The 23 Best Restaurants In Milan, A Local’s Perspective
When people ask me about the best restaurants in Milan, I don’t think about lists, trends, or what’s newly opened. I think about the places that make my mouth water the second they pop into my head. The restaurants I mentally revisit while grocery shopping. The ones I start craving days before a birthday dinner. The ones I hesitate to share — because once a place is that good, you quietly want to keep it to yourself.
But here we are.
I’ve lived in Milan for nearly ten years, and this guide to the best restaurants in Milan is built entirely around appetite and memory. These aren’t one-time hits or “special occasion only” destinations. They’re the restaurants I return to for a regular weeknight dinner, the places I book when friends and family come to town and I want them to eat really well, and the tables I aim for when I want a meal that lingers long after the last bite.
This is my personal list of the best restaurants in Milan — the ones that still excite me, and still make me plan my day around what I’m going to order.
From Eating Out to Eating With Intention
I’m not a great cook, and I’ve always been a bit of a picky eater. For my husband’s sanity, that’s meant we’ve eaten out more than most — something I also grew up with, thanks to a picky-eater dad and a mom who wisely turned dining out into a solution.
What’s changed over the years is why I eat out.
After nearly ten years in Milan, I’ve slowly turned into someone who craves specific things — certain cheeses, juicy grilled meats, artichoke dishes I’ll think about days in advance. I now plan dinners around what I want to eat, not just where I want to go.
That mindset has followed me beyond Milan, too. As I travel around Northern Italy, food increasingly becomes the reason I want to return to a city, not just a nice addition once I’m there. You’ll see that same approach reflected in my other Northern Italy food guides, where meals quietly shape the trips themselves.
And that’s exactly how I’ve approached this list of the best restaurants in Milan — not as a checklist, but as a collection of places that make me pause, crave, and plan ahead.
More Milan Food Guides You’ll Love
Whether you’re here for juicy grilled meats, pasta cravings you plan days in advance, or a next-level Michelin experience, the best restaurants in Milan reveal themselves once you know where — and how — to look. This guide reflects how I actually eat in the city, but it’s only one part of the picture.
For pizza-focused spots, you’ll want to see my dedicated guide to exploring pizza in Milan. If mornings matter as much as dinner, I share my favorites for breakfast in Milan. And when the evening shifts toward drinks, Milan’s cocktail scene deserves its own moment — especially in winter — which I cover in my best cocktails in Milan guide.
Why Milan Has Exceptional Meats
Before getting into specific restaurants, it’s worth understanding why the meat in Milan is so consistently good — and why it often surprises visitors.
Much of the best beef you’ll eat here comes from Piedmont, particularly the prized Fassona, also known as Razza Piemontese. This cattle breed is known for its natural tenderness and fine grain, the result of a genetic trait that creates lean muscle without sacrificing flavor. The meat is rich but never heavy, deeply satisfying without relying on excessive fat.
What sets Fassona apart is how Italians treat it. It isn’t dressed up or buried under sauces. In the best restaurants in Milan, Fassona is usually grilled simply, cooked with precision, and finished with little more than salt, olive oil, or a restrained sauce that stays firmly in the background. When the ingredient is this good, restraint is the point.
It’s also why you don’t see much of this meat exported. Demand in Northern Italy is high, supply is controlled, and most of the best cuts stay close to home.
Best Restaurants in Milan for Exceptional Meats
Al Mercato
This is the place I hesitate to share — not because it’s hard to like, but because it’s hard to get into once word spreads. For me, Al Mercato serves the best hamburger in Milan, and french fries, no debate.
The restaurant is small and modern, with the kitchen at the center of the room wrapped in glossy green tiles, which gives the space an intimate, intentional feel. My husband and I almost always order burgers here, often paired with a glass of Champagne, which somehow feels exactly right. The sides are just as memorable: patata ratta, excellent mashed potatoes, and onion rings that rank among the best I’ve had anywhere in Italy.
They also work with excellent meats beyond burgers, but this is where I go when I want something deeply satisfying without pretense — a restaurant that earns loyalty quietly, one visit at a time.
Casa Lucia
Casa Lucia feels like the modern counterpoint to Milan’s more old-school meat institutions. The decor is sleek and contemporary, but the focus remains firmly on beautifully aged meats, cooked with confidence and precision.
