The best restaurants to try along the Navigli in Milan
The perfect spots for a memorable meal along Milan's waterways. Ready to discover our selection of the best restaurants in the Navigli district?
The Navigli neighbourhood is one of Milan’s oldest, keeping an old-world charm that thrives alongside lively cocktail bars and restaurants. It is easy to lose yourself in the maze of alleys and canals, lined with art studios, boutiques and bookshops, and just as easy to be tempted by the vast choice of dining spots to try in the Navigli area of Milan.
The Navigli are home to truly special restaurants, catering to every palate with eclectic, stylish cooking. True to the area’s diverse spirit, you will find cosmopolitan world food, classic Italian tables, and creative spots driven by culinary curiosity. Whether you are by the Naviglio Grande or Naviglio Pavese, Flawless has carefully rounded up the best restaurants to try along the Navigli in Milan to rediscover one of the city’s most vibrant neighbourhoods through its food.
Contraste
Via Giuseppe Meda, 2
Just moments from the canals, Contraste is an essential stop, ranking among the finest dining rooms in the area and across Milan. As the name suggests, this Michelin-starred restaurant builds its distinct atmosphere by playing with contrasts. Nothing is quite what it seems, starting with the newly minimalist interiors. The mix of period and contemporary touches feels like stepping into a theatrical setting suspended in time. This philosophy extends to the food, presented across two tasting menus. The acclaimed ‘Riflesso’ menu, whose signature dishes including Donut alla bolognese, Pulp Fiction and Cipolla caramellata earned the restaurant a Michelin star in 2018, is now joined by ‘Riflessioni’: a more conceptual journey forging sensory and intellectual links. A rich, distinctive dinner set within what feels like an elegant private home.
Circolo Canottieri Milano
Alzaia Naviglio Grande, 160
Circolo Canottieri Milano is a historic sports club of genuine pedigree dating back to 1890. Beyond rowing, it hosts swimming, water polo, diving, basketball and tennis, but the real highlight is its stylish clubhouse, now run by Officina Milano. The restaurant is open all day, complete with a romantic winter garden and, in warm weather, an outdoor terrace under the trees. The menu ranges from regional classics like risotto and cotoletta alla milanese to international dishes and Neapolitan pizza, with a generous weekend brunch.
Nebbia
Via Evangelista Torricelli, 15
In just two years, this venue earned serious acclaim thanks to an innovative concept and superb cooking. Both rooms of this restaurant along Naviglio Pavese have a minimalist Nordic charm: white walls, simple wooden chairs and tables, bare tabletops, and expansive windows flooding the space with Milan’s soft light. The menu is as mysterious as the name (‘mist’): dishes are listed simply by their ingredients, leaving diners to imagine the form of each plate. The menu changes as often as Milan’s weather, but you are sure to find a combination that suits your taste whenever you visit.
Erba Brusca
Alzaia Naviglio Pavese, 286
At the far end of Naviglio Pavese, on the border between city and countryside, sits a restaurant built around fresh, honest produce. Its adjoining kitchen garden supplies vegetables for chef Alice Delcourt’s weekly-changing menus. Her couscous is unmissable—she was crowned champion at San Vito Lo Capo on multiple occasions—and any dish featuring sorrel (the ‘erba brusca’ of the name) is worth ordering. The setting is another major draw, especially in summer, when outdoor tables overlook the garden in all its lush greenery.
Ristorante Sadler
Via Ascanio Sforza, 77
Chef Claudio Sadler is a renowned figure on the Milan dining scene, continually surprising guests with inventive dishes shaped by his passion for contemporary art. He describes his food as ‘modern in evolution’, articulated through a curated selection of high-impact courses. His artistic interest carries into the dining rooms, where intimate alcoves feature canvases by contemporary painters in an atmosphere of understated refinement. For a candlelit dinner for two, book the Privè, a private dining nook designed for couples.
Distreat
Via Imperia, 3
Overlooking Naviglio Pavese yet set back from the crowds, Distreat champions Italian cooking with innovative touches, built around seasonal plates paired with a broad wine list. Inside, the dining room is pared back and calm, with large windows taking in the city lights. The outdoor garden is ideal for lunch or a summer aperitivo, catching up with friends over a fine glass of wine in the warmer months.
142 Restaurant
Corso Cristoforo Colombo, 6
The name reflects the idea of enjoying four moments of the day—breakfast, lunch, aperitivo and dinner—across two spaces: dining room and kitchen. That vision prompted maître d’ and sommelier Sandra Ciciriello to launch her venue in the Navigli district. You could easily spend an entire day here, beginning with breakfast pastries made in-house, lingering through lunch, and stopping for a signature aperitivo. Dinner is where the kitchen truly shines, with creative dishes such as Mediterranean amberjack tartare paired with passion-fruit-infused pineapple.
28 Posti
Via Corsico, 1
Chef Marco Ambrosino’s cooking takes centre stage in this venue with an eclectic spirit, where every design detail tells a story. The main room features pieces from the Made in slum exhibition at Triennale di Milano 2013, alongside photographic prints. The restaurant frequently hosts fashion and design events that blend seamlessly with the cosmopolitan food. We recommend the tasting menu to sample the chef’s signature style; it changes every two months to reflect the freshest seasonal ingredients through original pairings and textures.
