Best Restaurants in Milan for risotto - Recipe for Success (2024)

Welcome to another Foodie Travel blog post. Before we start to explore the best Restaurants in Milan, I would like to share a little of the Milan history.

Like many old European cities, Milan has a great deal of history. Milan in northern Italy was first settled by a group of people known as Insubres. These were a Celtic tribe who survived until being conquered by the Romans in 222 BC.

The Romans named the city Mediolanum. During the Middle Ages Mediolanum was the centre of a political struggle between the Guelphs and the Ghibellines.

The Visconto family prevailed in this political struggle and in 1935, Emperor Wenceslas made the city of Milan a duchy, thereby raising the dignity of the citizens.

In mid-15th-century, the Ambrosian Republic was established. The name came from the beloved patron saint of the city, St Ambrosia.

Milan becomes one of the leading cities of the Italian Renaissance after being conquered by Francesco Sforza.

Best Restaurants in Milan

However, that’s enough history for now. Italians love their food. We shall find out how, by exploring some the best restaurants in Milan.

Milan is a very large city with a population of some 1.3 million people. The city is best known for the Duomo Cathedral and proliferation of high-end fashion outlets.

I am not a huge, follower of fashion. So, shopping in Milan is not likely to be high on my to-do list.

But, I share the Italian passion for good food. Certainly, Florence has a much better foodie reputation.

However, that does not mean you won’t find excellent restaurants in Milan.

Best Restaurants in Milan

These days, Milan is a very trendy city, with world-leading fashion and superb restaurants. Milan is a shopping Mecca so be sure that you’re credit card is very flexible.

You will find a few famous dishes in these \milan restaurants. You should try risotto alla Milanese or ossobuco.

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The menu at Mama Rosa is heavily biased toward their seafood. But, the friendly staff will help you select the best seafood and pasta recipes.

The Best Restaurants in Milan

You cannot visit Milan and not be impressed by the stunning architecture or the incredibly expensive fashion.

Milan has many impressive churches, fascinating museums and endless rows of boutiques.

And, Milan has some worl-beating restaurants. But, they are very much of the genre, If you need to ask the price, you can’t afford it.

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You should check out these eating establishmnets that are very worthy of your attention:

  • Un Posto a Milano
  • Fonderie Milanesi
  • U Barba
  • Vanilla Bakery
  • Fabbrica
  • Trattoria Aurora
  • Ceresio 7

I think you will find some of the best Milanese cooking at any of the above restaurants.

Best of Milano

The Travel Girls love Milan. They have found that the best way to see Milan is on foot. This will allow you time and opportunity to peruse the many shops on the cobbled streets.

The Milan tram is also a great way to absorb the sights in a leisurely manner.

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Clicking the above image will take you to the Travel Girls blog. They have produced a lengthy detailed post with everything you need to know about Milan.

Best Breakfast in Milan

I often find myself looking forward to breakfast when we are travelling. Apart from the obvious need for some sustenance. When you go out for breakfast in Milan, you know you are on holiday.

Most Italians will have only a coffee and a pastry, early in the morning. Your average Italian believes anything more substantial will make them feel drowsy.

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I would skip breakfast in the hotel. You are far better to take a walk to the local pasticceria (bakery) for a brioche filled with chocolate, pistachio cream, and jam!

Best Outdoor Dining in Milan

Milan is one of those cities that, despite being quite compact, doesn’t reveal it’s secrets easily. Some of the best outdoor dining can be found in Milan if you know where to look.

Some of the best bars and restaurants in Milan are rooftop bars and rooftop restaurants.

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A perfect example of a hidden gem is Ceresio 7. Located on the rooftop of an innocuous-looking office building. Ceresio 7 is a magical haven of plants, water and food.

There are 2 pools, a restaurant and a bar. This is a heavenly idyll.

6 Best Breakfast Places in Milan

I am a great believer in, following the locals. When you want to find the best places to eat or the best places to shop, watch the local people,

So, if you want to breakfast like an Italian, stand at the bar. Most Italians grab a quick coffee and a brioche standing at the bar. They are busy people with things to do. Breakfast is just a quick fuel stop to get them through to lunch.

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Staying on the theme of people watching reminds me of a holiday in Santa Ponsa, Mallorca.

We had been strolling back to our apartment late one afternoon. People were just packing up tp leave the beach for the day.

I noticed many of them walking up the street towards our apartment abd then disappearing.

They had disappeared into a little café hidden from street view, down some obscure steps.

This ended up being one of our favourite spots for a coffee and a chicken sandwich.

Related posts:

BEST Restaurants in Alicante for a satisfying holidayBest Restaurants in Tel Aviv IsraelBest Restaurants in Brussels Belgium

Best Restaurants in Milan for risotto

Best Restaurants in Milan for risotto - Recipe for Success (2024)

FAQs

Which Italian city is famous for its risotto Milanese? ›

The Birth of Modern Risotto

A bit later in Milan, the most famous risotto dish, Risotto alla Milanese, was created. It was suffused with saffron, like paella. The year was 1829 and the name Risotto alla Milanese appears for the first time in the recipe book Nuovo Cuoco Milanese Economico.