What makes Casa Lucia especially appealing is that it also works extremely well as an all-around restaurant. Alongside the meat, there’s a solid variety of pasta dishes that are genuinely delicious, making it an easy choice when only part of the table wants steak while others prefer pasta. It’s a place I often recommend for mixed groups, because everyone leaves satisfied.
The service adds to the experience. Even when we only manage to come once every few months, the waiters and managers remember us, which creates a sense of warmth that’s increasingly rare in busy Milan restaurants. Dessert here is also worth planning for — it’s not an afterthought.
La Griglia di Varrone
Located near Corso Como, La Griglia di Varrone is a dependable address for well-executed grilled meats in a part of the city that doesn’t always prioritize food.
This is classic Milan dining done properly: good cuts, confident grilling, and a menu that doesn’t feel the need to explain itself. It’s a solid choice when you want excellent meat in a central location, whether for a business dinner or a relaxed evening that still feels like a proper sit-down meal.
Porteno
Porteno specializes in Argentinian meats, and what I love most is how transportive it feels without slipping into caricature. Many of the dining rooms genuinely make you feel as though you’ve stepped into Buenos Aires.
It’s also one of the more reasonably priced meat restaurants in Milan, once you understand how the meal is structured. At the start, breads arrive with spreads like fegato and chickpea-based accompaniments — enough to share as an appetizer.
When the meat arrives, it comes with a generous silver platter of sides included in the price: ensalada rusa, classic mashed potatoes, sweet potato mash, tomato and cucumber salad, and French fries.
The high quality of the meats, cool decor and built-in generosity is exactly why I keep coming back.
Uccellina
Uccellina is one of those restaurants that feels woven into Milan’s dining history. Run for decades in the Conciliazione neighborhood, it has long been known for its serious approach to meat and its unmistakable Tuscan farmhouse character.
They offer a wide range of excellent meats, including dry-aged cuts, but I’ll be honest — it feels almost risky to order anything other than the lamb chops. They are, without exaggeration, the best lamb chops I’ve had anywhere in the world: incredibly thick, deeply juicy, and consistently perfect. They’re served with grilled vegetables that balance the richness beautifully.
Uccellina is also famous for its matchstick fries, and they fully live up to the reputation. One side order can easily satisfy four or five people, so only order them if you arrive with a very good appetite.
The service here is a big part of why we return. Even when months pass between visits, the waiters and managers remember us, adding a sense of warmth that feels earned rather than performative.
Best All-Around Restaurants in Milan
Some of the best restaurants in Milan reflect the city’s role as a fashion capital just as much as they reflect what’s happening in the kitchen.
These restaurants celebrate Milanese glamour in different ways — through ties to fashion houses, settings inside historic palazzi, hidden garden courtyards, Art Nouveau interiors, or rooftops with skyline views. In Milan, design is never incidental, and that sensibility carries directly into the dining experience.
What unites these places is balance. They offer consistently great food in visually memorable spaces, where decor, history, and atmosphere are part of the draw. This is where Milan’s style and substance meet, and why these spots continue to earn their place among the best restaurants in Milan for an all-around experience.
10_11 Ristorante
Located inside the Portrait Hotel on the edge of the fashion district, 10_11 Ristorante immediately signals that you’re entering somewhere distinctive — a place that invites curiosity and encourages exploration beyond the dining room itself.
The hotel was created from a former monastery, and walking through the large stone arches feels like stepping into a private enclave. Inside, the restaurant blends contemporary elegance with warmth: wooden walls, refined lighting, and a long line of windows that gives the space an open yet intimate feel.
The restaurant is closely connected to the Ferragamo family, and that legacy is woven throughout the experience. Certain areas feature rotating pop-ups showcasing iconic historical Ferragamo shoes, reinforcing the link between craftsmanship, fashion, and Milanese design.
And yes — this is absolutely a restaurant where you should visit the bathrooms. Down a small staircase, black-lacquered walls are covered in hundreds of black-and-white photographs of Salvatore Ferragamo, his most famous shoes, and legendary clients. It’s so thoughtfully curated it could stand alone as a museum exhibit.
The menu leans classic with polish, and the restaurant is particularly known for its white pasta, expensive as pasta dishes go, even in Milan — a splurge that fits the setting perfectly.
Al Fresco
Al Fresco is one of those places that feels quietly removed from the city once you step inside. Located near Porta Savona, it offers a rare sense of openness that’s increasingly hard to find in Milan.
The restaurant is best known for its large garden, which makes it a favorite during warmer months. Milan is notoriously mosquito-prone, but Al Fresco has an effective system in place, making outdoor dining genuinely enjoyable.
