Discover our top choices for the best food in Milan, from traditional local dishes to contemporary cuisine. Find out 7 signature dishes of Milan cuisine.

The symbolic images of Milan are fashion runways and the magnificent Duomo Cathedral blending with skyscrapers. However, this vibrant city also offers fantastic culinary adventures, from traditional local Milanese trattoria to modern contemporary restaurants.

Milan cuisine is full of flavors, from creamy risotto to tender ossobuco, crunchy cotoletta and fluffy panettone. The local gastronomy is an excellent blend of traditional recipes and contemporary innovations.

Being the Italian city with the highest number of restaurants with Michelin stars, Milan offers a gastronomic scene that reflects its history, culture, and innovative spirit. Let’s discover the best restaurants in Milan and the best food in Milan to enjoy fully the city vibrant gastronomy.

Top 7 Must-Try Milan Cuisine Dishes. From Traditional Local Dishes to Contemporary Cuisine

1. Risotto alla Milanese

One of the most iconic dishes to try in Milan is Risotto alla Milanese. This creamy risotto is made from rice cultivated along Po Valley, slowly cooked by broth and finally infused with saffron, which gives it a distinctive golden hue color. Risotto alla Milanese is often served as a base for ossobuco (described in below). You can find this iconic combination on the menu of any typical trattoria in Milan. 

2. Ossobuco

Ossobuco is literally translated as “a bone with a hole” in Italian. One of the best things to do in Italy is discovering the treasures & gastronomy secrets that each region and city can offer, and Milan has a lot of them. Ossobuco is a traditional dish originating from the Lombardy region (the capital of which is Milan).

The veal shanks (or as now we all know as ossobuco) is cooked slowly with soffritto (a typical Italian sauce made by frying onion, celery and carrot) until they become meltingly tender. The bone marrow provides additional rich flavor and velvety texture, elevating the dish to something truly special (check one of our favourite recipes here). Typically, ossobuco will be served with gremolata sauce – a zesty mix of lemon, garlic, and parsley to bring some freshness to the final flavor.

3. Cotoletta alla Milanese

No traveler can claim knowing the best food in Milan without trying the iconic Cotoletta alla Milanese. This typical dish is made from a veal cutlet, covered in breadcrumbs and pan-fried until golden brown, creating a satisfying crunch from outside but moist and soft meat inside. The dish is traditionally served with some vegetable or salad such as arugula (rucola / rocket) and cherry tomatoes, providing a fresh contrast to the savory meat. However, nowadays many restaurants also pair it with French fries.

4. Panettone

Panettone is an Italian traditional Christmas breadcake. Originating from Milan, panettone has become the symbol of Christmas not only in Italy, but also in many other cities in the world.  The name panettone itself derives from panetto – meaning a small loaf of bread and afterward, changed from panetto to panettone – meaning large bread.

Panettone has a tall, dome-shaped, gentle sweet flavor and fluffy texture. Candied fruits such as raisins and orange peels are often added to Panettone to bring in extra flavors. Panettone symbolizes the holiday atmosphere in Milan, with local patisseries displaying their top quality panettone on glass windows. During this festive period, it is typical to spot local people in Milan bringing beautifully decorated panettone as Christmas gifts for family and friends, and even high-end fashion companies such as Dolce & Gabbana make a new version of panettone every year.

5. Contemporary Pizza

Among Milan’s gastronomic treasures, pizza is the perfect example of how Milan chefs have brought innovative twists to upscale the traditional Italian culinary. Contemporary pizzas in Milan break free from the classic Margherita to bring in unusual toppings and creative presentation of traditional ingredients from different regions in Italy. Each visit to a pizzeria in Milan is a magic adventure to explore new combinations and be surprised by the chefs’ imagination. Our favorite places in Milan are Marghe, Da Zero & Pizzium.

6. Gorgonzola Cheese

Northern Italian region of Lombardy is the birthplace of Gorgonzola – an iconic blue cheese with global recognition for its unique profile and versatility to combine in various dishes. Gorgonzola is a cow’s milk chesses and it is one of the world’s oldest blue cheeses, dating back even since the Middle Ages.

During the ageing process, metal rods are quickly inserted and removed into the Gorgonzola cheese wheels, creating air channels that allow the mold spores to grow creating the cheese’s characteristic veining. This process can last up to 2-3 months, at a temperature of 7.2°C and 85-95% humidity.

Gorgonzola is primarily divided into 2 main types:

• Gorgonzola Dolce, with creamy texture and mildly sweet

• Gorgonzola Piccante, with sharper and more robust taste and a hint of spiciness

Both types of Gorgonzola are often added to other typical Italian dishes. Especially in Milan restaurants, you can find even risotto and pizza with Gorgonzola.

7. Aperitivo

Aperitivo is actually not a dish, but a lifestyle symbol of Milan and Italy. Historically, aperitivo meant a beverage enjoyed before a meal to stimulate the appetite. Nowadays, it is a pre-dinner ritual that represents the spirit of Milanese social life, where everyone can unwind and connect after a long day. Most bars in Milan offer aperitivo from around 5 PM, including a drink, some snacks & finger food. Most traditional drink for aperitivo in Milan would be Spritz, an Italian wine-based cocktail. 

The journey to explore local cuisine of Milan can be perfectly combined with many activities we can provide for you. Cooking class, gelato tasting, wine & food tasting and a private tour to learn more about the history of this dynamic and multidimensional city.

In another blog article we explained in detail the best museums in Milan. If you would like to explore the best things to do in Milan, check our private tour of Milan with gelato tasting, Duomo & Last Supper with one of our top-rated expert guides that will make your experience informative and entertaining and will help you to discover the most important treasures of the city.