5 Food experiences you need to have in Milan and why this Taste Journey is worth a spot on your bucket list!
What inspires you to take a trip to Italy? Is it the culture and art? Romantic canals? Jaw dropping landscapes? Your son/daughter doing a term in Europe?! For me a love for the food of Italy is a major motivation to return again and again.
I’m betting that when planning a trip to a city in Italy most people think of Rome, Venice or Florence and this is exactly why you should visit Milan instead! Yes, there are still crowded tourist hot spots in Milan, but most of the city still feels truly Italian. Honestly, people are genuinely nice in Milan and it is a completely manageable city for someone who has never been to Italy. You can explore beautiful and diverse architecture, masterpiece art works, stand on a roof of a spectacular cathedral (and eat some of the best mozzarella of your life seated next to that roof!), learn about modern Italian history and experience an edgy fashion capital (the best people watching!). From a strictly food/drink perspective you can and must enjoy Aperitivo in the city of its origin and indulge in amazing traditional Milanese/Italian cuisine. In Italy, what one eats depends on where one lives which gives you the ultimate insight into regionalism- an important component of Italian culture
Here are 5 food experiences that are just the beginning of how to taste your way through Milan while learning more about the history and culture of amazing Italy:
1. Start off simple and sweet.
Breakfast basic requirements in Milan are an espresso or cappuccino and a brioche, as the Milanesi call it. One of our favorite boutique hotels in Milan serves an amazing organic breakfast buffet (message us for the name!) but if you feel like hitting the streets of Milan early and don’t want to stand while you drink your coffee like many of the locals, go beyond the basics.
Where to go:
Paticceria Marchesi 1824-Via Santa Maria alla Porta, 11a (The original founded in 1824) OR Via Monte Napoleone, 9 (The new location spearheaded by Prada).
I love the location above Prada which is jade-colored and retro-chic. Sit in the velvet chairs for table service and gaze out the windows at the galleria below. The beautiful design and attentive service by jacketed waiters is worth every Euro you pay for your coffee and cornetto. Its chic and dreamlike and worth coming back again and again.
Pave-Via Felice Casati 27
Try the kiefer, a crumbly croissant with cream inside, and you won’t be able to order anything else. An Artisan bakery that smells as good as its goodies taste.
Pasticceria Cova- Via Monte Napoleone, 8
It’s hard to single out this spot of pure temptation from the glittery windows of fashion’s elite, competing with breathtaking window displays for the most coveted real estate. Cova is one of Italy’s oldest Paticceria. We recommend coming here for the best Pannettone Bread, but the pralines, chocolate and sweets galore go perfect with your coffee too!
Zaini- 5, De Cristoforis Street
Come here for the most decadent hot chocolate ever! Zaini is more than just chocolate of excellence, it is the oldest chocolate factory in Milan and its history is deeply intertwined with that of the city. If you can’t stop by to start your day make it a destination later for a pick me up.
2. Pizza- because who doesn't like pizza?!
Pizza really does taste better in Italy! It’s casual, sometimes street food and expect a line at the best places. It is worth the wait, I promise.
Where to go:
Dry Milano- Viale Vittorio Veneto, 28
Casual, amazing cocktails and house made foccacio served in little metal tins are the prelude to Dry’s delicious pizza. It’s a carb overload commitment when you come here but if you ask they will split your pizza and present it on two plates!
Spontini- Multiple locations
Milan favorite Spontini has been the one big name on the local pizza scene since the 1950s. Traditional Spontini slices have a thick, soft crust, tomato sauce with salt, pepper, olive oil, oregano and the added touch of anchovies (though you can request yours without). Eating on-the-go is clearly encouraged here.
Zia Esterina Sorbillo- Via Angelo 19- a stones throw from the Duomo Cathedral
Pizza Frita or fried stuffed dough called Panzerotti is the star at this small, open-air shop in the center of town. Great for a quick lunch on the go, just a small counter to stand. And there is a sweet version with Nutella if you just want dessert!
Gino Sorbillo Levito Madre- Largo Corsia dei Servi, 11
Gino Sorbillo comes from a long line of Neapolitan pizzaioli going back generations. Come early as they do not take reservations and there is always a line. I always look at the pizza I ordered and think there is no way I can finish it yet somehow I always do?!
Briscola Pizza Society- Multiple locations
There are strict rules to follow when making pizza here: Briscola has its own proprietary mix of flours (with dough that goes through three different types of leavening), uses fior di latte cheese, San Marzano tomatoes and cooks its pies in a brick oven. You can also order “pizzine” (mini pizzas) to try different types which is why this is one of our favorites!
3. Why you should eat RICE (as well as pasta!) in Milan.
Did you know that Milan is a rice growing region? Up until a few decades ago, the southernmost tip of the city still featured rice paddies, and if you stand there now, you can see the ones just outside city limits in the distance. Unlike many risottos cooked or replicated elsewhere, the Milanese version is loose, almost like a starch-thickened soup or porridge that first spreads on the plate and then masterfully thickens just the slightest amount as it cools. If you’re in Milan, you have to try this one – Risotto alla Milanese with Ossobuco. One of my absolute favorites and THE Milanese dish. Rich and creamy saffron flavored risotto is paired with cross-cut veal shank…yum!
