Dining out in Milan, Italy is a true gastronomic delight. While you can find traditional dishes like pasta, Ossobuco, and risotto, Milan's cuisine also reflects the city's role as a global center for art, fashion, and design. The city's dining options range from sleek, contemporary restaurants pushing the limits of Italian cuisine to traditional trattorias serving family recipes passed down through generations. One can find innovative fusion dishes that combine Italian flavors with inspirations from around the globe or inventive spins on classic dishes.
The Milanese dining scene honors the city's long-standing passion for local and seasonal ingredients. Chefs delight in using fresh, local ingredients to make their dishes, whether at a Michelin-starred restaurant or a small trattoria. Menus feature seasonal specialties such as hearty winter stews, asparagus in spring, and white truffles in fall. Both locals and tourists alike find dining out in this chic city an unforgettable experience due to its focus on premium ingredients, classic flavors, and culinary innovation.
Restaurants We Enjoyed in Milan
While RudiGourmand was in Milan, we experienced a handful of noteworthy restaurants to share with you for your next visit to this stunning Italian city.
Paper Moon Giardino- Via Bagutta 12, 20121 Milan
Located in Milan’s Fashion District, just a stone’s throw from the Louis Vuitton and across the street from Dolce and Gabbana is the equally chic Paper Moon Giardino. This upmarket restaurant is discretely tucked in a courtyard off Via Bagutta that it shares with Issey Miyake. The restaurant can be easy to miss, being located off the main street, but the search is worth it.
When entering the restaurant, one is quickly taken by the impressive bar and elegant interiors. The white tablecloths and elegant service function as the perfect canvas for delicate and flavorful cuisine. Should the weather prove favorable, outdoor seating is available on the Paper Moon Giardino’s outdoor terrace.
Reservations are recommended especially for prime dining hours. Dress code proved to be relaxed during lunch hours, but smart attire is recommended. When ordering, we recommend the Polpo, Noci di Capesante, and Panzerotto.
San Mauri- Via San Maurilio 4, 20123 Milan
If you’re looking for a hidden gem, San Mauri is the place for you. Located just off the popular and busy shopping street, Via Torino, housed in a former convent from the 16th century, San Mauri offers a welcoming atmosphere and superb Italian food with a modern, updated twist.
The price points may suggest standard fare, but we were pleasantly surprised to enjoy a meal worthy of a Michelin star. Chef Leonardo Nieddu, who incidentally was previously a chef at Paper Moon Giardino and holds experience from additional upmarket restaurants, brilliantly leads his team to create and serve memorable meals. With each bite, you can taste the local flavors expertly prepared with skill and passion.
While the San Mauri menus change, if available, we do recommend Red and Yellow Gazpacho (easily the best gazpacho we have ever had), Carnaroli Risotto (a modern take on the Milanese classic dish), and homemade tagliolini.
San Mauri is so delicious that Conde Nast Traveller even named it one of the ten best restaurants in Milan in 2023.
Nico- Via Terraggio 20, 20123 Milan
Located within walking distance from the Santa Maria delle Grazie (the location of Leonardo Da Vinci’s The Last Supper), Milano Cadorna train station, and Parco Sempione, is Nico, a small yet popular traditional local eatery with absolutely delicious pasta and pizza. What sets Nico apart from the many other pizzerias is the service. Even though the restaurant was bustling with business, the staff warmly welcomed us and took excellent care of us. The hostess in particular provided such friendly and kind service that it felt as if we were guests in her home.
Maia Bistrot Ristorante- Via Bassano Porrone 4, 20121 Milan
While small, Maia Bistrot Ristorante is mighty. This popular ristorante is tucked a few blocks away from Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in a business district, thus attracting a wide range of clientele. Suited professionals, craftsmen, and tourists alike enjoyed a range of options during our visit. Locals enjoyed espressos at the bar and the pasta of the day, while the menu also included fresh options such as salads, healthy fruit-vegetable smoothies, and vegetarian dishes. The price points are also reasonable.
The atmosphere is rustic, warm, and efficient, and provides a local feel while just steps away from popular tourist attractions.
La Cupola – Via Tommaso Grossi 1, 20121 Milan; Park Hyatt Milan
Don’t shy away from dining in a hotel restaurant, especially one in a Park Hyatt. La Cupola is the polished all-day dining restaurant in the heart of the five-star Park Hyatt Milan. While very elegant, this restaurant is very approachable.
Service was extremely attentive and upscale, but not snobbish. The service was very welcoming and friendly. Coming from a 14-hour journey from Chicago, wearing jeans, we were warmly welcomed and pampered.
Menu offerings for dinner were deliciously divine and thoughtfully prepared. What was quite pleasantly surprising were the price points. One would expect a restaurant of this quality in such a stunning location to be absurdly priced, but La Cupola did not gouge our pocketbook.
While we enjoyed dinner at La Cupola, it would also be perfect for breakfast or lunch with sunlight streaming in from its large glass cupola overhead. La Cupola is also included in the renowned food site TheFork.it’s Top 100 Restaurants in Milan.
While these were just a few of the restaurants we enjoyed in Milan, we encourage you to find others you enjoy. Check reviews on Google, OpenTable, or TheFork.It.
If you are unable to travel to Milan at this time, you can recreate a slice of Italy at home with imported Italian goods from RudiGourmand. If you are an importer/exporter of Italian food and beverage, use PriorNotify to automate the U.S. FDA prior notice process for streamlined sales and shipping.