The best Mexican restaurants in Milan
Mexico in Milan: a guide to where to eat authentic Mexican specialities
Joyful, spicy and packed with surprising flavour pairings, Mexican cuisine is among the most sought-after in town. Milan’s dining scene ranges from faithful traditional spots to more intimate venues serving exciting specialities. Over the past few years, the taco trend has exploded: the world’s most famous Mexican street food, once limited to a handful of kitchens, has finally become an everyday staple across the city at affordable prices.
Yet Mexican cooking is about far more than just tacos. From fajitas, nachos, jalapeños and guacamole, the country’s rich spectrum of colours and aromas also reflects a centuries-old tradition of cocktail-making. Take the Paloma, the all-pink Tequila cocktail that, in Espolòn’s version, captures the creative spirit of Mexican culture from the bottle label to the glass. Here is our guide to the best Mexican restaurants in Milan for a flavour-packed escape from the city.
Agua Sancta
Corso Garibaldi, 110
Agua Sancta is a delightful spot in one of Milan’s liveliest nightlife hubs, created by young entrepreneur Fabio Morelli, who acts as manager, owner and bar manager. Joining him are bartender Christian Gazzoni, renowned for his Tequila and Mezcal cocktails, and Mexican chef Juan Alessi. People head to Agua Sancta to taste Mexico through a menu of small bites including tapas, aguachile, tacos, entradas such as guacamole and nachos, and meat and fish tartare to suit any hour and appetite. Many drop in simply for a drink, drawn by a cocktail list featuring signatures, Margaritas and no fewer than 200 labels of Mezcal and Tequila.
Santo Taco
Via Lugi Sabatelli, 1
Mezcal, tequila, Mexican food and music. The venue is not a 360° restaurant, but a taqueria well versed in traditional flavours. Specifically, the main dishes are tacos, tostadas and quesadillas. Taco tortillas are rolled out to order from homemade dough, working reliably well with any filling (pork, grilled beef, chicken with mole). The nachos are also handmade using two different flours, classic corn and black corn. Dishes such as Pescado con pico de gallo, Carnitas and flautas cooked on the griddle, filled and fried, recall the authentic flavours of Mexican street food. Colourful stools and ceramic floors make the venue very welcoming, while the open kitchen lets you watch every step of a technique passed down from generation to generation.
La Parrilla Mexicana
Corso Sempione, 76
The décor, music and vibrant colours transport you straight into an energetic Mexican setting. The house speciality is meat, prepared in a variety of ways. Highlights from the menu include the ‘burritos fritos’ filled with beef, chicken or cheese, and the ‘antojitos fritos’ (traditional savoury fried snacks, featuring fajitas, tacos, drunken or coconut chicken, and pescado alla veracruz), alongside freshly cooked classics. The venue’s Area Eventi hosts entertainment including live music, dancing and shows, while stepping through the twin arches leads to the more intimate ‘reservada’ area for a quieter evening.
Japonito
Piazzale Segrino, 1
Without doubt among the best Mexican restaurants in Milan, but do not let the sign mislead you. Japonito is not a Japanese restaurant, but a concept born from the fusion of two distant lands: Mexico and Japan. The aromas and flavours on offer are the result of culinary cross-pollination between the two cultures. The menu, created by executive chefs David Blanco and Nobuya Niimori, ranges from Fajitas and Tacos (including seafood options) to Mexican-style Uramaki, Tazon, and raw-fish Tartare and Ceviche. The dining room reflects the cooking, bringing together Japanese minimalism and Mexican colour. A luminous white backdrop accented with Mexican motifs is framed by lush exotic plants, while an urban accent comes from a large mural by hyperrealist street artist Neve. The artwork depicts a geisha’s face crowned with deep red roses: essentially a new Frida Kahlo with an even more enigmatic gaze.