What is the most popular dish in Milan? ›

Surrounded by rice fields, it's no wonder that Milan's most iconic dish is risotto alla Milanese. This quintessential dish consists of creamy, golden, slow-cooked rice prepared with white rice, butter, onions, beef marrow, and a healthy dose of Parmigiano cheese.

What side dish goes with risotto Milanese? ›

Serve this saffron risotto alongside roast meat in keeping with the traditional pairing of risotto alla Milanese with osso bucco (Italy's famous braised veal shanks, not unlike our braised lamb shanks). Or, let the golden rice stand on its own as a main course with a simple salad on the side.

What is Milan Italy best known for? ›

Milan is one of Italy's most fashionable cities, home to some of the country's major fashion brands. One of the best spots in the city center to find them in one spot happens to be the world's oldest shopping mall, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.

What is Milan's signature dish? ›

Milan's signature dish

Surrounded by rice fields, it's no wonder that Milan's most iconic dish is risotto alla Milanese. This quintessential dish consists of creamy, golden, slow-cooked rice prepared with white rice, butter, onions, beef marrow, and a healthy dose of Parmigiano cheese.

What is the most popular risotto in Italy? ›

But what are the most popular risottos in Italy? The most famous is the Risotto alla Milanese, with butter and saffron, onion and, if desired, beef bone marrow. In the Mantua area, however, we find pumpkin Risotto. The prized Mantua pumpkin is first cooked in the oven and then used for cooking risotto.

Where do celebrities eat in Milan? ›

A Milanese institution since Giacomo Bulleri opened his doors in 1958, today Da Giacomo is the city's restaurant of choice for A-listers from George Clooney to Giorgio Armani. Uber-fresh seafood is the house specialty, perhaps paired with Porcini mushrooms or white truffles.

What is famous to eat in Milan? ›

The best local food in Milan
  • Minestrone Milanese. Who needs GPS when you have minestrone? ...
  • Ossobucco. Meat, meat and more meat: that's what you'll be eating in Milan if you go for the region's iconic dishes (sorry, vegetarians). ...
  • Panettone. ...
  • Cassoeula. ...
  • Polenta. ...
  • Gorgonzola. ...
  • Piadina. ...
  • Trippa alla Milanese (Busecca)
Apr 3, 2024

What is the number 1 food in Italy? ›

Pizza. Besides pasta, pizza is perhaps the most popular and recognized Italian food. Pizza is considered a national symbol representing Italy to the rest of the world, so much so that UNESCO has acknowledged pizza as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

What is the etiquette for eating risotto? ›

Essentially, risotto is equated with pasta, which is why it is eaten with a fork, a piece of cutlery "dedicated" to this dish: the Italian Academy of Galateo does not only refer to risotto, but to all rice-based preparations that are eaten as a main course.

What is the etiquette for risotto? ›

If you follow the rules of 'Galateo' ( good behavior ) risotto must be eaten with the fork only, and you don't spread it on the plate to cool it down. Italians tend to eat risotto with a fork, that is what the etiquette says. The spoon should be only for babies and toddlers while they are learning how to eat properly.

What do Italians eat with risotto? ›

In Italy, when it is not used as a complete meal, risotto is considered a main dish, and is usually served with small portions of meat or light vegetable side dishes. For example, it is very common to pair risotto with a couple of lemon escalopes, or with bresaola and arugula.

What is Milan most popular street? ›

Via Montenapoleone

Often considered to be the key shopping street in Milan, it is home to the biggest design brands, from Gucci to Prada to Valentino.

What is the most visited place in Milan? ›

The Milan Cathedral is the city's most popular tourist destination.
  • Colonne di San Lorenzo.
  • Piazza Mercanti.
  • Brera district.
  • Via Dante.
  • Via Monte Napoleone.
  • Piazza Gae Aulenti.
  • CityLife district.
  • Porta Nuova district.

Is English widely spoken in Milan? ›

Do They Speak English in Milan? Italy's fashion capital, Milan, is notable for its art, culture, and history. Because it's an international city, Milan is one of Italy's most broadly speaking English cities. Despite this, learning greetings and basic phrases in Italian will go a long way.

Where did the milanese risotto come from? ›

The origin of this dish is quite curious. It seems it was born in 1574 following an experiment by an eccentric painter. Wishing to impress his guests, he decided to colour the risotto by adding a pinch of saffron, a spice he used to create a special yellow shade in his paintings.

Where did risotto originate in Italy? ›

Where is risotto grown in Italy? ›

The Po Valley is home to several important rice-growing areas, including the provinces of Vercelli, Novara, and Pavia. These areas are known for producing high-quality rice varieties, such as Arborio, Carnaroli, and Vialone Nano, which are widely used in Italian cuisine, particularly in risotto dishes.

Is Milan known for risotto? ›

A trip to Milan consists of more than just shopping, enjoying the culture and admiring the Duomo – sampling a plate of risotto is a must! The Milanese love their risotto. While in the vast majority of Italy pasta rules supreme, Northern Italy is best known for its rice dishes such as risotto.

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