corso Buenos Aires, so after a long day of shopping the Adulis restaurant is an excellent place to settle down at.
Lebanese food is one of most popular mediterranean cuisines. And the authentic Syrian and Lebanese restaurant Aladino offers a good selection of food rich in spices. And traditional recipes for things such as falafel and lamb meat. The restaurant itself has a bit of an arabic kitsch design which fits the theme of the restaurant quite well. It’s also possible to eat outside on the closed off terrace. If you are looking for some well spiced and meaty food then Aladino is one of the best restaurants in Milan you will find.
If you wish to taste wines, many different flavours of cheeses or different types of ham then Boccondivino is the restaurant for you. This Italian restaurant is all about having a good time and exploring new flavours. The restaurant has a wine cellar with hundreds of wine types and has interesting tasting menus which allow you to explore the richness of the Italian cheeses and wines with the aid of a friendly and professional sommelier. With attention to specific details of flavour this restaurant is all about gaining new experiences. This hidden jewel is certainly one of the most interesting restaurants in Milan and very worth visiting.
Italy is known for its opera culture and its dramatic displays of music. The Pavarotti Restaurant Museum is a restaurant dedicated to one of the most world renowned opera tenors in modern history, who we all know as Pavarotti. Within the restaurant you can find all kinds of memorabilia and items honoring Pavarotti, which makes an interesting talking point for the guests.
The chef of the restaurant also has another michelin star restaurant, so you can be sure to be welcomed by quite decent food as well. The restaurant uses local products to create a wide variety of authentic Italian dishes. The restaurant is located in the very center of Milan on the fourth floor of the shopping mall Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in front of the cathedral.