17 Marvelous Things to Eat in Milan: Food & Drinks Not to Miss!

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Last Updated on: 26th March 2022, 12:37 am

Headed to Italy and wondering what to eat in Milan?

You might think you know Italian food, but that doesn’t mean you’re familiar with the Milan food scene, since the cuisine of Lombardy is quite different than what is popular in Rome or Sorrento.

So bookmark this post so that you know exactly what to order in Milan once you’re here!

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What to Eat in Milan: Food and Drinks You Need to Try!

My Favorite Travel Booking Sites for 2023

These are my favorite companies that I use on my own travels.

Protect Your Trip via Safety Wing

Find the best city tours, day tours, bus tours, & skip-the-line tickets on GetYourGuide and Viator.

Find the best deals on hotels & vacation rentals on Booking.com.

For English-speaking private airport transfers, book through Welcome Pickups.

For road trips and independent travel, rent a car through Discover Cars.

Find information and cruise reviews on Cruise Critic.

For packing and travel essentials order via Amazon.

Book an affordable family or romantic photography session on your trip through Flytographer (Use the code HISTORYFANGIRL for 10% off your first photoshoot).

For travel guidebooks to have with you during your trip, I always pick one or two from Rick Steves and Lonely Planet.

The Top 6 Most Popular Milan Tours & Attractions

Before you dig into all the city has to offer, you should know that these are the most popular guided tours, attractions, day trips, and skip-the-line tickets in Milan.

Milan Cathedral and Rooftop Ticket or Skip-the-Line Version

Milan Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour: 72, 48-Hour or 1 Day Ticket

Lake Como, Bellagio and Varenna: Full-Day Tour from Milan

Leonardo3 – The World of Leonardo Museum Entrance Ticket

Milan: La Scala Theatre and Museum Skip-the-line Ticket

Milan: Private Vacation Photo Session

An Introduction to Traditional Milanese Food & Drinks

You might think you know Italian food, but when you get to Milan expect that traditional Milanese cuisine will look very different from what you have back home in the Olive Garden.

See also
17 Magical Things to Do in Milan in Winter for an Italian Winter Escape

People from Milan (and in all Lombardy) live far from the Mediterranean.

Thus, traditional Milan food and drinks are not what you might be expecting. Instead, the best things to eat in Milan look more like what you find in Switzerland, Germany, and Austria. 

In the north of Italy, there are not the same tomatoes, olive oil, or fresh herbs like in the south or in other Mediterranean countries like Greece.

Pasta is also not an important part of Milanese cuisine. Everything is quite heavy, with fewer fresh vegetables. Instead, you’ll find rich sauces, butter, mushrooms, meat, stews, rice.

The diet is very rich, consistent, hearty, and specially designed to combat the humid and foggy winters, snow, cold weather and cloudy days.

Milanese dishes heat you from within, as they say. Milan cuisine is full of heavy food that goes with rich red wines high in tannins. Barolo and Barbaresco are both great options.

What to Eat in Milan: Food & Drinks You Need to Try!

See how many of these Milan dishes you can try while you’re here!

Risotto alla Milanese

USA - Italy - risotto with spices in a white plate. ingredients for risotto Milanese recipe rice, cheese, green onions, turmeric spices. top view on a gray background delivery from the restaurant to order.

The list couldn’t start with any other recipe. Risotto alla Milanese (and the many different variations of risotto) is a classic of the Lombardy region and a staple dish in Milan.

Rice is used in many local dishes, getting the same status that pasta has in other regions of Italy. The main ingredient in an authentic risotto alla Milanese is the expensive and delicate saffron, which gives the dish a characteristic and inviting bright yellow tint and unique flavor.

The dish is creamy and one of the most beloved starters that Milanese people choose when serving a three-meal course. On many occasions, it is also served as on its own.

A beloved variety in Milan is the risotto ai funghi. An equally rich and creamy dish, lacking saffron but a distinct earthy flavor given by the different varieties of local mushrooms used to prepare the dish.

See also
17 Hidden Gems in Milan

In this recipe, the star is fungo porcino, a favorite mushroom variety in the Lombardy region.

Cotoletta alla Milanese

Italy - Milan - Fried beef cutlets with fresh salad, cotoletta alla milanese, typical food from Milano, Italy

The second on the list of Milan’s most consumed meals is definitely the Cotoletta Alla Milanese, which — even if you might think it — don’t you dare tell a Milanese it looks like a schnitzel. They will most likely be offended!

