10 restaurants in Milan to try this spring and summer
Seafood, tradition, steamed pizzas, inventive concepts, gluten-free dining and raw food: the Milanese addresses not to miss right now
Recent weeks of rain got the better of the warm days we had all hoped for, delaying T-shirts, light summer dresses and sunglasses.
Perhaps driven by that shared longing for summer holidays just around the corner, Milan’s energy never slowed beneath the overcast skies. While spring colours frame evening aperitivos and the hunt for the prettiest outdoor tables is officially open, we explored the city to pick out a few unmissable restaurants to try right now.
From exciting new openings to enduring classics, here is our edit of the places to (re)discover.
Cantina Piemontese
Via Laghetto, 2
Cantina Piemontese is a Milanese benchmark: a dining room steeped in memories, historic furnishings and the scents of old Milan. Elegance sets the tone here, and sustainability is a core commitment reflected both in the decor (featuring reclaimed pieces and artisan craftsmanship) and in the kitchen. The cooking is simple and rooted in regional tradition, using carefully chosen seasonal produce sourced only from environmentally conscious farms. If you are looking for the right spot for lunch or dinner, they have everything needed to delight eye and palate alike, reviving the pleasure of unpretentious flavours alongside a cellar of over 450 wines, nearly all available by the glass. Enjoy it all in the handsome dining room or out on the fairy-tale terrace in full bloom: a quiet, leafy oasis that enchants throughout spring and summer. For a memorable nightcap, look no further than Spazio Tencitt, an exclusive space inside Cantina Piemontese designed for private gatherings or late-night cocktails.
Serica
Viale Bligny, 19/A
A culinary route traced along the Silk Road. Serica creates a futuristic dialogue between Italian cuisine and Chinese gastronomy through the creativity and technique of chef Chang Liu, who crosses borders with unexpected ingredient pairings. Textures, flavours and methods bridge both cultures, bringing together the very best of each tradition. The setting is understated and minimalist, yet punctuated by curious touches such as the ribbon of small lights meandering across the ceiling, pointing a luminous path straight to the East.
Ristorante Quinoa
Viale Beatrice d’Este, 49
Ristorante Quinoa holds firmly onto its title as the city’s first 100% gluten-free restaurant. Born in Florence, it arrived on Milan’s streets in 2018 and quickly won over diners with a menu blending traditional Tuscan cooking and exotic flavours in entirely gluten-free dishes. The goal is cross-contamination-free cooking that never compromises on variety or taste. Set in an intimate, welcoming room reminiscent of a Florentine courtyard, it serves the signature recipes created by chef Simone Bernacchioni.
GU-MI
Via Giuseppe Prina, 2/a
Delicate seafood served as vibrant tacos, sandwiches, burritos, tartares and fish and chips: GU-MI is Milan’s fresh address pairing gourmet standards with an urban street-food spirit, drawing flavours from Europe, Asia and South America. The space is intimate, with just over 20 seats, the vibe is relaxed, and the ethos has a sharp eye on sustainability: all plastics are compostable and takeaway packaging is 100% biodegradable. It is also an ideal stop for an aperitivo.
Fishion
Via Pietro Maroncelli, 15
A fish bar rewriting seafood dining by pairing creative cocktails, savoury dishes and maritime pastry, where you choose the cooking style for your fish while macarons become Calamaron, millefeuille is turned into Milletonni and Sicilian cannoli are reborn as Calannoli Siciliani. Fishion plays with curiosity and tempts the palate. Drop by for dinner or a distinctive aperitivo featuring an ‘Oyster World Tour’, inventive cocktails from the bar and original creations from the chef.
IT Milano
Via Fiori Chiari, 32
Retro style meets a contemporary soul. At IT Milano, vintage design brings the timeless charm of the ’60s back to life throughout the venue. Its three distinct areas offer a complete 360-degree experience of flavour and fun. The bistro has an inviting vibe, perfect for lunch or an evening cocktail, the restaurant pleases both eye and palate, while the lounge is just what you were looking for to host a private dinner or event.
Solo Crudo
Via Vincenzo Viviani, 2
Raw food and gentle cooking define this raw food restaurant, where every plate offers vivid colour, carefully selected ingredients and nutritional benefits. At Solo Crudo, chef Riccardo Rossetti experiments constantly with fresh recipes based on raw-food principles, heating ingredients to no more than 42°C and using precise techniques to retain the nutrients of foods usually cooked. The result is a celebration of pure flavours designed around health and wellbeing.
Clotilde Brera
Piazza San Marco, 6
Domenico Della Salandra leads the kitchen, while the cocktail list comes from Filippo Sisti of TALEA. Balancing tradition and modern technique, the duo treat guests at Clotilde Brera to an experience centred on food and drink pairings: Italian classics and creative recipes meet custom-crafted cocktails. Set in the historic Brera district, its crowning asset is a romantic terrace looking directly out over Piazza San Marco.
