8 romantic restaurants in Milan for the best date night

Published by: BouncePosted
Romantic restaurants in Milan

What is it about Italy and romance? They go together like pasta and tomato sauce. Maybe it's the history that has left major Italian cities crammed with incredible monuments like Milan's Duomo. Maybe it's the culture, with Italy having an outsized impact on the history of art and music. Maybe it's the language. And maybe, at least in part, it's the food.

Everyone has an idea of what Italian food means. However, Italian food is intensely regional, with every city in the country having its own notions of what makes a good meal. Hardly surprising, given that until relatively recently in the 19th century, Italy was not a unified country but was instead a patchwork of different city-states with their own culinary traditions.

Milan, located in the north of the country, is one of Italy's largest and wealthiest cities. The world capital of fashion, it's also an excellent place for romance. You'll find the most romantic restaurants imaginable around just about every corner of the city, so if you're looking for a romantic dinner, you don't have to go far.

Drop off your bags at a Milan Bounce luggage storage and explore the most romantic restaurants Milan has to offer. Whether you're heading out for a first date or an anniversary dinner with your lifelong partner, you'll find the perfect place and the perfect menu for a beautiful evening in Milan.

Places for date night in Milan

El Porteño Gourmet

Italians have lots of reasons to be proud of their culture, and they certainly are. That's why Italian food rules the menu of many of the romantic restaurants in Milan. But this big and cosmopolitan city's not completely shut off from outside influences. You'll see that immediately at El Porteño Gourmet, where you can sample exquisite Argentinian cuisine in one of the best romantic restaurants in the city.

Argentina and Italy have cultural links that go back many generations, with Italian immigration to the New World having a big impact on the formation of the modern country of Argentina. So it's probably not surprising that some people have come the other way. El Porteño is popular enough to have multiple locations in some of Milan's more popular neighborhoods, but whichever one you pick, you'll find you've chosen one of the most romantic restaurants in Milan.

El Porteño Gourmet is the closest of these restaurants to the heart of Milan, and it occupies a storefront on Via Speronari, just a stone's throw away from the Duomo. Inside, the soft lights and red velvet booths will make you feel like you've been transported back to Buenos Aires in the 1950s, making this an elegant and glamorous destination for a delicious meal in a unique atmosphere.

Our recommendation:

Beef, beef, and more beef. Argentinian cuisine is famously based around cattle, and you'll find beef in just about every possible preparation here. Try the beef Malbec as a starter, paired with a glass of the same wine the meat was braised in to give you an idea of what you're in for.

Location:

Via Speronari, 4, 20123 Milano

Price level:

$$$

Milan's best romantic restaurants

Acanto

Of course, you can't discuss romantic restaurants in one of Italy's major cities without discussing Italian food itself. And that's what you'll find at Acanto. Although this restaurant lies some way out of the city center, it's worth making the journey to enjoy exceptional food at one of the city's most romantic restaurants.

The tall windows, marble floors, and gilded furnishings of the dining room leave you with no doubt that you're in one of the most romantic restaurants in Milan. The restaurant also offers an outdoor seating area in a beautiful courtyard so you can enjoy al fresco dining when the weather cooperates. The attention to detail in the charming dining room is reflected in the quality of the food on offer, so it's not just the decor that's refined here. The creations of the chef are equally spectacular.

Our recommendation:

Start with the crudo di scampi if you're a fan of seafood, followed by the white asparagus risotto, which is one of those classic Milanese dishes you have to try while you're in the city.

Location:

Piazza della Repubblica, 17, 20124 Milano MI, Italy

Price level:

$$$

Da Noi In

Located in the Magna Pars Hotel, the sleek modern aesthetic of this restaurant provides an excellent atmosphere for a romantic dinner. Situated a little outside the center of Milan, this restaurant is close to the Museo delle Culture, and it's well worth the short journey by public transit to get here and sample what they offer.

The hotel is five-star, and the cuisine here is every bit as sophisticated as you would expect. Along with an incredible selection of seafood dishes, they have an enviable wine cellar where you can sample vintages from across Italy and beyond. It all combines to make this one of the most romantic restaurants in Milan and an excellent place to count on for a memorable evening.

Our recommendation:

With fresh fish brought daily into the restaurant, the best thing to do is ask your server what the chef recommends that day. That way, you're guaranteed something truly fresh and most likely creative as well.

Location:

Via Vincenzo Forcella, 6, 20144 Milano

Price level:

$$$

Romantic dining in Milan

Cavoli a Merenda

This restaurant simply screams romance and old-world sophistication. Cavoli a Merenda could hardly have a more romantic location, housed as it is in an 18th-century palace that also houses a hotel of the same name. The exquisite dining room, with its golden candelabra and grand fireplace, is matched by an equally beautiful restaurant terrace where you can have your dinner in the open air and enjoy a beautiful Milan evening.

