Restaurantes románticos en Milán: los mejores lugares

It only takes seven seconds to form a first impression of someone, but the first dinner out can be decisive. So how do you choose the perfect place for a first date, when you're still unsure of the other person's tastes? A place that's elegant but not overly polished, tasteful but not pretentious, away from the tourists but, above all, unpretentious. From designer venues to historic trattorias, Michelin-starred restaurants to unconventional osterias, here are the best romantic restaurants in Milan for 2024. For a date or a special occasion to remember.

Motelombroso, Naviglio Pavese

Food, wine, and idleness in a pink house hidden among the trees. Motelombroso is a former late-19th-century roadhouse on the Naviglio Pavese, transformed into a designer restaurant. This enchanting location, meticulously maintained down to the last detail, feels almost like an art gallery, serving contemporary meat and seafood cuisine accompanied by an excellent selection of wines (we've already told you about it here). There's a private dining room, a bar, and artwork on the walls and in the garden. The à la carte menu varies seasonally, with dishes including Mustia ravioli, dandelion emulsion, almond and mutton béchamel (€28), spaghetti with lemon and pecorino (€25), quail poached in cider (€35), and mushroom tart (€14). You can choose the eight-course tasting menu (served for the entire table, €100 per person) or the five-course tasting menu (served for the entire table, €85 per person).

Motelombroso. Alzaia Naviglio Pavese 256. Tel: 333 185 5267 Website Instagram Facebook.

Dreams, Porta Genova

A warm, enveloping, dreamlike atmosphere. Soft lighting, velvet sofas, galvanized mirrors, and plants everywhere. A small door on a street corner, away from the tourist crowds, leads into the world of Sogni. A former late-19th-century nursery school in the Porta Genova area has been transformed by entrepreneur Claudio Antonioli (the same owner as Club Volt) into a 500-square-meter venue perfect for making an impression on a first date. Open from aperitif time until after dinner, Sogni has a bar area (cocktails for €20) and three different dining areas: the "refettorio," featuring a long, elliptical social table surrounded by display cases of illuminated china; the "veranda," for dining among the large plants of a conservatory; and the "gallery," a corridor with smaller tables and frescoed walls. The menu is predominantly seafood. Appetizers include a Catalana of Sicilian red shrimp and sautéed baby squid alla puttanesca. First courses include fettuccine with lobster, pasta with clams, and linguine with spider crab. Average price is between €100 and €120 per person.

Dreams. Via San Calocero 8. Tel: 0245472909 Website Instagram.

Piedmontese Winery, State

The perfect place to impress without overdoing it, focusing on a great Milanese classic that retains a unique atmosphere. Large leather armchairs, velvet sofas, wrought iron chairs, and wooden tables decorate the three rooms: Giò Ponti, Laghetto, Tencit, and the Filarete garden. In the Giò Ponti room, the furnishings are reminiscent of a 1930s Milanese home; the Laghetto room is dedicated to the "Laghètt de Milan," which the room's windows once overlooked; the Tencit room was the old charcoal kiln of the Fabbrica del Duomo and retains its vaulted brick ceilings. The menu could only be inspired by Piedmontese tradition: ravioli del plin, risotto with Castelmagno cheese (22 euros), Fassona beef tartare (29 euros), veal with tuna sauce (24 euros), and Fassona beef stew with ravioli in braised beef sauce (30 euros).

Piedmontese winery. Via Laghetto 2. Tel. 02784618. Website, Instagram, Facebook.

Ratanà, New Gate

For a romantic date, location is everything: Ratanà is located in a historic building from the early 1900s, an Art Nouveau villa nestled beneath the Bosco Verticale (Vertical Forest) in the Garibaldi/Porta Nuova/Isola neighborhood. Chef Cesare Battisti, a trusted name in authentic Milanese restaurants, is in charge. The menu changes monthly, with the exception of traditional Milanese dishes, which are always available. The Costoletta is off-menu and made to order (reservation required at least two days in advance. Price: €30). Gift cards for the tasting menu are also available, costing €140, €190, and €220.

