Milan of course boasts delicious Italian food, but their culinary scene is much more expansive than just tasty trattorias. Whether you’re in the mood for a quick coffee, some lighter fare (yes, it does exist), inventive Asian dishes, or a heavenly combination of pasta and cheese, the options aren’t lacking. Below I’ve included my favorite spots for each meal of the day to ensure you’ll be well-fed for your next trip to Milan!
Cafes
Macha Cafe 
Moleskine
Macha Café
At the edge of Milan’s Chinatown nearing Corso Como is Macha Café, a bright and airy space with a focus on healthy food and drinks. My go-to items are a café Americano with a touch of sugar, and the chia pudding, generously topped with fresh mango, blueberries, shaved coconut, and sesame seeds. They also offer savory fare, primarily vegetarian and pescatarian focused. Sushi rolls and bowls and veggie plates appear to be the favorites of fellow café-goers, though I’ve stuck with my classic. Macha seemingly always has seats available, their WIFI is strong, and the staff is friendly.
Moleskine
On one of my favorite streets, Moleskine Café is named after the brand of notebooks that are displayed around the circumference of the space. A very casual coffee shop, this is a perfect place for remote workers to sit uninterrupted for hours on end. In true Italian fashion, a drinks menu is also offered for those looking to swap coffee for a glass of wine.
Lunch
Biancolatte
From a décor standpoint, Biancolatte has done an amazing job of making a windowless space feel open and bright, with all white furniture and walls accented by greenery and children’s artwork (I know it sounds cheesy, but trust me). I start the meal with the fried burrata, and then follow it with the Trofie alla Crema di Basilico “al Biancolatte” con Aggiunta di Burrata, which is pesto pasta topped with a giant ball of (even more) burrata. Mash up the cheese and distribute it around the dish to create a creamy, salty, rich flavor that has you sneaking one last bite about fifteen times. And in case you’re still hungry after, there’s a gelato and pastry shop in the front of the restaurant.
Biancolatte 
Il Salumaio di Montenapoleone
Il Salumaio di Montenapoleone
Recommended to me by legendary shoe designer Gianvito Rossi, Il Salumaio is right across from his store in Milan. Boasting a beautiful interior courtyard, this restaurant tends to be filled with a fashionable crowd in need of a break from their day of shopping nearby. While not modestly priced, the salads are filling enough for a whole meal. If you’re looking for something hardier, consider the risotto, cooked with a comfort reminiscent of an Italian grandma’s home cooking.
Soulgreen
Soulgreen is exactly what you expected when you heard the name: a vegetarian focused restaurant decorated with lush greenery that comes together to form a calm environment. Their healthy staples are the perfect balance to the carb and dairy heavy meals I’d been gorging myself on for weeks, and the communal tables are great for solo dining. An added element of fun – instead of traditional menus, each seat comes with a tablet on which you may place your order.
Aperitivo Hour
B Cafe 
LuBar
B Café
Do you ever wander into a café and know it’s the exact vibe you were hoping for at that particular moment? That’s how I felt walking into B Café, on a rainy afternoon when I had a few hours to kill before dinner (and no umbrella). It was lively but not too loud, busy but not overly crowded, and the chairs were just comfortable enough to pull up to the bar and enjoy an aperitif and a book. I get the sense that it gets busier as the night goes on, but for a late afternoon it was my perfect escape from the rain.
LuBar
Located at the GAM (Galleria d’Arte Moderne), LuBar is a lovely indoor/outdoor spot to enjoy lunch or an afternoon Spritz surrounded by greenery. Note their lunch menu ends at 3PM, but their terrace stays humming with locals stopping by for a catch up or a meeting.
Dinner
Al Matarel
One of my favorite ways to find restaurants in a new city is to ask locals, and that’s exactly how I found Al Matarel. Leaving B Café, I asked the hostess her favorite restaurant, and she suggested this. While it’s better known for its ossobuco, it has a warm, old school Italian atmosphere, and serves a delicious mushroom pasta, as well.
Obica Mozzarella Bar 
Obica Mozzarella Bar
Obica Mozzerella Bar
Though it is a chain, I truly enjoy Obica. Of course, their cheese options are superb (don’t miss the small mozzarella bites, or, if traveling with a group, the full Gran Degustazione tasting platter), but I’d recommend saving room for pasta, too. The seasonal truffle pasta is heavenly. Cheese and pasta, what more could an Italian diet need? For a full Milanese experience, head to the La Rinascente location, which overlooks the Duomo, or enjoy a quieter meal at their Brera spot, which has unmatched people watching.
Ramen a Mano
Milan is not just known for its Italian food! There are some delicious Asian options too, including Ramen a Mano. This spot, as its name suggests, makes all of their noodles by hand, and creates them in 14 different widths which you can personally select to go with either traditional beef broth or a vegetarian option. The cold cucumber salad is also not to be missed.
Ta-Hua 
Ramen a Mano
Ta-Hua
Ta-Hua is my ideal Dim Sum restaurant because most of the options could be ordered by the individual piece, giving you the opportunity to try everything. We tried every dumpling on the menu, and although they were all delicious, the seabass was clearly the winner.
Ronchi 78
Also a recommendation from a friend, Ronchi 78 is a small space on a beautiful winding street. They do an abridged lunch menu with only a few specials but experiencing their full dinner menu is the way to go, in my opinion. Try the lemon risotto or the cacio e pepe.
