Giada De Laurentiis’ 5 Favorite, Fashionable Milan Restaurants
Where to eat and feel cool in Italy's fashion capital.
Welcome to Perfect For, a weekly Infatuation series of ultra-specific restaurant recommendations from people around town you don't know personally, but might wish you did.
For many Americans, there are few Italian chefs that are more recognizable than Giada De Laurentiis. You've definitely seen her make a plate of luscious chicken piccata on Everyday Italian or Giada At Home, and your mom (and your cousin, and your friend who wants to finally learn to cook carbonara) probably collects her cookbooks like Infinity Stones. Lately, she’s been channeling her love for Italy into Giadzy, an online store where you can order specialty Italian ingredients like 00 pasta flour and high-quality olive oil.
De Laurentiis' trips back home to source said ingredients and find inspiration for Giadzy also give her the opportunity to try all the hotspots in Italy’s fashion capital: Milan. Check out these five buzzy and cozy spots that are De Laurentiis' favorites from her last trip—Fashion Week invite not required.
If you love seafood, this is the place to go. The restaurant is sophisticated but cozy, with tons of classic Italian seafood dishes: think spaghetti vongole, fritto misto, zuppa di pesce, and more. It's really stunning inside, with mint green wainscoting and beautiful tiled floors. It would be an excellent date night spot.
It doesn't get much more Milan than this. 10 Corso Como is part-upscale shop, part-cafe, and part-bar. I loved wandering around and seeing all of the beautiful clothes and homeware (I'm still lusting after a crystal cake stand I saw when I was there). Once you've had your shopping fill, the light and airy restaurant is a great place to have a tasty little lunch. Oh, and order an espresso—they serve it with the most adorable tiny shortbread cookies I've ever seen.
The classic trattoria experience, but with delicious Milanese cuisine. I couldn't get enough of the thin crispy crackers they served up at the table before we ate, but thankfully, I left room for one of my favorite northern Italian comfort foods, the riso salto. It's basically a crispy risotto cake with saffron, and something my mom always used to make when I was young. The buckwheat pasta with veal ragout was outstanding, too.
There’s no destination quite as chic to grab a cocktail. The vibe here feels straight out of a glamorous old movie, with bartenders in white suits with bowties mixing up drinks. Campari, Milan's bitter red liqueur, is the star here, so grab an aperitivo!
If you really want to feel young, head down to the Navigli neighborhood when the sun sets. It's so lively and fun, with beautiful views of the ancient canal and tons of places to stop and grab a drink. This restaurant is a bit tucked away with a lovely patio and cozy atmosphere. I loved the artichoke crudo and the pizza.
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