Food · Milan · Italy
What to eat in Milan
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Milan, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Jiuguang Wang, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with Saffron risotto, Breaded veal cutlet and Ossobuco. Between about 6pm and 9pm, canal-side bars serve a drink with snacks or a buffet; it can replace dinner on a budget. Coffee at the bar counter costs less than at a table; sitting down, especially near the Duomo, can double the price.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Saffron risotto
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 5
- Tipping
- A cover charge is often included, so tipping is optional.
- Food experiences
- 4
10 foods to try
Dish
1.Saffron risotto (Risotto alla milanese)
Creamy risotto cooked with beef stock, butter, Parmigiano and saffron, giving it a golden colour. It is often served alongside ossobuco.
Where: Traditional trattorias across the city; ask whether it is made with meat stock if you are vegetarian.
Dish
2.Breaded veal cutlet (Cotoletta alla milanese)
A thick, bone-in veal chop coated in breadcrumbs and fried in butter, served with lemon. A flatter 'elephant ear' version is also common.
Where: Classic Milanese trattorias and osterie.
Dish
3.Ossobuco
Cross-cut veal shanks braised with white wine and vegetables, topped with gremolata of lemon zest, garlic and parsley; the marrow in the bone is a delicacy.
Where: Traditional restaurants, often paired with saffron risotto.
Snack
4.Mondeghili
Milanese meatballs made from leftover boiled or roast meat, mortadella and cheese, flattened and fried in butter. They often appear on aperitivo platters.
Where: Osterie and wine bars with traditional menus.
Dish
5.Cassoeula
A rich winter stew of pork ribs, rind and sausages slow-cooked with Savoy cabbage, traditionally eaten from November to February with polenta.
Where: Traditional trattorias in winter.
Street food · Vegetarian
6.Panzerotti
Fried or baked half-moon pastries filled with tomato and mozzarella; originally from Puglia, they became a Milan street-food institution near the Duomo.
Where: Takeaway shops around Piazza del Duomo and in the centre.
Dessert · Vegetarian
7.Panettone
Milan's tall, domed Christmas bread, leavened slowly and studded with candied orange and raisins. Bakeries also sell the dove-shaped colomba at Easter.
Where: Historic pastry shops in the centre and Corso Magenta, especially from November to January.
Dish · Vegetarian
8.Gorgonzola
Blue-veined cheese named after a town near Milan, sold creamy (dolce) or crumbly and sharp (piccante), and used in risotto, gnocchi and polenta.
Where: Cheese counters in markets and delicatessens, and on trattoria menus.
Drink · Vegetarian
9.Negroni sbagliato
A 'mistaken' Negroni made with sparkling wine instead of gin, said to have been invented at a Milan bar in the 1970s; served at aperitivo with Campari, sweet vermouth and an orange slice.
Where: Aperitivo bars on the Navigli, in Brera and Porta Venezia.
Drink · Vegetarian
10.Campari spritz and aperitivo
Campari was first produced in Milan in the 19th century. Early-evening aperitivo pairs a bitter drink with snacks, sometimes a full buffet, included in the price of the drink.
Where: Bars around the Navigli, Brera, Corso Como and the historic cafés in the Galleria.
Food experiences
Aperitivo on the Navigli
Between about 6pm and 9pm, canal-side bars serve a drink with snacks or a buffet; it can replace dinner on a budget.
Risotto and ossobuco lunch
Order the classic Milanese pairing at a traditional trattoria for a long weekday lunch.
Mercato Centrale food hall
At Stazione Centrale, a food hall gathers stalls of pizza, pasta, cheese and street food under one roof, convenient before a train.
Pastry shop breakfast
Stand at the counter of a historic pasticceria for a cappuccino and brioche the Milanese way.
Quick bites and street food
- Mondeghili — Osterie and wine bars with traditional menus.
- Panzerotti — Takeaway shops around Piazza del Duomo and in the centre.
Vegetarian options
Of the 10 foods in this guide, 5 are usually vegetarian: Panzerotti, Panettone, Gorgonzola, Negroni sbagliato and Campari spritz and aperitivo. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Coffee at the bar counter costs less than at a table; sitting down, especially near the Duomo, can double the price.
- A coperto (cover charge) per person for bread and service is common and legal; check the menu.
- Lunch usually runs from 12:30pm to 2:30pm and dinner from 7:30pm; many kitchens close in between.
- Many family-run restaurants close for part of August, when Milanese leave for the coast.
- Cappuccino is a breakfast drink; locals order espresso after lunch or dinner.
Tipping
A cover charge is often included, so tipping is optional. Rounding up or leaving a few euros for good service is appreciated.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Buongiorno | Good morning / hello |
| Un caffè, per favore | An espresso, please |
| Il conto, per favore | The bill, please |
| Grazie mille | Thank you very much |
| Permesso | Excuse me (to pass) |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Milan famous for?
Saffron risotto, Breaded veal cutlet, Ossobuco and Mondeghili. Creamy risotto cooked with beef stock, butter, Parmigiano and saffron, giving it a golden colour.
+Is Milan good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Panzerotti, Panettone and Gorgonzola.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Milan?
A cover charge is often included, so tipping is optional. Rounding up or leaving a few euros for good service is appreciated.