Milan has many rightfully famous restaurants, but for eating on-the-go, which Vogue editors must do quite a lot of during fashion week, Panino Giusto is the name to know for reliably delicious panini at surprisingly reasonable prices. When I do have time to sit down for a quick meal, I also like their Azzurra salad, with tuna, anchovies, cherry tomatoes, olives, and mozzarella knots, yum. —Nicole Phelps, global director, Vogue Runway
Via Orti has many excellent restaurants, including Creda (hypey, new-traditional cucina povera) and Banaras (arguably Milan’s best Indian). The pick of them, however, is La Bettola Di Piero, which has been serving the neighborhood since 1934. Run by a family team with a deep knowledge of Lombard cuisine, La Bettola offers all of Milan’s key dishes (osso bucco, cotoletta, etc). While these are uniformly marvellous, the kitchen also rewards adventurous trenchermen: bagna cauda, nettle soup, crispy brains, and many other overlooked masterpieces regularly feature on a menu that changes according to season and availability of ingredients. The atmosphere is also lovely and unpretentious. —Luke Leitch, contributor, Vogue Runway
I first visited this osteria last year during Milan Design Week, when my friend Carmen hosted a birthday dinner here that continued well into the early hours. (Its classic ambiance makes it just as great for a lively birthday party as it is for an intimate romantic dinner, however.) Located deep in the Navigli district, it’s a bit of a schlep from central Milan, but worth the journey—tucked away in a spacious, leafy courtyard, it feels like a slice of the Italian countryside in the heart of the city. And the food is excellent too, especially the pasta: pumpkin gnocchi with smoked ricotta, goat’s cheese ravioli, homemade fusilli with braised beef. I can’t wait to return the next time I’m in Milan. —L.H.
The most chic paninis to go are from Sant Ambroeus. In addition to being delicious, they are beautifully packaged. —Virginia Smith, global head of fashion
Since 1921, the Masuelli family has run this traditional trattoria serving up authentic Lombard dishes. It’s a beautiful space, with Gio Ponti chandeliers jingling overhead as the Art Deco room livens up (reserve your table after 9 p.m. to experience the rhythm of a real Milanese evening). Must orders include cotoletta alla Milanese with sunny saffron risotto and vitello tonnato; thin ruffles of veal topped with tuna sauce and fat caper berries. —Anna Cafolla, news editor
An old pasticceria with delicious confectionery and a tea room. —Tiziana Cardini, contributor, Vogue Runway
With only a handful of tables and a strict no-reservations policy, this fabulous family-run restaurant in the heart of Brera nearly closed for good in 2024 after its founders, the beloved Arturo and Maria Maggi, decided to hang up their spoons after nearly half a century of cooking. Then, earlier last year, the Milanese institution—and fashion-crowd favorite, with regulars including Miuccia Prada and the late Elio Fiorucci—was acquired by Loro Piana and revived. The Maggi family is still closely involved, and thankfully, its spicy spaghetti al limone just as lovely as ever. —L.H.