Inside, the decor is warm and cohesive, and the menu leans classic — excellent pastas, well-prepared meat dishes, and artichokes that are consistently satisfying. While outdoor seating can’t be guaranteed when booking, the interior never feels like a consolation.
Camparino in Galleria
Camparino in Galleria is one of the most historically significant names among the best restaurants in Milan for aperitivo and atmosphere.
It was opened in 1915 by Davide Campari, the son of Gaspare Campari, who created the original Campari bitter. Conceived as a refined counterpart to the original Caffè Campari, Camparino became central to Milan’s aperitivo culture. Its early use of on-site soda systems allowed Campari and soda to be served perfectly chilled and consistently prepared, helping shape the ritual that still defines Milanese evenings.
Downstairs, the Art Nouveau bar is timeless, with bartenders in white jackets and glass-front seating overlooking the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Upstairs, beyond a staircase, a sleek modern bar with large windows offers a quieter, tucked-away contrast.
Today, Camparino pairs its history with a gourmet aperitivo menu that goes well beyond snacks, making it a refined stop whether you’re beginning or ending the evening.
Ceresio 7
Ceresio 7 sits atop a former 1930s ENEL energy building near Porta Nuova and was conceived by Dan and Dean Caten of DSquared², making it one of the most design-forward dining destinations in the city.
The rooftop features a pool surrounded by cabanas and lounge seating, and when the weather is good, the atmosphere is unmistakably Milan — cocktails, aperitivo, and sweeping views over the modern skyline.
Inside, the window-lined dining room continues the polished aesthetic with chic tables and restrained elegance. The food is upscale and well executed, designed to complement the setting rather than compete with it.
Convivium
Convivium is one of the most dependable all-around choices among the best restaurants in Milan, particularly if you’re spending time in Brera.
The restaurant blends classic Milanese architectural details — including decorative ceiling moldings — with modern touches like contemporary wine displays. Window seating offers excellent people-watching over the square just across the street.
The menu spans very good meats and pastas, and the price-to-quality ratio remains consistently strong for the location. What truly elevates Convivium is the service: even after months between visits, the waiters and managers remember you, creating a warmth that keeps locals returning.
And then there’s dessert. Convivium has one of my favorite dessert bars in the city, where a generous selection of desserts and fresh fruit is displayed on a central table for you to browse before choosing. It’s old-school in the best way — and consistently where I end up ordering dessert, even when I tell myself I won’t.
Dolce & Gabbana Martini
Dolce & Gabbana Martini brings fashion-house glamour directly into the dining room and remains one of the most visually striking entries among the best restaurants in Milan tied to design.
The restaurant has several dining spaces, but the Veranda is the standout. Covered by a glass ceiling and anchored by enormous Murano glass chandeliers, it’s remarkable both for their scale and the way they hang beneath the light-filled roof. The effect is dramatic without feeling excessive.
Food here fully lives up to the setting. The signature dish is La Devozione, a tomato-based pasta that isn’t inexpensive but is widely considered one of the most impressive tomato pastas in the city. Made with carefully selected tomatoes and executed with restraint, it’s been consistently praised by food critics — and it’s the dish I recommend without hesitation.
The menu draws heavily on Sicilian inspiration, delivering bold, clean flavors that pair beautifully with the opulent surroundings. Dining here is as much about atmosphere and decor as it is about the food.
Il Salumaio di Montenapoleone
Il Salumaio di Montenapoleone is set inside a historic palace in the heart of the Quadrilatero della Moda, sharing space with a fashion and house museum. Dining here feels like being welcomed into a private palazzo.
The stone courtyard is especially atmospheric and a favorite spot in spring, while the interior rooms retain an understated elegance.
The menu is firmly Milanese, with excellent pastas and classic dishes that feel appropriate to the setting. It’s a restaurant that blends history, fashion, and food seamlessly — a combination that defines many of the best restaurants in Milan.
Stelvio
Stelvio, located in the Isola neighborhood, takes its name from the mountain pass and reflects a northern Italian culinary focus. It’s one of the few places in Milan where you’ll consistently find pizzoccheri, the buckwheat pasta dish from the Valtellina region.
The restaurant itself is modern and fits naturally into Isola’s creative, youthful atmosphere. Beyond regional specialties, the menu offers enough range to make it a strong all-around option grounded in northern Italian tradition.
