The best cotoletta in Milan
The essential restaurants to find the best cotoletta in Milan: our definitive guide between tradition and innovation.
Costuleta, Cotoleta or Cotoletta. For many, it is the ultimate comfort food, the dish you ask your grandmother for when you visit on Sunday after a long week. For others, it is a taste of authentic Milanese tradition, handed down through generations and never failing to satisfy. Then there are those who see it as just a breaded cutlet—though frankly, they are missing out. For true connoisseurs and curious food lovers looking for the authentic cotoletta alla milanese—crisp on the outside, tender inside and deeply comforting—here are our top recommendations. From faithful classics to creative twists, scroll down for our pick of the best cotoletta in Milan.
La Costuleta col Manueber at Ratanà
Via Gaetano de Castillia, 28
When talking about the best cotoletta in Milan, Ratanà is impossible to overlook. Not everyone knows this, but many true locals actually prefer the bone-in cutlet to the classic orecchia d’elefante. So if you are looking for a traditional alternative that is just as delicious and substantial (bear in mind: this is not a dish for the faint-hearted), Ratanà’s historic villa in the Garibaldi neighbourhood, right below the futuristic Piazza Gae Aulenti, is the place to go. Here the cotoletta is off-menu and must be ordered 48 hours in advance, because as the owner explains, crafting a proper cotoletta takes time and patience. Take our word for it: their thick, tender cut of Piedmontese veal, fried in mountain alpine butter from Domodossola with a crisp coating scented with pan-fried sage, is well worth the wait.
La coteleta at al Garghet
Via Selvanesco, 36
Picture the scene: a freezing evening, the fog thickening by the minute, and just outside the cold winter rush of Milan, an old farmhouse surrounded by fields where you can warm up by a crackling fireplace. That is the spirit of Al Garghet, born from a simple concept that has become a Milanese institution. Under its soft lighting, amid charming decor and on red-and-white checked placemats, you will enjoy their timeless orecchia d’elefante. An impossibly thin (and remarkably generous) pork loin cutlet served with fresh diced tomatoes, it is truly memorable and undoubtedly among the finest in the city.
The cotoletta at Circolo Canottieri Milano
Alzaia Naviglio Grande, 160
Inside the historic sports club Canottieri Milano lies an unexpected restaurant, surrounded by greenery, featuring an evocative winter garden alongside an Olympic swimming pool, tennis courts, basketball courts and five-a-side football pitches. The menu features regional Italian dishes alongside Neapolitan pizzas and international favourites. Yet the standout dish here is the surprising cotoletta alla milanese, one of the best in Milan: a local classic suited to any season thanks to its crisp, light crumb and a fresh garnish of rocket, cherry tomatoes and shaved Grana Padano.
La Milanese Imbruttita at Consorzio Stoppani
Via Antonio Stoppani, 15
With a pistachio and orange zest crust, roast potatoes and mustard sauce, the Milanese Imbruttita cutlet at Consorzio Stoppani has earned pride of place on our list. The reason is simple: it is not just the tender, juicy cut of pork, the crispy citrus breading, or the stylish touch of the sauce. It is that comforting home-cooked flavour—and the fact that once you start, you cannot stop. Aptly nicknamed ‘Milanese Imbruttita’, even an out-of-town ‘giargiana’ would fall completely in love with it.
La cotoletta di vitello alla Milanese at Osteria Brunello
Corso Garibaldi, 117
In the bustling Moscova neighbourhood, Osteria Brunello, a contemporary Italian osteria, presents its signature dish: ‘la vera cotoletta alla milanese’. It features 230 grams of veal coated in dried and grated sandwich breadcrumbs, fried in clarified butter and served with mixed baby leaves, balsamic vinaigrette and rocket mayonnaise. A masterful balance of tradition and modernity, it pleases even the most exacting palates. In 2015 it was crowned ‘Best Cotoletta’ by Gambero Rosso, and we certainly agree: Osteria Brunello is an essential stop on any food tour of Milan.
La cotoletta sbagliata at anche
Via Carmagnola, 5
One day our butcher called us: ‘I have too many pork chops, can you help me get through them?‘ That is how the famous cotoletta sbagliata at Anche was born. With its crunchy coating and unconventional recipe, it piqued the curiosity of Milanese diners and quickly won their hearts. Alongside the original ‘sbagliata’, you will find several variations, including chicken and a vegetarian version made with aubergine. In short, Anche is a haven for cotoletta lovers that turns accidents into triumphs, because as the owners like to say, Anche was founded on the idea that fear of mistakes should never hold you back. It was created to see a star in a stain—and to prove that a mistake can ALSO be a success.
