Giacomo Arengario
Ristorante Berton
Chic and essential design shapes the ambience of Ristorante Berton. Large crystal panels and metal sheets mounted on elmwood structures define the framework where tables are set. A history of Michelin stars and Gambero Rosso forks accompanies chef and owner Andrea Berton’s career. He landed on the project of his own restaurant after years working with the most prominent chefs on the European scene and running highly acclaimed kitchens across the continent. This expensive restaurant offers dining options such as a ‘quick lunch’, which includes a daily changing all-in-one course menu. The chef’s favourite ingredient, broth, is at the heart of his cuisine, featuring in most of his dishes, like in the risotto with raw prawns and coral shellfish. Ristorante Berton, Viale della Liberazione 13, Milan, Italy, +39 02 6707 5801See also: Best Italian Jewellery Brands
Ristorante Cracco
One of the most prominent figures in contemporary Italian cuisine, and among the best-known celebrity chefs in the country, Carlo Cracco’s career is dotted with Michelin stars and international recognition. With doors opening in 2007, his own Ristorante Cracco has established itself as one of the top-notch dining destinations in Milan by presenting the city with its innovative take on local, traditional dishes. Fully renovated with a luxury and hyper-modern design, the interior of the restaurant revolves around refined elegance and minimal lines. Guided by chef Matteo Baronetto, the kitchen plays on contrasts and combinations of flavours, to assemble dishes that closely resemble a work of visual art. Ristorante Cracco, Via Victor Hugo 4, Milan, Italy, +39 02 876 774
Ristorante VUN
Overlooking Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, just a few steps away from the impressive Duomo of Milan, Michelin-starred Ristorante VUN is nestled in the context of the Park Hyatt Hotel. Decorated in an essential and modern style with fine attention to details, VUN welcomes diners in a simple yet sophisticated atmosphere. The kitchen is run by Neapolitan executive chef Andrea Aprea, whose culinary style revolves around a taste for innovation that goes hand in hand with esteem for Italy’s rich gastronomic tradition. A range of themes unfolds in his set menus, like ‘Neapolitan routes’ and ‘travelling between north and south’, while the à la carte menu enhances the flavours of culinary styles from across the country. Ristorante VUN, Via Silvio Pellico 3, Milan, Italy, +39 02 8821 1234
Al Pont de Ferr
Al Pont de Ferr sits close to the iron bridge from which it takes its name, along with the Naviglio Grande, a canal that Leonardo da Vinci designed centuries ago. Having served as a restaurant for more than 100 years, this osteria welcomes guests in a homely and rustic atmosphere. Dozens of wine bottles find space on big wooden planks, while rough paint covers the walls, and old newspaper reviews are printed on red tablecloths. While the environment exudes tradition, the philosophy in the kitchen gives a modern twist to it. With great care about the quality of his ingredients, Chef Matias Perdomo crafts masterful creations like his signature tropea ─ red onion made of brown sugar and stuffed with goat’s cheese and caramelised onion.
Chic’n Quick
Located right next door to high-end Sadler restaurant and also part of the Sadler family, Chic’n Quick is a more relaxed yet still top-quality alternative to the many fine dining destinations in Milan. The team running Chic’n Quick’s kitchen is young and diverse, and so is the spirit imbuing this modern trattoria’s philosophy. Genuine ingredients and creativity to twist culinary traditions inform the cuisine, which features an à la carte and a set menu, with daily proposals varying according to the availability of seasonal produce. Maccheroncini ‘cacio e pepe’ with fiori di zucchina e guanciale is a tempting choice to match with a glass of local wine.
Chic’n Quick, Via Cardinale Ascanio Sforza 77, Milan, Italy, +39 02 8950 3222
Il Luogo di Aimo e Nadia
Restaurant encounters art gallery at Il Luogo di Aimo e Nadia. With a history dating back to the years immediately following the end of World War II, the restaurant has evolved to become one of the temples of Italian cuisine in Milan, as well as an art space. Landscapes printed on chairs, paintings on the walls of the two dining halls, and plotter paintings on the outside walls of Il Luogo make it a unique spot on Milan’s food scene. Tradition and contemporary taste coexist in the menu.
Il Luogo di Aimo e Nadia, Via Privata Raimondo Montecuccoli 6, Milan, Italy, +39 02 416886
Iyo
The fish counter dominates the main dining hall at Iyo, while the kitchen and robatayaki, the traditional Japanese grill, are visible to guests who take a seat at one of the golden tables of the restaurant. The décor is minimal but plays on the tones of wood and warm light, which renders it a homely yet highly refined space. A fusion cuisine among the most appreciated in Milan, Iyo’s is a combination of sushi and contemporary cooking. Also featuring pasta and salads, the menu’s strength lies in its offering of Japanese classics as well as in its innovative creations of oriental plates from fresh local ingredients.
Iyo, Via Piero della Francesca 74, Milan, Italy, +39 02 4547 6898La Brisa
Enjoying the rare delight of an ample courtyard space in Milan, La Brisa presents diners with the choice of lounging in the refined veranda-like interior or sitting amongst centuries-old lime trees in the breeze of warm summer nights. Located in the vicinity of an ancient Roman site in the city centre, La Brisa was renovated to revolve around the outside space, conceived as a quiet sanctuary in the midst of the city’s buzz. Spectacular presentations are created on the plates, combining flavours and colours in delectable layouts. Among favourites at this restaurant is the crispy Iberian porker with apple mustard, chips and myrtle sauce. Ristorante La Brisa, Via Brisa 15, Milan, Italy, +39 02 8645 0521
