Culinary experiences in Milan: the best restaurants in the city center

Milan is known worldwide as an iconic city of design and entertainment in the arts and music, but the Milanese city has also given birth to many delicious dishes, offering exceptional dining and culinary experiences typical of Lombard cuisine.

Milanese cuisine: a meeting of innovation and tradition

Typical Lombard foods are among some of the oldest and most traditional dishes in Italian cuisine, known worldwide as a culinary experience with interesting notes and lively combinations.

If you are planning a trip to Milan, here are some of the typical specialties of Milanese cuisine:

• Risotto alla milanese: also known as saffron risotto, is an iconic dish of Milanese cuisine, famous throughout the world thanks to its bold and savory flavor capable of making any palate fall in love.
• Ossobuco alla milanese: one of Milan’s most famous traditional dishes and often served with risotto alla milanese, consists of a thick slice of veal including bone and marrow, all cooked in gremolada, a typical Milanese mince composed of mixed herbs and lemon zest, which give the dish an interesting contrast.
• Costoletta alla milanese: one of the most beloved Italian dishes for young and old both, costoletta consists of a bone-in veal loin breaded and fried in clarified butter (formerly in lard), making it a must-have dish on feast days in Milanese homes. A curiosity: when beaten, it becomes “elephant ear.”
• Cassöeula: a typical winter dish of peasant tradition and famous throughout northern Italy, Cassöeula is a dish that comes from the use of savoy cabbage and multiple cuts of meat that, thanks to their variety, are able to give the dish a unique and distinctive flavor, adored by lovers of strong and decisive flavors.
• Polenta: one of the oldest dishes in the cuisine of northern Italy, polenta originated in the homes of Milan’s working class, being composed mainly of cornmeal. Despite its humble origins, polenta has become an iconic dish of Lombard cuisine, present on the tables of every Milanese family.
• Mondeghili: one of the most beloved dishes of its citizens, mondeghili are meatballs composed of bread and meat fried in butter, which came out of the meeting of the Milanese population with the Spanish population, formerly occupants of the Lombard capital.

Where to eat in Milan: discover the restaurants in the city center of Portrait Milano

The center of Milan offers multiple solutions for anyone who wants to enjoy the exclusive dining experience of Milanese cuisine.

There are numerous exclusive restaurants that wanted to create innovative dishes without forgetting the origins and tradition of the Milanese dining experience.

Below are some of the luxury restaurants in the heart of Milan that offer typical Milanese dishes:

– 10_11: located in the heart of Milan’s Fashion Quadrilateral, precisely between Via Sant’Andrea 10 and Corso Venezia 11, this all-day dining restaurant offers a sophisticated dining experience that combines tradition and innovation.

The perfect union of restaurant and cocktail bar, it stands out for its elegant and luxurious ambiance, being part of Portrait Milano, a high-class hotel that is part of the Lungarno Collection.

10_11 presents contemporary Italian cuisine with strong connection to tradition. The menu changes seasonally and includes dishes prepared with fresh, high-quality ingredients.

The restaurant’s atmosphere is sophisticated and welcoming, with a design that emphasizes the historic architecture of the former Seminario. The garden and colonnade area provide an elegant and relaxing space, ideal for any time of day, from breakfast to evening drinks.

– Beefbar Milano: located in the heart of the city, in the arcade of Portrait Milan Square, this high-class restaurant offers a fine dining experience, specializing in the highest quality meat. The cuisine proposed is a fusion of tradition and modernity, with dishes ranging from classic cuts of fine meat to gastronomic innovations. The atmosphere at Beefbar Milano is elegant and sophisticated, featured by contemporary design and impeccable attention to detail, making it the ideal place for fine dining and special occasions.

And for an exclusive after dinner, be inspired by the diverse selection of drinks at one of the city’s most sophisticated luxury lounge bars, Rumore.