The best spots with outdoor seating in Brera, Milan
Outdoor spots in Brera bring together great food, history and architectural beauty
A bohemian vibe, artist ateliers, small boutiques, cobbled lanes and timeless charm: Brera remains one of the most distinctive and beloved neighbourhoods in Milan. Here, venues with outdoor terraces let you immerse yourself entirely in local life. Whether for a morning coffee, lunch, an aperitivo or dinner, outdoor spots in Brera are the ideal setting to eat and drink in the open air, whatever the mood. Let yourself be won over by their unmistakable charm.
Mandarin Garden
Via Andegari, 9
In the heart of the city, just a short walk from Brera and the Quadrilatero, lies the atmospheric Mandarin Garden, the beating heart of the five-star Mandarin Oriental Milan. A true ‘secret garden’, it welcomes guests into a lush, delightful outdoor terrace bathed in relaxed elegance. Ideal for Sunday brunch or lunch, the menu at Mandarin Garden is devised by two-Michelin-starred chef Antonio Guida, offering Italian and Milanese specialities alongside salads and sandwiches. After sunset, it transforms into one of the city’s most exclusive destinations, backed by an inspired cocktail list and a curated soundtrack that sets the perfect mood.
Bar Bvlgari | Bvlgari Hotel Milano
Via Privata Fratelli Gabba, 7/B
The bar at Hotel Bvlgari is housed in a luxurious villa dating back to the ‘700s (18th century), welcoming both hotel guests and lovers of Milan nightlife with its timeless charm. What strikes you, alongside the impeccable service and menu, is the stunning, quiet garden: a green haven framed by plane trees, wisteria, shrubs, gentle terraces, wicker chairs, lamps and sofas, ideal for escaping the daily rush. Whether you choose it for brunch, lunch, afternoon tea (a delightful experience curated by chef Niko Romito that feels straight out of Bridgerton) or an aperitivo, you are guaranteed a memorable visit.
IT Maison
Via Tommaso da Cazzaniga, 2
In Brera, IT Maison is an all-day address inside the VMaison Boutique Hotel, particularly tempting in warmer months for its outdoor space. The secluded private garden feels like a natural extension of the dining room, with open-air tables, neat greenery and an atmosphere that stays intimate despite the central location. It is an airy retreat for morning coffee with sweet or savoury bites, a light lunch, an aperitivo or dinner outside, giving you the feeling of being miles away while right in Brera.
Locanda Perbellini
Via della Moscova, 25
Locanda Perbellini is an elegant, understated restaurant on Via Moscova with a small street-side terrace. It forms just one piece of the global culinary world shaped by multi-starred chef Giancarlo Perbellini. The kitchen balances tradition and innovation without fuss, paying close attention to where ingredients come from. Milanese classics sit at the heart of the menu, often revisited, such as saffron risotto with chanterelles and chive goat’s cheese, or the Milanese veal cutlet breaded with bean flour, crisp crumbs and confit tomato mayonnaise.
Clotilde Brera
Piazza San Marco, 6
No guide to Brera’s outdoor spots would be complete without the magical terrace at Clotilde Brera: leafy, candlelit and strung with fairy lights, overlooking the church of San Marco, lovely by day and truly atmospheric after dark. The interior is just as striking, blending vintage and contemporary furnishings with an effortless retro charm. The seasonal menu comes from chef Domenico Della Salandra, who sources top ingredients to rework traditional Milanese dishes with a modern touch. It is also an ideal setting for a romantic aperitivo, with classic cocktails refreshed by creative twists.
Vesta Fiori Chiari
Via Fiori Chiari, 1/A
Vesta Fiori Chiari is a relatively recent arrival that has established itself as a temple of Mediterranean dining and fashionable lifestyle in the heart of Brera. Vesta’s magnetic aesthetic stands out for its contemporary design, where indoor and outdoor spaces interact seamlessly. It is the work of Stefano Belingardi, a young Milanese architect who gave his city a venue with an entrance terrace set upon an imposing travertine staircase, looking right onto via Fiori Chiari. The menu, centred predominantly on seafood, is curated by Executive Chef Giorgio Bresciani and focuses on fresh, creative fish dishes, highlighted by an extensive selection of raw preparations.
La Briciola
Via Marsala, 2
Founded over 40 years ago, La Briciola remains a beloved Milanese rendezvous for good food and lively company, holding onto its warm and pleasantly vibrant spirit. The recently renovated outdoor terrace mirrors the dining room inside: fairy lights, jasmine plants and a view over the junction of Via Solferino and Via San Marco make it cosy and full of character. The menu pays tribute to Mediterranean and Lombard cooking with creative flair, using prime seasonal produce: highlights include grilled meats, fresh fish and homemade desserts.
Associazione Salumi e Vini Naturali
Corso Garibaldi, 41
The standout feature of this spot just moments from Brera is undoubtedly its unique courtyard garden, framed by the overgrown ruins of a building destroyed during the Second World War. This popular outdoor area is almost always booked up, but do not despair: there are also tables out front on Corso Garibaldi. While less secluded, they still give you full access to an impressive cellar of natural wines (over 600 labels, many by the glass) paired with artisanal cured meat and cheese boards, focaccia and hot dishes.
N’Ombra de Vin
Via San Marco, 2
A wine bar serving by the glass, built on the remains of a ‘500s (16th-century) Augustinian refectory beside the Basilica di San Marco, keeping its vaulted ceiling, stone floors, masonry walls and columns intact. The outdoor terrace is compact, but from aperitivo onwards, crowds of all ages gather on the pavement outside to sample the exceptional selection of labels from boutique and established producers, chat and people-watch. One of the most iconic venues with outdoor seating in Brera, it has reigned for decades as the place to see and be seen, and naturally, to enjoy a fine glass of wine.
La Libera
Via Palermo, 21
Serving since the early 1900s, this characterful venue offers regional meat and fish dishes on a seasonal menu attentive to sourcing, alongside several historic house specialities, not least the cotoletta alla milanese and risotto al salto. The current owners renovated the space while preserving the original bar counter and aged wooden panelling, keeping the old-Milan spirit intact. The display cabinets were rescued from an antique grocer’s shop, creating an ambience close to a French bistro, which extends naturally onto the generous outdoor terrace fringed with greenery on Via Palermo.
