Where to have lunch around the Navigli in Milan
Whether you are after a quick bite or something more substantial, the Navigli never disappoints when it comes to food
The Naviglio Grande area in Milan is undoubtedly one of the city’s most charming and atmospheric corners, packed with vibrant life and history. If you are looking for somewhere to stop for lunch, you will be spoilt for choice, though sorting through the options—some of which, let’s be honest, lean rather touristy—is not always simple. That is where we step in, picking out spots serving traditional Italian cooking, fusion dishes, street food and international flavours. Here are some of the best restaurants for lunch in and around the Navigli.
Circolo Canottieri Milano
Alzaia Naviglio Grande, 160
If you want (or need) to have lunch in the Navigli but have had your fill of traffic, chatter and crowds, we have the ideal retreat: Circolo Canottieri Milano is a peaceful haven tucked inside Canottieri Milano, an historic sports club where rowing sits alongside swimming, water polo, diving, basketball and tennis. Run by Officina Milano, this restaurant and cocktail bar is also open to non-members, offering breakfast, lunch and dinner, a romantic winter garden and a generous outdoor space where you can take a break among palms, olive trees and tropical greenery. The cooking is regional with a few international touches, serving staples like cotoletta alla milanese, pizza napoletana and Sunday brunch.
Belé
Via Angelo Fumagalli, 3
If you fancy treating yourself to a proper midday meal rather than a hasty sandwich, in a refined yet welcoming setting, Belé is the right spot. Tucked into a side street just back from the waters of Naviglio Grande, head chef Giulia Ferrara leads a kitchen dedicated to quality ingredients, turning out dishes rooted in seasonal produce with a careful balance between experimentation and tradition, memory and contemporary ideas. In warmer weather, the outdoor terrace is ideal for lingering over lunch.
Iter
Via Mario Fusetti, 1
Born out of a passion for travel and discovery shared by the Farmily founders, Iter takes diners around the world without ever leaving the banks of the canal. It is a comfortable lounge where you can unwind for a couple of quiet hours over a drink or a well-crafted plate. Open from 8am until late at night, this culinary hub features a small but flavour-packed kitchen constantly open to global culinary influences. And if you are lucky enough not to have to rush back to the office, staying for one of their exceptional cocktails is an easy decision.
L’Altro Luca e Andrea
Alzaia Naviglio Grande, 24
This classic Milanese osteria, with outdoor tables looking out over Naviglio Grande just steps from Vicolo dei Lavandai, lets you lunch right on the water. Opened in 2010 as a spin-off from neighbouring restaurant Luca e Andrea, it is one of the few places in the area open all day. The menu draws on local produce to showcase the best of Milanese culinary tradition, alongside modern notes and incursions into other Italian regional cuisines: from cured meat boards and burrata di Andria to first courses starring risotto alla milanese, Mediterranean pasta options, and mains such as the classic ossobuco di vitello with saffron risotto or the orecchia di Elefante.
Poormanger
Via Vigevano, 10
Take a classic British jacket potato and stuff it with top-notch Italian produce—salsiccia di Bra, anchovies with bagnetto verde, cured meats, vegetables, sauces, cheeses and fish. That was the thinking behind Poormanger, a concept founded in Turin and later brought to Milan. The Via Vigevano branch is spot-on for a delicious, light and fully customisable lunch: there are dozens of topping combinations for the slow-baked potatoes, cooked in a dedicated oven to ensure soft interiors and crisp, flavourful skins (which you definitely eat).
Le Vigne
Ripa di Porta Ticinese, 61
Le Vigne stands out for its unhurried atmosphere, providing a calm sanctuary away from the bustling Naviglio Grande. The warm, familiar dining room recalls traditional local trattorias, serving as the backdrop to an accomplished menu focused on Milanese classics: expect risotto and cotoletta alla milanese, mondeghili and ossobuco, alongside fresh homemade pasta, fish and vegetarian plates. The cheese trolley deserves special mention, boasting around 70 Italian and French varieties, supported by an impressive wine list featuring unusual labels.
Crocca
Via Vigevano, 29
Is pizza too heavy for lunch? Perhaps, but not at Crocca. Crumbly, ultra-light and easy to digest, their style bridges Roman thin-crust crunch with Lombard lightness, finished with high-calibre toppings. It makes for an enjoyable midday meal that leaves you energised rather than ready for a nap. The menu features timeless picks such as the Diavola and Capricciosa alongside inventive pairings like Polpette e Melanzane and plant-based options. To start, order a Scrocchiarella: a white base packed with fillings like Calabrian spianata and caciocavallo, sautéed friarielli, or pistachio mortadella and Grana Padano DOP, sliced for sharing.
Testone
Via Vigevano, 3
The star here is the traditional Umbrian torta al testo, which resembles focaccia but is an unleavened flatbread baked on a cast-iron griddle known as a testo. Made without fat or yeast, it is wonderfully light and perfect on the move, though you can just as easily sit down at a table. It can be stuffed in numerous ways: traditional sausage and greens, summery combinations of rocket and stracchino or prosciutto and mozzarella, plus vegetarian options. You can also sample central Italian specialities including lamb, sausages, coratella, pappa al pomodoro, panzanella and burgers.
El Brellin
Vicolo Privato Lavandai
El Brellin is a romantic restaurant that suits candlelit dinners just as well as a relaxed lunch overlooking the canal and the historic washhouses used by Milanese washerwomen until the 20th century. It offers classic Italian dishes in an 18th-century setting of open fireplaces and coffered ceilings, wrapped in a welcoming ambience. The menu highlights Lombard staples including risotto alla milanese, cotoletta and ossobuco, along with Mediterranean recipes and modern creations like soft egg on asparagus cream with aged Grana Padano and savoury biscuit. A quintessential Old Milan address.
Bussarakham
Via Valenza, 13
Flying the flag for international cooking along the Navigli is Bussarakham, which takes its name from the Thai for precious gem. As one of Milan’s most established Thai restaurants, it whisks diners away to Bangkok with industrial picture windows, patterned seating, warm dark wood and moody lighting. The culinary experience is just as striking: the kitchen highlights authentic Thai dining culture through shared small plates served all at once. For an easy win, choose their pad thai—stir-fried rice noodles available vegetarian, with chicken or with prawns—for a satisfying lunch packed with punchy flavours.
