If there is one thing not missing in Milan these are restaurants! Dozens, no hundreds of new restaurants open every year in Milan. Some of them are not extremely good and don’t survive in this tenacious jungle for more than one year… But others are here to stay and to delight our nights out!
While I like to try the new ones while staying healthy, some made it to my top list. Enjoy!
Reservation
One thing you shouldn’t forget: if you are going out for dinner during the weekend and/or you are more than 2 people, be sure you reserve your table at least one week ahead. Christmas time, in particular, is super busy as all the companies do their Christmas dinners with colleagues.
Best restaurants for dinner
Pesce Ubriaco
- FOOD 9/10
- LOCATION 8/10
- PRICE €€€/€€€€
This super small restaurant is located in the vibrant neighborhood of Porta Venezia in Milan. They are usually closed in the wintertime since the location inside is extremely small. During summertime, they arrange the tables outside in a nice setting, which still remains cozy and private, as compared to the surrounding restaurants and cafès.
A premise is needed here: if you are in a hurry and just want to grab a quick dinner, then choose another place. At Pesce Ubriaco the kitchen is no more than 2 meters wide and there is only one chef, the owner. It will take time even if you order a raw fish plate. Their way of working is also written on the menu, so as to avoid any miscomprehensions with clients (TripAdvisor reviews are negative for this specific reason). If you choose to go to Pesce Ubriaco, you are going for a high-quality fish dinner and you need at least 2 hours to enjoy it.
After this premise, I consider this restaurant as one of my favorites for two main reasons: delicious and high-quality fish and a nice and relaxing location that lets you truly enjoy the dinner. Highly recommended!
La Vecchia Lira
- FOOD 8/10
- LOCATION 6/10
- PRICE €€€/€€€€
Set in the lively neighborhood of Moscova, La Vecchia Lira has been here for quite a long time now. As it is situated in this vibrant part of the city, after dinner you can choose among dozens of cool bars to enjoy a cocktail or an amaro.
Back to the restaurant: the location itself is not much pretty, and sometimes the volume can get very loud since tables are very close to each other. However, the atmosphere is joyful and the food is great. The cuisine is mainly milanese and during the right season (sept – dec) they also have delicious truffle recipes, which is what I love the most.
Al Garghet
- FOOD 9/10
- LOCATION 10/10
- PRICE €€€/€€€€
I am simply in love with this restaurant! A bit far from the city centre, you may need to go by car or by taxi, Al Garghet is an oasis of good taste and a delight for the eyes. During wintertime, the cozy interior gets beautiful for Christmas; in the summertime, the garden gifts the guests with a view of nature and green which is very unpopular in the city centre.
Talking food, the kitchen offers the typical Milanese flavors: the cotoletta is something you cannot miss!
Cacio e Pepe Bottega Romana
- FOOD 9/10
- LOCATION 9/10
- PRICE €€/€€€€
I personally think there are two great places to enjoy roman food in Milan. One of these is Cacio e Pepe (which btw is an infamous pasta recipe). They have two locations: one in Porta Ticinese and the second one is close to Piazza Cinque Giornate. The latter is the one I prefer, called Cacio e Pepe Bottega Romana. It is smaller than the other, but the location is much prettier in my opinion.
Wondering what to order? Start with carciofo alla giudia and carciofo alla romana; and then go for pasta, either carbonara or amatriciana (my favourite) or cacio e pepe of course.
Lacerba
- FOOD 8/10
- LOCATION 7/10
- PRICE €€€/€€€€
Lacerba is a location in Porta Romana with two souls. Many of you may know the popular bar; others may not know there is also a very good restaurant on the opposite side. The two also have different styles: while the bar is noisy and super crowded and serves great cocktails, the restaurant is more classy and quiet. I only discovered it two years ago, and I come back quite often since then.
I usually opt for fish plates: I highly recommend my favourite dishes: the gamberi croccanti (crispy prawns), and the linguine all’astice (linguine – a type of pasta – with lobster). Both delicious! And after dinner, you can easily move to the bar next door to end up your night with a great drink!
La Brisa
- FOOD 8/10
- LOCATION 8/10
- PRICE €€€€/€€€€
La Brisa is a renowned restaurant in Milan, where I celebrated several birthdays. The location is very classy and elegant: in the summertime, they also arrange tables outside in the garden and it’s super nice.
Food is of very high quality; the menu can seem a bit polished and the recipes are never obvious; the staff is very alert and formal. The price point is higher than many of the other restaurants on this list, but it is totally worth it! Highly suggested for celebrating important events!
Check also the best restaurants in Milan for lunch!
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