A Foodie Guide To Milan: What Dishes You Have To Try
Milan - the fashion capital of the world. It’s an urban-chic-gritty-romantic mixture unlike any other city I’ve experienced in Italy. A true cocktail of old and new, future-thinking and European nostalgia. Some consider it “too cosmopolitan,” lacking the character and charm of Italy’s other larger cities. But to those naysayers I say, let’s agree to disagree. Even in one of Europe’s biggest heat waves in modern history, Milano was a welcoming, warm (pun intended) place to explore and savor the goodness of “la vita bella.”
But perhaps the reason I most love Milan was because I approached my time in the city a bit differently. After visiting the iconic Duomo, getting lost in the city’s many museums, and shopping through Brera and the waterways of Naviglio Grande… I set my focus on discovering Milan’s best, unkept secret - it’s food. Many of you know that this past summer I completely indulged in the art of being a foodie traveler. Milan, it just so happens, is a haven of deliciousness.
Today, I’m excited to be sharing my favorite foodie finds. From classic risotto to polenta, cotoletta and beyond… here is a foodie guide to Milan, stocked with restaurant recommendations and a list of dishes you MUST try when in the city.
Classic Milan Dishes To Keep Your Eyes Peeled For
Risotto alla Milanese - An absolute MUST try when in Milan! Rice sautéed in butter, bone marrow, saffron, nutmeg and stock… then saffron and grated Parmigiano are added on top. Delicious, decadent, creamy… it’s DIVINE, hearty and soul warming!
Polenta - Milan’s colder weather has obviously influenced its dishes. Polenta is another hearty dish, made with boiled cornmeal. It’s a comfort food that you’ll find scattered as a side dish throughout the city!
Osso Busco - Melt in your mouth meat braised with onions, vegetables, white wine and broth. Don’t overlook its marrow on the inside of the bone either - it’s a savory, buttery spread that’s insanely good.
Brioche - A staple breakfast pastry, ordering a sweet and flaky brioche in the morning is a local’s routine you’ll see quite often in Milan. Do as the locals do and order a brioche and a caffe latte each morning!
Piadina - The perfect lunch while in Milan! The Piadina is almost like a thicker flour tortilla filled with delicious meats, cheeses veggies… anything you could imagine, and grilled on a griddle.
Negroni Sbagliato - A bitters-based cocktail that features gin instead of prosecco, created in Milan.
Cotoletta - A breaded veal cutlet fried in butter… oh so delicious and very, very similar to schnitzel. It’s buttery goodness on a plate.
Pizza & Gelato (of course!) - When in Italy… am I right?
Other Foodie Things To Note
Aperitivo
If you’re on the hunt for an authentic cocktail hour experience - aperitivo is a must do with when Italy. Late afternoon into the early evening, you’ll find that many restaurants and bars offer drinks for a lower price and food served buffet style. It’s the perfect way to start your evenings! You’ll find locals filing in after work, sipping on Negronis, wine and Aperol Spritzes. Navigli is an excellent area to experience aperitivo. Sit by the canals, enjoying the afternoon air and relax while noshing on some delicious treats. It’s the best! (P.S. I’ve listed some of my favorites below for you!)
Lombardy Cooking
As the capital of the Lombardy region (and also the unofficial capital of Northern Italy), Milan’s food is a bit different than your classic Roman/Napoli-style recipes.
You’ll still find your staple pizza and pasta dishes, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, tomatoes and olive oil laden recipes galore… but, you’ll also find that Lombardy cooking is stocked with comfort foods, rich and decadent, slightly heartier and butterier. Why? Well, due to its location, Milan is chillier for most of the year, and the city’s location is smack dab in the middle of Italy’s “rice bowl.” So, while you won’t find fresh seafood quite as regularly… expect lots of locally sourced cream-based sauces, butter, beef and veal, risotto and rice-based dishes.
Restaurant Recommendations
Taglio: Their Risotto Milanese was one of the best we had our entire trip! Taglio’s focaccia (served before the meal) blew our minds too. It’s the simple, intentional care they put into each dish on their menu. Simply put… go here. It’s a standout winner in my eyes!
Bar Basso: One of the oldest cocktail bars in the city - best known for its creation of the famous Negroni Sbagliatto. If you’re a negroni fan, going to Bar Basso is a right of passage!
Manuelina: Located right by the Duomo, this focacceria features an iconic Focaccia di Recco, invented by Nonna Manuelina. Order a classic Genovese "focaccia col formaggio" at the counter and enjoy over the high tops near by. You’ll be obsessed, trust me.
Ratana: Ratana’s chef is locally known as the “king of risotto” - so be sure to order the classic Milanese dish here!
Bar Luce: A Milanese cafe designed by Wes Anderson in his iconic style, located at the entrance of Fondazione Prada. It’s a stylish, clean and charming little cafe movie lovers and design admirers will adore.
Il Massimo del Gelato: Just outside of center city, this gelateria has some of the most intensely delicious flavors we found in the city. Pistacchio is a classic choice, but be adventurous here… you can’t go wrong!
Pave: One of the BEST cafes in the city. Get their brioche and a foamy cappuccino… and thank me later!
Trattoria Trippa: Traditional Lombardy dishes done with inventive twists. Be sure to order their beloved vitello tonnato, tripe or Milanese risotto with grilled bone marrow. It’s an unfussy place that knows exactly how to do food just right.
Princi Bakery: This became another classic cafe stop for us in the mornings, and I’m still craving their sweet brioche, cornetti and cappuccinos in the morning.