Milan is one of these cities where there is something for everyone to see, do, and, of course, taste. We love the capitool for its inclusive spirit, yet we are also well aware that its energy can sometimes feel quite overwhelming. That’s why we have handpicked our favourite authentic trattorias in Milan to disconnect from the city’s fast-changing pace and simply enjoy authentic Italian food in a setting where time has been standing still.
Prefer a more contemporary dining experience? You might also love: the best contemporary restaurants in Milan for innovative takes on Italian cuisine.
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OSTERIA DEL BINARI
Osteria del Binari is located behind Porta Genova train station, and was opened back in 1972 and since then, the restaurant has been a favourite among locals and Italian tourists. The menu is inspired by traditional recipes of Lombardy combined with seasonal ingredients. Expect the ‘evergreen’ classics such as Milanese risotto with saffron, risotto al salto, veal cutlet and veal bone marrow as well as seasonal creations. The restaurant itself is beautiful (and very large), with different seating areas and some being in a winter garden filled with plants.
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La LAtteria San Marco
La Latteria San Marco is a true Milanese institution. Since 1965, Arturo and Maria Maggi welcomed guests into their intimate, nine-table space, serving a daily-changing menu rooted in fresh out-of-garden vegetables. Their specialty spaghetti with lemon and chilli even made its way to the White House! Now under new ownership by Vittoria Loro Piana, the restaurant remains unchanged—same charm, same menu, and still no reservations. Milanese tradition stands firm, just as it did in the early days when eager diners queued for a coveted spot. In short, add this one to your list—just don’t expect more luck than Madonna had in 2023 when she was turned away.
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Trippa
Diego Rossi and Pietro Caroli have created Trippa, a place where tradition has gotten a bold shake-up, offering dishes that feel both familiar and entirely new. The Trippa Fritta, crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside, is one of their specialties, while classics like vitello tonnato are precisely prepared with a balance of rich flavors and delicate textures. Located in Porta Romana, the atmosphere is as much a draw as the food: shared and buzzing with conversation. Tables are packed, the menu changes daily guided by the market’s availability, and getting a seat is an art in itself. Trippa is an old-fashioned trattoria serving as a meeting ground, where friendships and passions grow over plates of ingredient-driven brilliance.
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Ristorante Rovello
Those looking for a restaurant with a Vecchia Milano style—think wooden furnishings and a classic Italian menu—should head to Rovello . This is a place that maintained its original address as its name but relocated several times throughout its journey. Now, Rovello can be found on Via Ariberto 3, where its cuisine remains deeply rooted in regional traditions, mostly Lombardy and Piedmont. Michele De Liguoro, the restaurant’s owner, pours love and passion into his creations, drawing inspiration from his grandmother —mind you, this is just the right place for a typical Italian dining experience, with dishes crafted from the highest-quality ingredients.
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Trattoria Torre di Pisa
Founded by the Tuscan Meacci family in the 60s, Trattoria Torre di Pisa has historically been a high esteemed meeting place for important designers, painters, journalists and more. The restaurant carries a philosophy that remained close to its values of the past: the five large windows facing Via Fiori Chiari have not been altered and the historic wooden chairs are still in use like the opening back in the days. The current owner, Alberto Cortesi, a true Tuscan at heart, offers simple and authentic dishes all finished with the finest Tuscan extra virgin olive oil. The specialties are, of course, those of the traditional Tuscan countryside – think, fresh tagliatelle with hill-grown cherry tomatoes, rigatoni alla Toscana and the classic Fiorentina.
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TRATTORIA DEL PESCATORE
This trattoria specialises exclusively in seafood. More specifically, most of the recipes originate from Sardinia, the homeland of the owners Giuliano Ardu and his wife, Agnese Atzeni. They have introduced traditional ingredients from the island, such as bottarga and created their signature delicacies, including their distinctive bread loaves and, most notably, the Lobster Catalana, which led to their breakthrough. By adding sliced red onions and Sardinian tomatoes, they created a version so successful that, in many places, it has replaced the original recipe. With all this in mind, Trattoria del Pescatore has now become the leading Sardinian seafood restaurant in Milan.
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Antica Trattoria della Pesa
Antica Trattoria della Pesa is one of Milan’s oldest restaurants, rich in history. Dating back to the nineteenth century, this trattoria once served as a passageway where goods entered the city. Today, dining in this historic spot brings you closer to the local and foreign personalities who once frequented it. With its vintage atmosphere and classic Lombard hospitality, the Sassi family preserves its traditions. The menu features Milanese dishes: costoletta, risotto al salto, and ossobuco with Milanese risotto—the most beloved dish among locals. Those lucky enough to taste it always wish to return… or so the rumour goes. For us the more reason to visit.
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Da Martino
Da Martino may look like a simple takeaway counter with a wood-burning oven and a few tables, but this family-run spot has been serving Milan since 1950. Founded by Martino from Tuscany and now run by his son Sergio, it’s a local favourite. Their menu changes daily, but expect classics like pizza by the slice, Fiorentina steak, Cinta Senese pork, and their famous cotoletta. Seasonal ingredients keep things fresh to always find something unique and different. Just like at home.
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DAL BOLOGNESE
A slice of Bologna in Milan. At Dal Bolognese you’ll find a menu filled with traditional recipes of Emilian cuisine including the beloved boiled meat, tortellini in brodo and fresh, homemade tagliatelle with ragù alla Bolognese. The restaurant is nestled behind the Duomo in the courtyard of Palazzo Recanati with a pleasant outdoor area and an elegant indoors.
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LU BAR
Situated between Montenapoleone and Porta Venezia, this garden restaurant boasts one of the most prominent and privileged locations in Milan. Lu Bar exudes elegance and prestige, where the gaze wanders among plants and works of art, thirsting for beauty and light. The restaurant’s aim is to ennoble and elevate Sicilian street food, the founders’ place of origin, to the tones of Milanese style.
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THE BAR AT RALPH LAUREN
Ralph Lauren opens his first hospitality experience in Italy with The Bar at Ralph Lauren in the new Milanese flagship store in Via della Spiga, a tribute to the equestrian lifestyle long synonymous of Ralph Lauren, with interiors furnished with leather sofas, elegant dark wood panels and a curated collection of paintings and photographs. Here you can taste a unique offer in Milan of American cuisine inspired by Ralph Lauren’s favorite dishes, including the classic hamburger and the iconic mini lobster rolls. Signature cocktails like Ridgway Margarita, Manhattan or an Old-Fashioned for the seasonal menu. The bar is open all day and will serve coffee and patisserie in the morning, a light lunch and aperitifs.
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If there is one address that has quietly become essential to Milanese life, it is the Portrait hotel, the Ferragamo family’s Lungarno Collection latest, and arguably its most ambitious. The concept went well beyond a conventional hotel: the former seminary at its heart was reimagined around a vast public courtyard, now a pedestrian piazza where exhibitions, installations and aperitivo culture converge. It has, without much argument, become the coolest spot in the city at dusk: Spritz in hand, the timeless ritual of see and be seen playing out exactly as it should. Inside, the dining room overlooks a beautiful garden through glass walls, its interiors warm with fine materials and collector photography. The menu is a love letter to Milanese Sunday lunches: vitello tonnato, mondeghili meatballs, the iconic pasta in bianco, roast chicken and a golden cotoletta alla milanese that is, simply, the one to order. WEBSITE
Want to learn more about Milan’s various food scene?
Have a glance into our guides for slow-dining experiences: Th best fine dining Restaurants in Milan & The Best Ethnic Restaurants in Milan