The cotoletta is made with veal and the bone is not cut out but also fried adding a decorative touch to the final result.

The piece of meat is breaded and then fried, rigorously in butter, never in oil. Butter gives the meat a fragrant flavor, a unique aroma, resulting in a very tender delicacy.

Some restaurants prepare a version without a bone, but so big that barely fits the plate, it’s called orecchio d’elefante (elephant’s ear) and it’s simply delicious.

Polenta

Italy - Milan - Typical polenta of Lombardy with tomato and meat, selective focus

As we have said earlier, pasta is not as popular in Northern Italy as it is in the rest of the country, so rice and potatoes often provide that those of starch that cold winters require. Another popular start in Lombardy is polenta, which is a  regional favorite.

Polenta is cornmeal and it can be prepared in a thousand different ways, as soft as a paste or as hard as a block, which is later on cut and fried or even baked.

Polenta can be paired with mushrooms, with minced meat and tomato sauce, and with gorgonzola dolce, a local and more creamy variety of blue cheese.

Gorgonzola

Italian food, buttery or firm blue cheese made from cow milk in Gorgonzola, Milan, Italy close up

This is a local cheese that is produced in two different versions, the spicy and stronger one, called Gorgonzola piccante or mountain Gorgonzola (usually aged) and the version that’s creamier, less pungent, and ideal to add to hot risotto or polenta, known as Gorgonzola dolce.

Gorgonzola is a DOP product meaning that it can only be produced in the areas of the Milan region, especially in the town named… Gorgonzola!

See also
How to take a Lake Como Day Trip from Milan

Gorgonzola is one of the four different varieties of cheese that top the Pizza ai quattro formaggi (pizza with four kinds of cheese) and many locals love to eat it together with green apples.

Ossobucco with Gremolata (Pair with Barolo or Barbaresco wines)

Italy - Milan - Photo of ossobuco, traditional Italian dish, served with risotto alla milanese, saffron rice, and gremolata, shot from above on rustic texture with glass of red wine, fork and knife, and copy space

Another dish usually served in the cold Milanese winters is ossobucco.

Ossobucco literally means a hole in the bone, therefore the dish is given its typical substance by the marrow which adds consistency, creaminess, and texture to the dish.

The bone is simmered for long hours in a casserole, often with ref wine or broth and three basic vegetable that you will encounter in every Italian sauce: Carrot, onion, and celery.

Ossobucco is often placed on top of steaming hot polenta and garnished with what locals call gremolata, a combination of parsley, lemon, and garlic that adds a little touch of freshness to the rich dish.

Cassoeula

Italy - Milan - Top view of Cassoeula cassola pork meat in a casserole

Usually known as a poor man’s dish, the name comes from the Lombardy dialect and it indicates a typical dish in Milan.

The rustic stew is very spartan when it comes to ingredients, simply pork and cabbage. It’s a common dish to have in winter, and it’s best known for its strong fragrance and flavor.

Barbajada

Italy - Milan - Young friends toasting coffee and doing breakfast in bar bakery shop - Happy hipster people drinking cappuccino and eating muffins - Friendship concept - Focus on center girl - Warm filter

One of the most traditional drinks that is sadly being lost in Milan is Barbagliata or Barbajada. The drink is mainly made with whipped chocolate, coffee, and milk, all of them in similar proportions, usually adding sugar and some whipped cream on top to finish it.

It goes extremely well with pastries and seasonal dishes such as Panettone or Easter Colomba and it’s served warm or cold in summer.

Aperitivo Milanese

Spritz aperol cocktail drink in Milan overlooking Piazza Duomo in Milan, Italy

Although this is not a dish in itself, the Milanese Happy Hour, known in Italian as Aperitivo, is one of the most beloved traditions that local share a few hours before dinner.

See also
27 Seriously Instagrammable Places in Milan: Photo Spots You'll Love!

It’s very common for co-workers to gather after the office hours, or for friends to specially meet before dinner to share a drink of their choice, wine or Prosecco are good choices, and also enjoy different dishes with small bites.

Usually, when you pay for the drink, you have automatic access to the Aperitivo buffet table and you can help yourself as much as you want.

Usually salads, slices of pizza, olives, and other small bites can be found in the traditional Aperitivo Milanese.

Panettone

Traditional Italian Christmas fruit cake Panettone Pandoro with festive red ribbon and Christmas decorations, gift box and mulled wine, on wooden home background, copy space

Panettone is a classic Christmas dish that was first created in Milan, and the actual translation of the name means “big bread.”