Tombon de San Marc
Tombon de San Marc draws its name from Milan’s lost canal system. This part of Brera was once crossed by a Naviglio canal built in the late 1400s, which ran into the city center before being filled in during the 1930s to accommodate traffic.
Inside, the restaurant reflects that layered history with wooden walls, chandeliers, and a subtle Art Deco sensibility. The menu features excellent pastas and well-prepared meat dishes, making it a strong all-around choice with a clear sense of place.
Best for Pasta & Risotto in Milan
Some cravings are very specific. These are the places I go when I’m thinking less about atmosphere and more about a particular pasta or risotto that I can’t get out of my head. They’re focused, confident, and deeply satisfying — exactly why they deserve their own section within the best restaurants in Milan.
Obicà Mozzarella Bar
Obicà is one of my favorite places in Milan for pasta when I’m craving something comforting but distinctive. While it’s best known for mozzarella tastings, the pasta dishes here are far more than an afterthought.
The dish I come back for again and again is the fresh potato gnocchi with buffalo blue cheese fondue, pears, and toasted hazelnuts. It’s incredibly balanced — rich without being heavy, sweet and savory working together in a way that feels thoughtful rather than flashy. The cheese fondue coats everything just enough, and the pears add a softness that makes the dish genuinely memorable.
They also do a very good spaghetti cacio e pepe, lighter and cleaner than many versions, and the paccheri alla Sorrentina — tomato, mozzarella di bufala, and fresh basil — is exactly what you want it to be. Because Obicà sources such high-quality mozzarella, any dish built around it shines.
If you like pasta that leans into excellent ingredients and careful sourcing, Obicà earns its place among the best restaurants in Milan for pasta lovers.
Officina del Riso
Officina del Riso is where I go when I’m in a risotto mood — and yes, that’s a very real thing in Milan. While the menu has expanded over time, risotto remains the heart of the restaurant.
There are 4 locations across the city, and each one offers a menu built around 10 to 12 different risottos, ranging from classic to creative. You’ll find unexpected combinations like pizzoccheri-inspired risotto, risotto made with wine, tomato-based versions, and plenty of seasonal variations.
One of the most fun parts of the menu is how they start the meal. As appetizers, they serve small risotto “wraps” —they call Gunkan, rice formed around different fillings and ingredients, almost like a bite-sized introduction to what’s coming next. It’s playful, well executed, and very Milan.
If you want to explore risotto beyond the usual saffron version, Officina del Riso is one of the most satisfying stops in the city and a strong complement to the broader list of best restaurants in Milan.
Best Gourmet & Special Occasion Restaurants in Milan
Italy is already a country overflowing with great food and extraordinary ingredients, which is why it still amazes me how boldly Michelin-level chefs here push flavor, texture, and creativity. There’s a clarity and confidence to the way they cook — familiar ingredients reinterpreted into dishes that feel unexpected, thoughtful, and deeply satisfying.
If you want a next-level dining experience in Milan — the kind of meal that lingers in your memory, whether you’re celebrating or simply curious — these are the places to consider.
This final group of the best restaurants in Milan is where technique, creativity, and atmosphere truly come together. Many are led by Michelin-starred chefs, all have influential kitchens, and each one pairs exceptional food with intentionally designed spaces. Some are perfect for a special occasion, others work beautifully for a refined mid-week indulgence, and a few offer gourmet talent in a more accessible format.
Café Cracco (Cracco Café)
Café Cracco is the gateway into Carlo Cracco’s world, set right on the ground floor of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. It’s the first space that greets you, and its design is remarkable: hand-painted walls, architectural mosaics, and Art Deco details inspired directly by the Galleria’s ornate exterior.
While the Michelin-starred restaurant sits upstairs, the café offers a more flexible way to taste Cracco’s creativity. The dishes are innovative, elevated, and beautifully presented — a chance to experience his approach without committing to a full tasting menu.
One practical note: Café Cracco does not take reservations. Timing your arrival helps you avoid the peak lunch rush. If you go slightly early or off-peak, you’re rewarded with one of the city’s best people-watching spots thanks to the constant flow of life through the Galleria.
Horto
Horto is one of those places you’d never expect to find unless you knew to look for it. You enter what feels like a modern office building about a block from the Duomo, take the elevator up to the sixth floor, and suddenly you’re somewhere else entirely.
The space immediately creates a sense of calm. Cream-toned walls, hardwood floors, and wooden tables work together effortlessly, with small plants placed beside some tables to soften the room even further. On a nice day, the outdoor terrace is a real gift — tables surrounded by greenery and small garden elements that make you forget how central you are.
