Mater Bistrot in Milan's Porta Venezia is a modern-Italian neighbourhood room with a focused weekly-changing carte and natural-wine list. The seasonal pasta anchors
Signature dishes: Seasonal pasta, Risotto, Beef tartare
Must order: The seasonal pasta of the day, the risotto and the beef tartare.
Tip: Bookings open one week ahead. Lunch is the calmer service; the natural-wine list runs deep on Italian growers under 30 euros.
Address: Via Stradivari 4, 20131 Milano
Dongio in Milan's Porta Romana has cooked Calabrian southern-Italian since 1980, the city's reference for 'nduja and Calabrian peppers. The 'nduja pasta and the carp
Signature: 'Nduja pasta, Beef carpaccio, Caprese
Order: The 'nduja pasta, the beef carpaccio and the Calabrian peppers as antipasto.
Tip: Bookings open one week ahead by phone. The Calabrian wine list runs deep on Magliocco and Gaglioppo producers.
Morelli in Milan's Sempione is chef Giancarlo Morelli's flagship dining room, opened 2010, with one Michelin star. The veal-stuffed tortelli and risotto define the c
Signature: Risotto, Tortelli of veal, Tasting menu
Order: The Morelli tasting set; the veal tortelli and the lemon risotto are the signature plates.
Tip: Bookings open three weeks ahead. The chef's counter at the open kitchen is the seat to ask for; vegetarian tasting available.
Locanda Perbellini in Milan is Giancarlo Perbellini's neighbourhood-format Venetian-modern carte, the satellite to his three-star Casa Perbellini in Verona.
Signature: Risotto with cuttlefish ink, Bigoli con anatra, Tasting menu
Order: The cuttlefish ink risotto, the bigoli with duck and the Verona-style tasting set.
Tip: Bookings open two weeks ahead. Lunch carte at 35 euros is the cheaper way in; the wine list runs deep on Veneto producers.
Antica Osteria Il Ronchettino in Milan's southern suburbs has cooked the Lombard farming canon since the 1920s, in an 18th-century farmstead. The risotto and the cas
Signature: Risotto alla milanese, Cassoeula, Ossobuco
Order: The risotto alla milanese, the cassoeula in winter and the ossobuco.
Tip: Bookings open one week ahead. The garden tables are the destination in summer; closed Mondays and August.
Il Liberty in Milan's Porta Garibaldi is Andrea Provenzani's modern-Italian dining room since 2007, near Stazione Garibaldi. The seasonal risotto and the tortelli an
Signature: Risotto, Tortelli, Tasting menu
Order: The risotto of the day, the tortelli and the seasonal tasting set.
Tip: Bookings open one week ahead. Lunch carte at 30 euros is the cheaper way in; the dining room is small and intimate.
Il Cairoli in Milan's Brera district is the modern-Italian dining room of chef Marco Sacco's Milan project, opened 2019. The risotto and seasonal tasting set anchor
Signature: Risotto, Pasta of the day, Tasting menu
Order: The seasonal tasting set; the risotto with bone marrow and the seasonal primo are the signatures.
Tip: Bookings open two weeks ahead. The chef's counter is the spot to ask for; book the 19:30 sitting for a slower service.
