Milan Design Week (April 7-13) opens today, centered around the iconic Salone del Mobile fair. In celebration of its 2025 presentation, Whitewall is guiding you through the city’s food and beverage scene, with recommendations on the best restaurants and bars to check out while in town—including The Manzoni, The Wilde, Cracco, Bar Luce, Ceresio 7, Langosteria, and more.
The Manzoni
Centro Storico
Courtesy of The Manzoni.
Courtesy of The Manzoni.
The Manzoni is a sophisticated restaurant and showroom by British designer Tom Dixon. Opened in 2019, it functions as both a dining experience and a showcase for Dixon’s latest furniture, lighting, and design pieces. The space embodies Dixon’s signature aesthetic, blending bold materials, sculptural forms, and innovative lighting, serving as a hub for visitors to experience his creations in a real-life setting.
What we love: Tom Dixon’s latest line, Fall/Winter 2025, launched for Milan Design Week.
Book your reservation HERE.
The Wilde
Brera
Courtesy of The Wilde.
In November 2024, The Wilde opened in the former home of Santo Versace, swiftly establishing itself as one of Milan’s premier members club. The modernist villa, originally designed by Carlo De Carli and Antonio Carminati, has been masterfully reimagined by designer Fabrizio Casiraghi, resulting in a blend of history and contemporary elegance. Members of The Wilde enjoy an exceptional array of amenities, including three restaurants, a cigar lounge, a private garden, a panoramic rooftop, and an inspiring cultural program with exclusive events spanning theatre, music, film screenings, and curated dinners. Gastronomy plays a central role, with dining experiences ranging from traditional Italian flavors to Latin American-Japanese fusion and Mediterranean cuisine. The Wilde isn’t just a club—it’s a vibrant international community designed for those who appreciate culture, conversation, and culinary excellence. With its Milanese debut setting the stage, future expansions to global cultural capitals like New York, London, and Los Angeles are already on the horizon.
What we love: Enjoying the onsite art collection curated by the co-founder of Art Bureau, Ed Tang, featuring works by internationally renowned artists such as Diane dal Pra and Andy Warhol.
Book your reservation HERE.
Cracco
Galleria
Courtesy of Cracco.
In the historic Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Cracco shines with Milanese fine dining that blends tradition with avant-garde artistry. Helmed by Chef Carlo Cracco, the Michelin-starred eatery boasts a multi-level space, spanning a cafe on the ground floor, a restaurant with private dining rooms, a fumoir, and more. Inside, the restaurant features a refined menu of reinterpreted Italian classics and signature dishes, and a curated wine list with Italian and French labels (and even blends from the chef’s own vineyard) enlivens the space.
What we love: Sitting at one of the window-side tables, featuring stunning views of the Galleria’s architecture.
Book your reservation HERE.
AALTO
Porta Nuova
Photo by Cucina Libera, courtesy to AALTO Restaurant.
Located within Porta Nuova’s Solaria Tower in Milan is AALTO—the only Japanese restaurant in Italy with a Michelin star. For the second restaurant of Claudio Liu, he combines his dynamic Chinese roots with his Italian upbringing for an unforgettable dining experience. With Chef Takashi Iwai’s Japanese techniques, the result is a memorable setting, elevated with global dishes focused on an exquisite, minimalistic presentation. The visual scene was imagined by the architect Maurizio Lai, with modern interiors executed with natural materials for an inspiring, contemporary space. Inside, two distinct environments make up AALTO: the sushi counter, featuring the magic of the edomae zushi model of Tokyo; and the gastronomic restaurant, blending the immense heritage of the past with the creative ambitions of today.
What we love: Ordering the signature Tsukemen spaghetti, with soba noodles and fresh finds like clams or sea urchins.
Book your reservation HERE.
Bar Luce
Largo Isarco
Courtesy of Bar Luce.
Located inside Fondazione Prada and designed by the film director Wes Anderson, Bar Luce is a lively restaurant and meeting space that evokes the atmosphere of a typical Milanese café. When designing it, Anderson wanted to create many places for eating, drinking, talking, and relaxing, while keeping some original architectural and decorative details. “When I designed this bar my approach was the opposite of what I do for my film sets,” Anderson said of the space. “I tried to create a place to go five times a week. As a kid I wanted to be an architect, so this was the perfect opportunity for me to pretend I really was one!” Once inside, under a vaulted ceiling, guests can explore the café’s many spaces and outlets—from comfortable, colorful booths and counters full of Italian desserts to Formica furnishings and 1950s and ’60s-inspired details—while enjoying Italian pastries, cocktails, sandwiches, and more.
What we love: Ordering a custard-filled bombolone.
Book your reservation HERE.
Ceresio 7
Porta Garibaldi
Courtesy of Ceresio 7.
Atop the historic Enel building, the house of the Dsquared2 group, Ceresio 7 welcomes visitors to a stunning restaurant and two swimming pools. The dining room wows with its modern skyline, while guests can book cabanas on the terrace to sip cocktails between swims. Delectable Italian dishes are created by Executive Chef Elio Sironi, making the establishment a destination for Milan and beyond.
What we love: Enjoying a cocktail at American Bar.
Book your reservation HERE.
Caffè-Pasticceria Cova
Via Montenapoleone
Courtesy of Cova.
The historic patisserie owned by LVMH Europe, Cova, is celebrating its 200th anniversary. Complemented by an outside terrace, the establishment welcomes guests inside to explore a selection of products—such as small, handmade patisseries and traditional recipes.
What we love: Trying the panettone.
Book your reservation HERE.
Drogherie Milanesi
Porta Garibaldi
Courtesy of Drogherie Milanesi.