Inside, I had a front-row seat to the show kitchen, framed by three long arched windows where you can watch the chefs at work. There’s something quietly mesmerizing about seeing that level of precision up close — focused, calm, and deeply intentional.
I really enjoy breakfast here, the pain perdu with gelato and a cappuccino, feels like a treat in every sense. The presentation alone — beautiful plates, an elegant cappuccino glass — already set the mood, but the first bite sealed it. Rich, balanced, indulgent without excess.
Horto is one of central Milan’s most compelling gourmet restaurants — modern, composed, and proudly sustainable, with a Green Michelin Star that reflects its thoughtful approach to ingredients and sourcing. What makes it especially appealing is how accessible it is for a Michelin-starred restaurant. Alongside their tasting menus, they also offer:
- A thoughtful breakfast service
- A two-course business lunch on weekdays
- Aperitivo in their lounge from 6:30 PM, perfect for sampling refined bites without committing to a full dinner
Those flexible entry points make Horto ideal whether you’re curious about gourmet cooking, celebrating something special, or simply want to experience one of Milan’s most beautifully composed dining rooms without pressure.
Iyo Kaiseki
Iyo Kaiseki remains one of the most important Japanese dining experiences in Italy Michelin-starred and meticulously run, it’s the evolution of a legacy that began with Iyo’s earlier restaurants, refining the concept into something truly distinctive.
Everything here feels elevated: the serene décor, the exceptional wine and sake selection, and the attentive, graceful service. Dining at Iyo Kaiseki feels like stepping into a completely different world — one where every detail has purpose.
It’s absolutely a special-occasion restaurant, the kind you choose when you want a meal to stay with you long after you’ve left.
Ratana
Ratana, set in the energetic Isola neighborhood, is a quieter standout in Milan’s gourmet landscape. Known for offering high-level cooking at a surprisingly accessible price, it’s a restaurant that consistently over-delivers.
The dishes are thoughtful, seasonal, and beautifully composed, without ever tipping into formality. If you want a gourmet experience that feels grounded and honest — something special but not ceremonial — La Rana is an excellent choice.
Moebius
Moebius brings a bold, urban energy to Milan’s gourmet scene. The space is huge and dramatic, anchored by a towering wall of bottles you can spot from the street. Inside, there’s a long communal table, plenty of smaller tables, and — something I truly miss from the U.S. — real bar seating.
Ranked among the World’s 50 Best Bars, Moebius is an exceptional place for cocktails paired with tapas-style dishes from their mid-priced menu. Upstairs, they also have a smaller Michelin-stared tasting-menu restaurant for a more formal experience.
It’s stylish, flexible, and effortlessly cool — and works whether you’re meeting friends or celebrating something meaningful.
Tano Passami l’Olio
Tano Passami l’Olio is one of the most personal gourmet dining experiences in Milan. Formerly Michelin-starred and located near Cadorna, it sits in a quiet, polished residential neighborhood that’s lovely to stroll through before dinner.
True to its name, the restaurant revolves around extra-virgin olive oil. Before ordering, you’re invited to taste several oils with excellent bread — an introduction that sets the stage for how central olive oil is to the cooking here.
One detail I love: you can order à la carte, which is rare at this level and especially important if you’re picky or don’t eat seafood. Chef Tano often visits tables, and the menu even notes the year each signature dish was created, making the whole meal feel like a conversation with the chef rather than a performance.
It’s warm, distinctive, and one of the most approachable gourmet restaurants in the city.
Plan Your Trip: More Italian Foodie Travel Guides
Eating this way has also shaped how I travel beyond the city. You’ll see the same ingredient-driven mindset and regional focus in places like Alba in Piedmont and Bolzano in Alto Adige, and Bologna in Emilia Romagna, where food becomes the reason to plan the trip rather than just a nice bonus.
If you’re organizing a visit and want everything in one place — neighborhoods, itineraries, seasonal ideas, and where to eat — my complete Milan travel guide ties it all together. If canal-side aperitivo and independent shops are your kind of afternoon, my Navigli Milan guide walks you through the places worth stopping for — from bars to boutiques.
If there’s one takeaway, it’s this: Milan is a city you return to for its sense of style — in fashion, in design, and absolutely in food. The restaurants that stay with you are the ones that bring all of that together. And that’s exactly why these remain, for me, the best restaurants in Milan.
