Restaurants

Image by Alessandra Gesuelli

Fish is important in the Italian cuisine. During summer it is really popular to go out for dinner and have spaghetti alle vongole or allo scoglio, with different seashells. But I love to cook fish at home, to be accompanied by a good glass of cold white wine. In Milan I love to go Pescheria Da Claudio (fish shop) just 15 minutes walk from the Duomo. It’s famous in the city and after 50 years of activity is also the oldest in town.

The fish here is not cheap but the freshest I’ve ever had. Here you can find also mussels, lobsters, cooked fish snacks and raw fish tasteful aperitivi. You can stop here for a lunch at the bistro inside the shop.

Pescheria Da Claudio also provide catering services for parties, and they deliver to your home. Sometimes I ask for suggestions about my recipes, because cooking fish is a delicate business! They also suggest which is the best white wine to drink with your fish.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Pescheria Da Claudio | Shopping, Restaurants (Seafood) | Little fish dishes € 3.50
Via Cusani 1 | Centro | +39028056857
Mon 11:00 – 20:00, Tue – Sat 09:00 – 21:30

Image by Alessandra Gesuelli

Pizza al trancio. This is the expression you have to keep in mind when you enter this place. Because pizza al trancio (literally slices of pizzas) is the specialty of Spontini, near corso Buenos Aires.

Spontini is really a Milan institution, opened in 1953 as a spot for pizza to go, now this pizzeria is a popular hangout among families and young people. There are other two restaurants in Milan, one in viale Papiniano and another in via Marghera. I think that cheap prices, friendly service and delicious food are worth a visit.

The interiors are simple and on the walls there are photos which show the preparation of a pizza. The pizza here is soft and thin, served in slices with different toppings. The ingredients are not a secret: water from Milan, white flour, tomato sauce from Emilia, mozzarella, anchovies and oregano, then salt, pepper and olive oil. Just for lunch you can also have the lasagna. I love it, the sfoglia is prepared with a very tasteful ragù.

Prepare to queue, especially on the weekends.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Spontini | Restaurants (Pizzeria) | Trancio pizza € 4.50
via Spontini 6 | Centrale/Greco | +39022047333
Mon – Fri 11:45 – 14:30 & 18:00 – 23:30, Sat 11:45 – 14:30 & 18:00 – 00:00, Sun 11:45 – 14:30 & 18:00 – 23:00

Image by Alessandra Gesuelli

The risotto is like a religion in Milan. For me the temple of this religion is Abele la Temperanza in via della Temperanza, near viale Monza. This restaurant is an old trattoria. Although renovated, it keeps intact the atmosphere of the Old Milan, with black and white photos on the walls, autographs from celebrities who spent their nights here and all kinds of historical memorabilia.

On the menu I like to taste the Tris of Risotto: three different kinds of rice. At Abele you can try almost 100 different kinds of risotto, three per day, because every day they change the selection. This is the right place to have the risotto allo zafferano, a must in Milan! For a good one you have to wait 30 minutes, so you can relax, have a starter and drink the good house red wine.

From the Milanese cuisine you can also try brasato, coppa di maiale and different soups. They have a seasonal menu and the food is very well prepared. The trattoria opens at 8 pm and you can’t be late! Booking is essential, it’s always packed!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Trattoria Abele la Temperanza | Restaurants (Milanese) | Risotto € 9.00
via Temperanza, 5 | Centrale/Greco | +39022613855
Tue – Sun 20:00 – 01:00

Image by Alessandra Gesuelli

This pizzeria is one of the best kept secrets in town. In summer, you can sit outside, around wonky tables on the pavement or in the light green interior. If you don’t know where it is you will never notice it. It’s on the chaotic Viale Brianza, near Piazzale Loreto.

At Pizza Big you can experience the real thin-crust and crunchy Roman pizza. Something rare to find in Milan, where most of the pizzas are thick and smooth. Every time I go there I always feel like I’m in Rome again.

The owners have a wood-fired oven and you can choose among almost 70 different toppings accompanied with a good selection of beers.

Don’t expect pineapple though! The toppings are strictly traditional with fresh and seasonal products. You can also try the calzone. The desserts for me are delicious: plain pizza filled with chocolate!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Pizza Big | Restaurants (Pizza) | Pizza € 6.50
Viale Brianza 30 | Centrale/Greco | +39022846548
12:00 – 14:30 & 19:30 – 23:30 daily

Image by Alessandra Gesuelli

Ratanà is located in a former train station building in the Isola area, near Porta Garibaldi Station. It’s difficult to spot because is surrounded by scaffoldings. In this area between viale Melchiorre Gioia and corso Como they are building brand new skyscrapers for the Expo 2015, here there will be a stylish residential area and the new Fashion City.

I discovered Ratanà during an art event. Even if it’s not far from where I live, I never noticed it. The old building has been completely renovated to host Ratanà restaurant and Fondazione Riccardo Catella, located at the second floor, an organization who supports young talents and cultural projects. They host several exhibitions and events. The building is surrounded by a nice garden with a playground for kids. This coming summer they are planning to have a calendar of events just for them.

Ratanà serves Milan classics like risotto and cotoletta alla milanese. I like the onion soup, the polenta and the dessert sbrisolona. For lunch they have a special menu for 18.00 euro (drinks and coffee included).

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Ratanà | Art & culture, Restaurants (Milan) | Lunch menu € 18.00
via De Castillia 28 | Centrale/Greco | +390287128855
Oct – May Tue – Fri & Sun 12:00 – 00:00, Sat 18:00 – 00:00 |Jun – Sep Mon – Fri 12:00 – 00:00, Sat 18:00 – 00:00