13 Best Restaurants in Milan, Italy

Your main problem at Pavè will be deciding what to order among rows of cakes, tarts, classic Italian brioches (with sweet fillings like cream and jam), and other pastries. When everything is this drool-worthy, your best strategy is to come with friends and share your favorites. The hip café and bakery with floor-to-ceiling windows is a favorite of locals who wait in line for a spot at weekend brunch and lunch. There's a second location, Pavè–Break, at Via della Commenda 25.

The café at this foodie paradise at its original 1883 outpost near the Duomo features Italian specialty foods such as excellent cheeses, charcuterie, vegetables in olive oil, seafood, and sandwiches. It also reinterprets classic dishes like Russian salad and pâté, which can be washed down with a fine selection of wines by the glass or a bottle from its cellar of global labels. You'll also find Peck at City Life near San Siro and in Porta Venezia.

One thing has remained constant in the Galleria: the Camparino, whose inlaid counter, mosaics, and wrought-iron fixtures have been welcoming tired shoppers since 1867. Small plates to be enjoyed with a Campari aperitif are served in pretty Bar di Passo downstairs, while a more extensive range of Campari cocktails paired with food for aperitivo or dinner is available in elegant Sala Spiritello upstairs.

The 15 different types of daily breads along with tarts, croissants, and a decadent selection of other desserts have a French influence at this bakery with sidewalk tables and chairs and a viewing window into the bakers behind the scenes of it all. Grab an easy breakfast, lunch, or aperitif as you soak up the aroma of fresh-baked baguettes.

Dining at LùBar, which was started by three children of Milan fashion designer Luisa Beccaria and which is tucked into the side of the Galleria d’Arte Moderna, feels like eating inside a greenhouse—only with fashionable people among the trees and plants. The cozy, chic environs lend themselves perfectly to nibbling on small plates of modern Sicilian food—for lunch, an afternoon snack, or a light dinner.

Whether you stop for a cappuccino and one of their gigantic brioche (similar to a croissant) filled with jam, cream, or an unconventional salted-caramel for breakfast, an afternoon break with a selection of minicakes, or to eat a quick sandwich, any craving can be satisfied at Marlà—the acronym for the first names of the two owners, Marco Battaglia and Lavinia Franco. Keep in mind that you may not have room for dinner if you stop by this sea green–and-white modern café in the afternoon.

Without traveling across the city, you can try the creations of some of the most well-known food purveyors in Milan. Follow neon signs with sketches of the type of food on offer to pick from standbys such as risotto from Sergio Barzetti and fish from Pescheria Pedol at Milan's version of the concept food hall that's also in Florence, Rome, and Turin. The two-level industrial space with contemporary decor in black, white, red, and graffiti on the ground floor of Milan's central train station is an ideal place to eat a fresh-baked pizza or grab a drink after a long day traveling. For a quieter meal, head upstairs for even more food options and larger tables that are ideal for groups.

This enoteca serves wine by the glass and, in addition to the plates of salumi (Italian cold cuts) and cheese nibbles, has light food and not-so-light desserts. It's a great place for people-watching on Via San Marco, while indoors offers a more dimly lit, romantic setting; check out the impressive vaulted basement, where bottled wines and spirits are sold.

Fun, lively, and usually with a line out the door, this no-frills pizzeria on a side street near the Duomo has just four kinds of thin crust on offer. Choose from margherita, bianca (white, with no tomato, and a seasonal vegetarian topping), marinara (with no mozzarella), and a surprise pizza of the day; all are served hot from a wood-burning oven to satisfy locals and tourists alike. Although you may need to wait, there's often a free glass of prosecco for you while you do. In the summer, sidewalk seating adds to the party vibe.

The seventh floor of this famous Italian department store is a gourmet food market surrounded by several small restaurants that can be a good option for lunch, an aperitivo overlooking the Duomo, or dinner after a long day of shopping. There are several places to eat, including the popular mozzarella bar Obicà, God Save the Food for juices and healthy bowls, and the sophisticated Maio restaurant. A terrace overlooking the Duomo is shared by three locations. You'd best get here early—it's popular, and there are often lines at mealtimes.

Zibo used to wander Milan, serving up unconventional Italian street food but the demand for Giulio Potestà and Alessandro Cattaneo's carbonara ravioli (ravioli filled with black pepper and pecorino Romano fondue and topped with crispy guanciale [beef cheek]), primo sale (fresh Sicilian cheese) croquettes with onion jam, and pastrami sandwiches led Zibo to put down roots. On a side street off Via Caminadella, its "Base Camp" has a takeaway window (convenient for grabbing a bite between sightseeing) as a remnant of this van life. Locals pack into the dozen tables at the narrow restaurant with paper placemats and yellow and sea green accents as if in a cozy home kitchen—reservations are essential on weekends. Along with its street food standbys, seasonally-changing risotto and mains of grilled fish or satisfying grilled or roasted vegetables are paired with a small wine list. For a relaxing finish, pick from 16 digestives based on tasting notes and serving temperatures and a handful of homemade desserts such as the Zibo classic robiola Catalan cream with coffee and licorice reduction topped with almond crisp.

Open since 1907, Bar Magenta maintains its old-school charm with its vintage Campari and Moretti beer posters and its quintessential Milanese clientele. Beyond coffee at all hours, lunch (known especially for lasagna), and beer, the real attraction is its mix of old and new, working-class, trendy, and aristocratic.

This Milan institution opened its doors in 1847, before Italy's Unification, and is the official pastry shop of this traditionally wealthy neighborhood. Have a coffee or a rich hot chocolate in its paneled rooms before facing the crowds in Corso Vercelli.