Where to go:
El Brellin- Vicolo dei Lavandai, Alzaia Naviglio Grande, 14
Milan is a city with canals just like Venice or Amsterdam, however, many travelers visit and never even set foot in the Navigli (or Canal) district, which is becoming more and more hip each day. One of our favorite places for Risotto Milanese is El Brellin. Stroll along the Naviglio Grande, stop for a cocktail at one of the many bars and end up at this rustic restaurant with fireplaces and wooden beamed ceilings.
Posto di Conversazione- Via Alzaia Naviglio Grande 6
Another gem in the Navigli. Grab a table outside for great people watching along the canal. Although the menu does not list the Milanese Risotto without the Ossobuco you can easily order just a giant bowl of the risotto.
4. When in Milan- Aperitivo!
It’s safe to say that the aperitivo you have in Milan you won’t have anywhere else: it’s rich, it’s big and sometimes it also allows you to not have a dinner after! The concept of aperitivo hour did not take off until the 1920s in Milan. It was in Milan that Gaspare Campari started mixing cocktails that ultimately led to the production of the bitter spirit that is now synonymous with aperitif. You can enjoy aperitivo all over Italy, but in Milan it as a ritual and they do it best – between the hours of 6pm and 8pm, the whole city seems to be enjoying a drink and light snack before heading home or out to dinner. Go low-key at a typical café and join locals as they drink standing up at the counter and nibble on crisps and olives, or go grand and settle in at a stylish bar that serves drinks alongside fine meats and small plates. There’s plenty of great places where you can have amazing aperitivo in Milan, this is just a partial list of some of our favorites.
Where to go:
Obica Mozzarella Bar- Duomo, La Rinascente, Via Santa Radegonda, 1
Located on the 7th floor of the amazing department store, Rinascente. A bonus here is taking the escalator up to check out each and every floor of this beautiful Italian store and the food hall at the top is a foodie destination not to be missed! The Aperitivo served every day from 5-8 is delicious and a great value but this is one of my all time favorite dining destinations in Milan because of the gorgeous outdoor terrace that feels like it is a part of the Duomo roof! You MUST sit outside. This is a not to be missed destination and the mozzarella bar is to die for.
Terrazza Aperol- Piazza del Duomo
Located inside a historical building overlooking Piazza Del Duomo. The Mercato Del Duomo offers several dining options and one of the best aperitivi in the city at the Terrazza Aperol. The very reasonably priced cocktails are served alongside fresh homemade chips and the best views of the Duomo.
Princi- Via Ponte Vetero, 10, 20121 Milano - Brera district
Located on various street corners and piazzas, Princi pops up all over the city, loved by both locals and tourists for its excellent coffee and beautiful pastries. We love the Brera location with its historical tangle of cobblestone streets. Princi serves a high quality aperitivo from around 5pm.
The Aperol Spritz is one of the best I've tasted (and I've tried many!), and offering all you can eat of six kinds of pizza, several salad and pasta options, and a DIY bruschetta platter guarantees you will get your moneys worth and not leave hungry. Princi is perfect for a late afternoon snack after a shopping spree!
5. We all scream for…Gelato!
Italy is home to some of the best gelato in the world and Milan holds up the reputation with pride! Our trips to Milan always include a daily gelato no matter what time of year we are visiting. We always try to compare with hopes that we can rank them but honestly they are ALL so delicious! Here are some of our favorites:
Where to go:
Cioccolati Italiani- Via S. Raffaele, 6
Famous for its chocolate-filled cones and huge range of toppings, the reputation of this coveted gelato shop is based as much on presentation as taste. Specializing in chocolate flavors, and vendor of the original ice-cream sandwich (literally, three scoops in a roll of sweet-bread), Cioccolati Italiani is a chocoholics dream. Get the Merengue topping on your cone or cup and you will not be sorry! Located within walking distance of Milan Cathedral, it is the perfect place to round off a day of sightseeing in one of the city’s most visited neighborhoods.
Latte Neve- Via Vigevano 27, Navigli
Here, you’ll find all-organic ice cream in bold, creative flavors like cardamom-coffee, salted peanut with black sesame, and cinnamon chocolate peperoncino (cinnamon and chocolate with red peppers). Added bonus: They top every scoop of gelato with a dollop of delicious homemade whipped cream!
Pave Gelati and Granite-Via Felice Casati 27
Even though Pavé Gelati & Granite is a less known gelateria in Milan, locals say that this is one of the best places to taste Italian gelato. We recommended Pave above to start your day as well! The flavors of their gelato are beyond average – they make gelato inspired by the recipes of various pastries, such as Tonka, Tea and Biscuits, and much more. Of course, the classics rock as well. Vanilla, pistachio or hazelnut are among the best in Pavé Gelati & Granite.
On that sweet note- add Milan to your travel bucket list! The Italian culture of authenticity and quality of food is waiting for you in Milan where casual meals stress the importance of food and sharing it with others. We have so many more Milan food experiences to share with you. Message us to get your Taste Journey started, your “foodie” self will thank you.