If you're going to have surroundings this romantic, you know you need to match it with some exceptional food, and Cavoli a Merenda delivers there too. Part of the appeal of this restaurant is its hidden feel, but it's the great food that keeps locals and visitors alike coming back for more. In addition to an extensive wine list that focuses on smaller regional wineries, this restaurant offers a traditional Italian menu that is delicately balanced by a dietitian to provide optimal nourishment as well as taste.

Our recommendation:

Ravioli, fettuccine, roast beef — you'll find all your traditional Italian favorites on the menu here. It's best to make a reservation well in advance, as this popular restaurant fills up quickly.

Location:

Corso Magenta, 66, 20123 Milano

Price level:

$$$

Potafiori

More than just a restaurant, Potafiori offers what is undoubtedly one of the most romantic places in Milan - which is saying quite a lot. Founded by Rosalba Piccinni, this restaurant is also a concept store full of flowers, art, and luxurious products - all of them for sale. Along with an incredible meal, you can pick up a designer scarf or an artistically constricted bouquet of flowers. In fact, you'll have to keep an eye on your budget here to keep yourself from overspending.

The dining room here simply screams classic elegance, and the menu is classically Italian. What's on offer changes almost from week to week depending on what's in season, but you can expect exquisite pasta and meat dishes, all lovingly prepared and presented to match the romantic ambiance of this unique restaurant.

Our recommendation:

There is often a fixed menu here, especially on the weekends, and this usually offers the best value for your money since you can try three or four different courses for a single and relatively low cost.

Location:

Via Salasco, 17, 20136 Milano MI, Italy

Price level:

$$$

Milan's best date night restaurants

La Cupola

Located at the Park Hyatt Hotel, this restaurant boasts one of the most incredible settings in all of Milan. Housed under the great glass dome of this luxurious hotel, La Copula combines historic architectural traditions with the cutting edge of modernity. And that architectural choice is a reflection of what you'll find on the menu, too.

The generous breakfast buffet makes it popular with restaurant guests looking to fuel themselves up for a long day of exploring the city. But at dinnertime, La Cupola comes into its own, transforming into one of the most romantic restaurants in Milan. The soft light and stained-glass windows, coupled with an amazing wine selection, are the perfect accompaniment to beautifully-designed dishes by the head chef, including cacio e pepe pasta with lime and prawns and Milanese-style veal chops. There's also a great selection of sandwiches, burgers, and pizza if you don't feel like going all out on a traditional Italian meal.

Our recommendation:

Reservations are very much recommended in this perennially popular and exclusive location.

Location:

Via Tommaso Grossi, 1, 20121 Milano

Price level:

$$$$

Where to dine in Milan on date night

Bouecc

Italy's history is, of course, part of its unique charm, and you can get an excellent taste of history at Bouecc. This Milanese restaurant has been operating for over 300 years, making it older than the country of Italy itself. And from the moment you step into the stunning dining room here, you'll feel that history that goes all the way back to 1696.

With crisp white tablecloths and crystal chandeliers, there's nothing casual or low-key about this restaurant. Instead, it offers a classic Italian dining experience that few restaurants in Milan can even hope to match. The secret of its success for all these long years is doing familiar things extremely well, and the chefs keep that tradition alive to this day.

Of course, you can expect to pay a pretty penny for luxury like this. But if you really need to impress and want to make great memories on a truly special occasion, it's hard to beat a classic and time-tested establishment like this.

Our recommendation:

Risotto is about as classic as Milanese dishes come. So while you're dining in these opulent surroundings, you may as well surrender to tradition and try it for yourself.

Location:

Piazza Belgioioso, 2, 20121 Milano

Price level:

$$$$

Les Gitanes

The name may be French, but the food here is as traditionally Italian as you'll find in Milan. Think ossobucco, spaghetti, tagliatelle, and other dishes that you'll find in many Italian restaurants around the world. However, the dishes here are prepared with a great deal of care and attention to detail, elevating them above the standard offerings.

The dining room area is just as striking as the food, with black and white walls and tile inlay on the polished wooden floors. It has the feel of a hidden gem tucked away in this often busy city, making it an excellent choice for a romantic date or other special occasions. This restaurant is sure to impress your partner on your next date night in Milan.

Our recommendation:

Tiramisu is a staple on Italian dessert menus, but Les Gitanes put their own special twist on it with the tiramisu gitanes. Split one between you and enjoy this classic Italian dessert in these luxurious surroundings.

Location:

Via Savona, 11, 20144 Milano MI, Italy

Price level:

$$

Most romantic restaurants in Milan

Conclusion

With a fascinating history, stunning architecture, and some of the most fashionable people in the world, Milan is a city that offers plenty of reasons to visit for a short trip or a longer stay. And if you have a special occasion to celebrate, or you simply want to impress someone you've had your eye on with a fancy dinner, you won't be short of romantic restaurants to try in the city. Although the menus tend toward classic Italian in most places, if you look around, you can find lots of variety, including the best street food in Milan.

Plus, if you're looking for after-dinner drinks, you can't go wrong with a view of the Milan skyline from the best rooftop bars in the city. Leave your bags behind, and you can easily plan out a memorable and romantic night in this beautiful city.

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