Created by Seven Group, Drogherie Milanesi focuses on putting quality first. At the restaurant, service is impeccable and informal, while attention to detail effortlessly enhances both presentation and flavor. The restaurant also shines with eclectic flair, welcoming guests to sit at tables, in booths, at the bar, or at a long shared table in the center.
What we love: Sitting at the countertop bar.
Book your reservation HERE.
Enrico Bartolini
Porta Genova
Courtesy of Enrico Bartolini Restaurant.
In April 2016, Michelin-starred Chef Enrico Bartolini opened his restaurant on the third floor of Museo delle Culture (Mudec). With attention to tradition, Bartolini pushes boundaries in the kitchen to heighten innovation, creativity, quality, and balance, while the space’s interior design is heavily influenced by his love for art and design.
What we love: Viewing works by artists from The Capelleschi Gallery on the walls.
Book your reservation HERE.
Égalité
Brera
Photo by Luca Campigotto, courtesy of Égalité.
Created by the architect and food entrepreneur Tiziano Vudafieri, Égalité is a new concept that evolves around the idea of a French bakery. With fresh bread from master boulanger Thierry Loy, the bakery is joined by a shop—both perfect for breakfast, lunch, coffee, or an aperitif.
What we love: Grabbing some Gianni Frasi coffee to go.
Book your reservation HERE.
Dry Milano
Porta Garibaldi
Photo by Michael James Daniele, courtesy of Dry Milano.
Pizza Chef Simone Lombardi leads Dry Milano with research and experimentation, quality ingredients, and extreme attention to dough. Dry’s interior, curated by Vudafieri-Saverino, is a design and decor haven celebrated for its vintage elements, cocktail station, communa tables, and second-floor pizzeria.
What we love: Trying one of the flavored waters.
Book your reservation HERE.
Ristorante da Giacomo
Porta Vittoria
Courtesy of Giacomo Argenario.
Known for its 20th-century design elements, indoor and outdoor spaces, and classic dishes and fresh seafood, Giacomo Argenario is a Milan favorite. Whether visiting the iconic building for shopping, spending a day at the museum, or coming specifically to dine, travelers love the remarkable view and decadent dishes.
What we love: Ordering from the special Novecento menu.
Book your reservation HERE.
Il Luogo di Aimo e Nadia
Primaticcio
Artwork by P. Ferrari Photo by F. Bolis
Courtesy of Il Luogo di Aimo e Nadia.
An art world hotspot, Il Luogo di Aimo e Nadia is known for its rich gastronomy and creative expression. Unique and innovative, the restaurant shines for both its style of cuisine and its interior’s artistic and architectural design details.
What we love: Asking sommelier Alberto Piras for a recommendation.
Book your reservation HERE.
Joia
Porta Venezia
Courtesy of Joia.
At Joia, the presentation is remarkable and precise. The establishment, under the direction of the acclaimed Swiss-born Michelin-starred Chef Pietro Leemann, offers a significant experience to enjoy and return for—from its interiors to its unique cuisine.
What we love: Ordering the famous risotto.
Book your reservation HERE.
Langosteria
San Vittore
Courtesy of Langosteria.
In 2007, Enrico Buonocore opened Langosteria. Ever since, it has garnered high praise for its ambitious and enthusiastic seafood dishes by Chef Denis Pedron. With small and large dining rooms, a private dining room, and a special Oyster Bar, the restaurant remains memorable for locals and visitors alike.
What we love: Sipping champagne at the Oyster Bar.
Book your reservation HERE.
Ratanà
Isola
Courtesy of Ratanà.
Home to the Riccardo Catella Foundation, Ratanà was once part of a railway station. The restaurant, led by Chef Cesare Battisti, offers reinterpreted Milanese cuisine with creative twists. Its interior design, curated by RGA Studio, also creates an inviting environment for visitors to enjoy.
What we love: Savoring the Risotto Milanese All’antica.
Book your reservation HERE.
Sant Ambroeus
Centro Storico
Courtesy of Sant Ambroeus.
Since 1936, Sant Ambroeus has been Milan’s top sweet parlor. Located inside a building in Corso Matteotti, the bakery welcomes guests to sophistication and superb flavor through a combination of tradition and creativity.
What we love: Enjoying a selection of sweets.
Book your reservation HERE.
Seta
Brera
Courtesy of Seta.
Located at the Mandarin Oriental, Milan, on the ground level, is Seta—a two Michelin star–awarded restaurant that boasts fine fare by Chef Antonio Guida. Here, guests can enjoy a contemporary twists on Italian classics, either indoors or on the private courtyard patio. Wherever you dine, both destinations provide perfect outposts to watch cuisine art at work.
What we love: Opting for the tasting menu.
Book your reservation HERE.
Sina The Gray
Centro Storico
Courtesy of Sina The Gray.
Between the Duomo Cathedral and La Scala opera house is Sina The Gray, with 21 guest rooms and the lounges—perfect for a cocktail or a snack—GBAR and ARIA.
What we love: Booking one of the bi-level rooms for its private steam room.
Book your reservation HERE.
Terrazza Duomo 21
Piazza del Duomo
Courtesy of Terrazza Duomo 21.
A true dining destination just steps from Milan’s iconic church, Terrazza Duomo 21 is a premier venue for a one-of-a-kind experience. Offering everything from casual bites to fine dining fare, the stunning restaurant also welcomes guests to expansive multilevel spaces with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Duomo Square. Known to host fashion shows, corporate events, concerts, and more, the space also shines as an intimate spot where guests can relax.
What we love: Choosing any of the delicious cocktails by Martini.
Book your reservation HERE.
