The best restaurants in the Cinque Giornate area of Milan
Quality dining steps from Piazza Cinque Giornate: the addresses not to miss
Just minutes from the heart of Milan, Piazza Cinque Giornate is one of the nerve centres of city life: lively, busy and constantly on the move, positioned along the ring road encircling the centre. Whether for a lunch break away from office deadlines or an elegant business dinner, we have rounded up the top dining spots within the vibrant triangle formed by Risorgimento, San Babila and Guastalla—welcome refuges where you can unwind over delicious Mexican quesadillas or comforting plates of Piedmontese tagliolini with truffles.
Starting from the square itself, we explore the varied flavours this part of town has to offer. Get ready for a sensory ride through Marrakech, a lively Mexican fiesta or a masterclass in Italy’s most iconic culinary traditions—all at the best restaurants in the Cinque Giornate area of Milan.
L’Alchimia
Viale Permuda, 34
At L’Alchimia, guests are taken pleasantly by surprise. The dining room feels refined, with quilted beige velvet seating and exposed ceiling beams blending into a warm, comfortable setting. The restaurant’s concept stems from a seamless dialogue between dining room and kitchen conceived by Alberto Tasinato, Giuseppe Postorino, Valerio Trentani and Ilario Perrot—owner, chef, manager and sommelier respectively. It pairs high-calibre cooking with exceptional wine expertise. Here, prawn tartare poses as a pizza margherita, while porcini risotto meets a seared scallop from the sea. All that is left is to book a table and discover its inventive culinary approach.
Bianca Maria Restaurant
Viale Bianca Maria, 4
Set inside the four-star Bianca Maria Palace, the restaurant is another highlight of the appealing ’40s design showcased by the luxury hotel at number 4 Viale Bianca Maria. The venue is a cool-toned haven of peace, a relaxing space featuring an indoor dining room, a lounge bar and two charming outdoor spaces ideal for enjoying the restaurant’s gourmet cooking in the warmer months. As for the food, chef Edoardo Lorenzetti’s distinctly Mediterranean menu stands out, balancing Milanese tradition with regional influences from northern and southern Italy to offer dishes full of character, while sparking curiosity with creative twists on classic recipes. Between signature dishes such as the veal cotoletta with chips and Worcester mayonnaise and plates fragrant with Eastern spices, the team at Bianca Maria Restaurant will treat you to a dining experience worthy of its four stars.
Riad Yacout
Via Cadore, 25
Riad Yacout is a sumptuous Moroccan restaurant close to Piazza Cinque Giornate, transporting diners straight to the striking architecture of Casablanca and the mosaic-lined streets of Rabat. This colourful setting entertains guests not only with traditional Moroccan and Maghrebi food, but also with live music and traditional dance performances. The menu weaves between North African tradition and Italian touches, sharing fresh Mediterranean produce across both. Do not leave without trying the raw seafood mosaic with wasabi and spiced salt, the harira soup with dates, lime and chebaquia, and the lamb couscous with spiced vegetables—dishes rich in flavour to please discerning diners.
Da Giacomo
Via Pasquale Sottocorno, 6
Do not be misled by the trattoria-style entrance; the reason becomes clear as soon as you step inside. Da Giacomo charms you from the first moment with high ceilings, sage-green walls accented with neoclassical mouldings, ochre tones and crisp white tablecloths across its varied rooms, which also include an elegant literary bistrot. ‘God sent food, but the devil sent cooks’ is an old saying the team likes to recall, so give in to temptation with their menu: a selection of seafood specialities that ranges from scallops alla carmagnola to teriyaki-glazed turbot with chicory, oranges and Toritto almonds.
Gong
Corso Concordia, 8
‘Haute Chinese cuisine with a creative soul’: that is the vision of Gong on Corso Concordia. One glance at the dining room is enough to transport you: warm gold tones, soft lighting and minimalist furniture in black and brown shades. Gong embraces hospitality with complete devotion to the guest; once seated, you can simply relax and enjoy the service. The kitchen highlights authentic flavours alongside meticulous presentation, reflected in signature dishes like the golden dim sum, Wagyu dim sum and Peking duck—a delicacy once reserved for emperors, served here with refined flair.
Saigon
Via Archimede, 14
Palms, dark wood and period artwork on the walls: at Saigon, you might easily believe you have stepped into a Vietnamese pagoda in central Milan. Part of the Luca Guelfi group, the venue combines a restaurant and cocktail bar, serving flavours inspired by Hanoi and its countryside alongside signature cocktails that give classic recipes an Eastern twist. Cha Gio, Goi Cuon, Tom Do, Pho Bo and Bo Luc Lac are among the traditional dishes on offer; if these are unfamiliar, the menu descriptions and helpful floor team will guide your choices. Expect vegetarian, seafood or meat rice-paper rolls, citrus shellfish tartare, noodles and wok-fried beef.
Mezè
Via Pasquale Sottocorno, 19
Àhlan wa sàhlan! Welcome to Mezè, a traditional Lebanese restaurant close to Piazza Cinque Giornate. Contemporary yet inviting, Mezè introduces diners to the rich flavours of Middle Eastern cuisine. Sunlight floods in through wide windows, while patterned plates and lamps evoke a lively Beirut market. In plain view sits the saj, the domed metal griddle used to bake fresh flatbread, lending the room a warm and communal feel. ‘Mezè’ means small dishes, and here they arrive generously on silver platters made for sharing. Highlights include leban eèmou (veal shank with rice, yogurt, onion and mint), falafel (crispy chickpea and broad-bean fritters), makanek (spiced sausages with pomegranate molasses and pine nuts) and fattouch (traditional salad with crispy flatbread and sumac).