This, because it’s considered a festive bread eaten on one of the most special days of the year.

Panettone is sweet, but not too sweet, and the dough is enriched with candied orange, nuts, citron, as well as raisins, which are added dry.

Panettone also incorporates different aromas, including orange, lemon zest, and clove.

Pasta alla Crudaiola

Italy - Milan - Pasta alla Crudaiola

Although pasta is not the main starch source in Milan, it is indeed consumed and alla Crudaiola is one authentic Milanese way to serve it.

Crudaiola could be translated as “raw style,” so this pasta only includes fresh elements that are not cooked, but simply added on top of your pasta dish.

They usually are fior di latte (fresh cheese), small tomatoes, Parmesan cheese flakes, and cured prosciutto. It’s a very common way to serve pasta in the summer period.

Michetta pane e salame

Italy - Milan - Salami Sandwich, Italian Food

Known as stadium food, this simple dish is basically a sandwich made with fresh bread (known as the michetta) and a few slices of Milanese salami.

Despite its simplicity, it’s a delicious treat that could even replace a meal if you just want to grab a bite on the go.

Negroni sbagliato

Italy - Milan - Negroni coctail standing on the table close up

Another drink you should order when having an Aperitivo, if you don’t really enjoy wine or Prosecco, is a Negroni.

See also
33 Fabulous Things to Do in Florence: Sites to See & Best Activities in Florence, Italy

But in Milan, the favorite way to have a Negroni is not by respecting the original recipe, but by asking for a Negroni Sbagliato, usually translated as Broken Negroni although the actual meaning is Wrong Negroni.

The name comes from the fact that the original Negroni drink is fixed using Campari, a typically Italian bitter liqueur, sweet vermouth,  and gin.

The Negroni Sbagliato version uses sparkling wine instead of gin.

Manzo all’olio

Italy - Milan - Italian cuisine - top view of Manzo all'Olio (beef stew in oil sauce) with polenta on white plate in local restaurant in Lombardy

Not exactly Milanese, but more common in Bergamo, it’s still a beloved dish in the Milanese gastronomy tradition.

Manzo is the Italian term for beef, so this is basically a dish made of meat with only two more ingredients, anchovies and olive oil.

A legendary dish combining sea and land products, it has a punchy but tasty flavor and it is usually served with polenta or boiled potatoes.

Panzerotti pugliesi

Italy - Milan - Homemade panzerotti - southern italian fried turnover. With mozzarella and mortadella filling.

Panzerotti are not really Milanese, but they’re still a popular Milan snack. And Milan is considered one of the best places where you can try Italy’s highest-quality panzerotti.

Just head to Luini Panzerotti, meters away from the Duomo Cathedral and be ready to wait in line for a freshly cooked crescent-shaped pastry filled with any ingredient you love.

From mozzarella to ham, vegetables, mushrooms, chicken, and even Nutella!

Colomba pasquale

Italy - Milan - Colomba - italian easter dove cake on old rustic grey board. Selective focus, free text space.

The same way Milanese people enjoy Panettone during the Christmas season, the Colomba (in English, dove), is a typical sweet, pretty similar to Panettone, eaten or given as a present during the Easter season.

Instead of having several different types of fruit, it’s usually covered with almonds or orange peel, but never raisins.

The best part of the dove-shaped cake is the pearl sugar and whole almonds used as a topping.

Budino di riso

Italy - Milan - Creamy rice pudding topped with cinnamon and almond served in a glass jar

Rice pudding is not an original dessert from Milan, it sees its roots in the Tuscany region and yet, it has been adopted by the locals as one of their favorite dishes. 

See also
25 Hilarious Venice Puns & Jokes for Perfect Instagram Captions

Budino di Riso can be eaten either for breakfast or in the afternoon with a cup of espresso.

The delicacy has a rich, creamy filling made with rice and heavy cream while adding a touch of cinnamon which makes it really quite delicious.

Amaro Ramazzotti

Italy - Milan - Amaro

Amaro is a bitter liquor, with a strong herbal component, and, with substantial alcoholic content, commonly served after a heavy meal or even used to prepare cocktails.

Amaro Ramazzotti is one of the most famous brands and it is bottled at 30% alcohol. It was originally first produced back in 1815 from a secret family recipe, and it has, since then, turned into one of the most famous drinks from Milan.

5 Things to Bring with You to Italy

Greece - Crete - Stephanie Luggage

The Lonely Planet Italy guidebook or the Rick Steves Italy guidebook for your trip. It can be kind of a pain to find the major guidebooks once you arrive in Italy, or you’ll find them overpriced.

