10 world cuisines to try in Milan
Around the world in eighty paces: the finest ethnic dining in Milan
Picture this: the rhythmic lapping of waves on the shore, the scent of sea salt on stilt houses and the chants of Vietnamese fishermen floating through the air as you bite into a crisp spring roll packed with sautéed vegetables. Or the warmth of the sun on your skin, the strum of a guitar and the sirocco wind whistling past the whitewashed and blue-domed houses of a Greek island village, paired with creamy tzatziki scooped up with chips and falafel. It would be a dream to teleport to a different country each day, discovering bold, unusual flavours and treating our taste buds to an authentic thrill, at least once in a while.
‘If the mountain won’t come to Muhammad, Muhammad must go to the mountain’… or the other way round? Either way, at Flawless, the mountain comes to us. In Milan, there is no need to board a flight across the globe to enjoy an authentic Colombian asado or a cone of flaky Uzbek somsa. In Italy’s most cosmopolitan city, world flavours make their presence felt, filling the streets with enticing aromas. Bring your curiosity and discover 10 world cuisines to try in Milan for a genuinely flavourful journey.
Mitù
Via Antonio Pollaiuolo, 3
Mitù takes its name from the gateway town to the Amazon rainforest, a fitting title for the first restaurant in Milan to elevate Colombian cooking to a fine-dining experience. The dining room, with exposed brickwork and lush greenery evoking tropical nature, frames the vision of chef Alvaro Clavijo. Here, the Colombian spirit is celebrated through authentic ingredients and contemporary techniques. Dishes deliver bold colours and deep flavours, taking you from the Andean peaks to the heart of the Amazon. Mitù also features an exclusive emporium of local crafts. It is an address worth returning to again and again to explore Colombia’s gourmet side.
Salmon Guru Milano
Via Ezio Biondi, 4
For an adventurous detour on the Milanese scene, Salmon Guru Milano serves food that travels just as far as its cocktails: thoughtful tapas, international influences and sharing plates sit alongside inventive mixology in a dramatic, energetic setting. With themed evenings like Spaghetti Wednesday and the Guru’s Kitchen series welcoming guest chefs, dinner becomes a fluid experience that shifts pace and geography with every visit, backed by top-quality produce and a flair for entertainment.
Mezè
Via Pasquale Sottocorno, 19
A warm, minimalist, and elegant setting defines Mezè, the Milanese restaurant serving authentic Lebanese cuisine beneath intricate patterns cast by hanging lanterns. ‘Meze’ means starters in Arabic, and sharing small plates is how the owners showcase the convivial spirit of Lebanese culture. The dishes take diners straight to Beirut and beyond: from aadas bhamod, a lentil soup typical of Lebanon’s mountain regions, to makanek, spiced sausages glazed with pomegranate molasses and pine nuts, these are gourmet delicacies not to be missed.
Okja
Viale Gorizia, 8
Okja is a tiny Korean street food joint near the Darsena, a compact pink room serving genuine Korean home cooking. Fluffy bao buns stuffed with pork, beef or chicken sit alongside egg rolls—the rolled omelettes shared with Japanese cooking and familiar from animated bento boxes—and a host of dishes including noodles, rice cakes and comforting soups. The depth of the menu is remarkable given the venue’s pocket-sized footprint, recalling the generous warmth of a family kitchen.
Uzbek
Via Carlo Farini, 38
Step into an Arabian Nights setting at Uzbek, Milan’s first and only Uzbek restaurant. Beyond the front door, Uzbekistan reveals itself through electric blue walls, crisp white tableware and glossy green plants, echoing the three colours of the national flag. Run by the Khan-Tsoy family with deep respect for their homeland’s heritage, the cooking also weaves in fascinating culinary influences from Russia, Korea and Georgia, creating an exciting palette for Mediterranean palates. Be sure to order the handmade dumplings or the piping hot, spiced soups.
Pintxo
Via Losanna, 36
Pintxo is a sister venue to popular local spot Albufera. Located in the Cenisio neighbourhood, this bistro brings the Basque Country to Milan: spontaneity and sharing underpin the concept, driven by a passion for good food, stellar produce and bold flavours. The sharing dishes pair naturally with cocktails, a curated list of Spanish wines and Alhambra beer. Brazilian chef Mateus Ávila Lobo Coelho and his wife Alice Paglia pour years of travel and a deep love for Iberian culinary traditions into every plate.
Warsà
Via Melzo, 16
With colourful woven baskets, tribal masks and a dining room reminiscent of carved rock, Warsà is a distinctive Eritrean restaurant in Porta Venezia. If you want a taste of Eritrea’s sun-drenched landscapes and salt-lake steppes, this is the place to order zighinì and injera: the spicy stew of beef, chicken or vegetables served atop traditional flatbread. Other house highlights include crispy fried samosas and sweet, nutty halawa.
Vasiliki Kouzina
Via Clusone, 6
Not far from Porta Romana, Vasiliki Kouzina brings a generous dose of Greek sunshine to Milan with traditional Greek cuisine reimagined with a modern twist. Here, classic Hellenic comfort food gets an evening makeover, served on elegant matte white ceramics—including a standout moussaka, layered with the comforting indulgence of a cross between lasagne and parmigiana. Inside, subtle neo-industrial accents and vibrant red walls nod to Milan’s design spirit while matching the warmth of the Aegean coast.
Cittamani
Piazza Carlo Mirabello, 5
Mirrors, theatrical wall lamps and decorative vases evoke the bustling energy of New Delhi’s vibrant markets, blending Indian warmth with Italian elegance. At Cittamani, the Indian cuisine of chef Ritu Dalmia is refined, fragrant and beautifully presented. Highlights include tikka of marinated salmon with Bengali mustard, patrani—steamed fish parcels wrapped in banana leaves—and soothing masala chai, spiced black tea brewed to perfection. All that remains is deciding when to book.
Bussarakham
Via Valenza, 13
A true precious gem (as its name translates), set among the cobbles of the Naviglio Grande along the Alzaia, Bussarakham serves some of the finest Thai cooking in Milan. The interiors impress with expansive industrial-style glazing, geometric seating and hanging chandeliers casting mandala-like patterns across the room. The restaurant’s atmosphere is captivating, and the food lives up to it: from the sharp, herbaceous notes of the north to the fiery heat of the south, the chefs recreate the convivial tradition of a Thai meal, where multiple dishes arrive at once for everyone to share.