Ratanà. Via Gaetano de Castillia, 28. Tel. 0287128855 Website Facebook Instagram.

Horto, Cordusio

A Michelin-starred restaurant with 360-degree views of Milan and the Madonnina, designed to impress with its ethical cuisine. Located on the rooftop of the new Medelan complex at Via San Protaso 5, Horto has been a Milanese fine dining hotspot since 2023, perfect for a special occasion. The restaurant was conceived as an organic and inviting space. The interiors feature sinuous forms, crafted with natural materials and colors. The kitchen is entrusted to three-Michelin-starred and Green Star for Sustainability chef Norbert Niederkofler, a pioneer of a sustainable philosophy. The menu is seasonal and curated to leverage a network of suppliers within an hour of Milan. Two tasting menus are available: five-course (€155, plus wine pairing for €70) or seven-course (€185, plus wine pairing for €90). Those who prefer to order à la carte can choose how to create their own menu by choosing from both menus, with the courses they prefer.

Horto. Via San Protaso 5. Tel: 02 36517496 Website.

Tower, Porta Romana Dockyard

For a first date amidst artwork and a view of the city. On the sixth floor of the eponymous Fondazione Prada building, Via Giovanni Lorenzini, 14, designed by Rem Koolhaas in 2018, we find the charming Torre restaurant. The space occupies a generous 215 square meters, divided into two areas: the bar and the restaurant, characterized by the contrast between the large floor-to-ceiling windows and the warm tones of the parquet floors, walnut wood paneling, and hemp wall panels. The presence of artwork and design elements enhances the atmosphere of the restaurant and bar. Chef Lorenzo Lunghi oversees the kitchen, developing an original gastronomic offering inspired by the finest Italian regional traditions, starting with his Tuscan roots. A selection of Italian and international wines completes the offering. A seven-course tasting menu is available for €120 (plus wine pairing for €65).

Torre Restaurant, c/o Fondazione Prada, via Lorenzini 14. Website Instagram.

Gong, Concordia

Bright and chic, Gong is undoubtedly one of the coolest restaurants in Milan and one of the most sought-after and appreciated Asian restaurants. The ambiance is elegant and striking, spacious yet intimate and romantic. The hostess is Giulia Liu, sister of the owner of Iyo, the first Japanese restaurant in Italy to earn a Michelin star. The cuisine draws on ancient Chinese traditions, updated and creatively presented in three tasting menus: Classic (€135), Evolution (€155), and Peking Duck (€145). The dim sum selection is vast; try the "Raviolo d'Oro, a tribute to Milan": a saffron-infused pasta ravioli filled with ossobuco and a creamy Milanese risotto.

Gong. Corso Concordia 8. Tel: 02 7602 3873 Website Instagram Facebook.

Sakeia, Corso Genova

The first Italian sake house sponsored by the Japanese prefectures, with over 150 sakes on its list. A cozy and intimate spot for a romantic date or a unique dinner, tucked away on a side street off Corso Genova, at Via Cesare da Sesto 1. The venue is a cocktail bar, bistro, and sake shop all in one. With a luxurious and warm atmosphere, Sakeya offers a gourmet Japanese dinner. Among the many options on the menu, wagyu is always present. A selection of high-quality sake is available for toasts.

Sakeya. via Cesare da Sesto 1. Tel: 0294387836 Website Instagram Facebook.

Rough grass, Naviglio Pavese

A perennial favorite of ours, this restaurant nestled between the countryside and the city, along the Naviglio Pavese, far from the crowds, is ideal for those seeking an intimate setting and top-quality food. Erba Brusca offers true local produce: you dine in the garden, the same place where the vegetables you'll enjoy on the menu grow. You can order two tasting menus, a four-course (€34) or six-course (€45) option. The menu changes weekly, but the focus remains on vegetables, presented in bold pairings. For a unique experience, you can purchase a picnic basket from their online shop and pick it up at the restaurant by reservation, to round off the afternoon in relaxation with a fine bottle of wine (€25 per basket for two, excluding wine).

Erba Brusca. Alzaia Naviglio Pavese, 286, 20142 Milan, 02 8738 0711. Website Facebook Instagram.