I always like to pick mine up ahead of time.

An Unlocked Cell Phone so that you can use an Italian sim card while here to help navigate the trains.

Backup Charging Bank for your cell phone since you’ll be using it as a camera, GPS system, and general travel genie.

A Camera since Rome is super photogenic. I use a mix of my Nikon D810 and my  Samsung8 smartphone these days. (Though many of these pics in this post were on my old Nikon D40).

A Great Day Bag so you can carry what you need with you (like your camera, snacks, water, sunscreen, cash, etc).

My current favorite is the Pacsafe Citysafe, which is especially great for Italy because it has many anti-theft features.

Italy is the only country in the world where I’ve almost been the victim of a pickpocket!

The Pacsafe Citysafe also transitions to a night bag more easily and won’t embarrass you if you go to dinner directly after sightseeing all day.

See also
The Best Quotes about Florence, Italy

More Italy Travel Resources

I love Italy! Here are all my Italy resources to help you plan your trip, organized by destination.

Italy Country Guides

Italy - Rome - Stephanie at the Baths of Caracalla

Before you leave for your trip, enjoy these books about Italy and beautiful Italy quotes to help get you inspired!

Florence

Duomo,Di,Firenze,The,Florence,Cathedral,Santa,Maria,Del,Fiore

This magical Rennaisance capital belongs on everyone’s Italy bucket list. Check out this itinerary for 2 days in Florence, the best things to do in Florence and these beautiful quotes about Florence.

Milan

Italy - Milan - The Last Supper - Stephanie Selfie

I adore Milan! I’m *this close* to calling it my favorite city in Italy.

While here, make sure to enjoy the best things to do in Milan, what to eat in Milan, and what to do in Milan at night! And don’t skip any of the best Milan hidden gems!

Only plan on being here for a few days? Check out my three-day Milan itinerary.

Make sure to go on a Tour of the Last Supper (and buy your tickets early!). When you’re done, check out these other beautiful Milan historic churches.

If you want to get out of the city, here are the best day trips from Milan and how to visit Lake Como from the city.

Headed to Milan from late November through early March? Check out the best things to do in Milan in winter and what to do in Milan at Christmas.

Once you’re here, use these quotes about Milan for your Instagram captions!

Finally, before you arrive, check to see if there’s a special Milan festival happening while you’ll be in the city!

Rome

Italy - Rome - Stephanie at a Museum in Rome

Rome was the first European city I ever visited, and it stole my heart! While here, make sure to see the Roman Forum.

Looking for a history-themed day trip from Rome? You can visit Ostia Antica! (Not sure if Ostia Antica is right for you? Here’s how to choose between Ostia Antica or Pompeii).

See also
The Roman Forum

Venice

Italy - Venice - Stephanie on a Vaporetto

Venice is absolutely beautiful. Use these beautiful quotes about Venice for your picture captions.

Naples & the Amalfi Coast

Cup of fresh espresso coffee in a cafe with view on Vesuvius mount in Naples, Campania, Southern Italy

Headed to Naples? Here’s the perfect one-day-in-Naples itinerary.

You can enjoy these beautiful quotes about the Amalfi coast to inspire your trip!

Italy is Included in These Round-Ups

Italy - Stephanie - Battle of Cannae
Italy is beautiful, no matter which region you’re in!

The Most Beautiful Beaches in the Mediterranean

The Best Books to Read on Vacation

The Most Beautiful Castles in the World

The Best Wine Countries in the World

Where to Go in Europe in September

The Most Underrated Cities in Europe

The Best Opera Houses in Europe

1001 Ideas for Travel Tattoos

 

Before You Leave for Italy – Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!

Make sure you have a valid Travel Insurance Policy because accidents happen on the road.

I use World Nomads for my long trips to Europe, and I happily recommend them. It’s especially important to get travel insurance if you’ll be hanging out in cities (like Rome, Milan, Venice…ahem) where tourists can be the victims of pickpockets.

Italy is the only country I’ve been to (out of almost seventy) where I’ve had someone try to pick my pocket!

I have been a paying customer of World Nomads for travel insurance for two years, and I happily recommend them.  If you get sick, injured, or have your stuff stolen, you’ll be happy to have the ability to pay for your medical bills or replace what’s stolen or broken.

Get a Travel Insurance quote for your trip.

Pin this Guide to What to Eat in Milan for Your Trip!

What to Eat in Milan: Food and Drinks You Need to Try!

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