Where To Get the Best Pasta in Milan, Italy in 2025

Published on July 23, 2025 | 0 Comments
The best pasta in Milan is often found in hidden gem restaurants

So you’re finally setting off on the Italian getaway of your dreams — this calls for a plate of the best pasta in Milan. Whether you’ve already landed or you’re the type to pencil every restaurant you want to try into your itinerary, you’re here because you want to know where to find the best pasta in Milan, Italy.

In such a competitive market, some restaurants are bound to be better bets than others — so how do you determine where you’ll have some of the best pasta in Milan, and where you’ll be left wishing you’d taken your dinner reservation elsewhere?

Research is key if you want to eat well in Italy, and the best pasta in Milan is no exception. Luckily for you, we’ve done that for you.

Looking for the best fresh pasta in Milan, the most happening local favorites or even Milan’s best gluten-free pasta? We’ve got you covered. These 10 stops for the best pasta in Milan, Italy, have something for every taste and budget.

 

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How We Choose The Best Pasta Restaurants in Milan 

When it comes to Italy, the information fog is real. Not only is Italy one of the most-visited countries in the world, but a huge portion of those tourists are motivated to visit by its cuisine. Whether you’re searching for the best Italian street food, the most authentic pizza or the tastiest pasta, there’s no shortage of options.

In fact, Italy is home to roughly 161,000 restaurants and takeaways (think grab-and-go pizzerias), according to a report published by IBIS World. And many of these eateries are designed with foreign tourists in mind due to the important role tourists play in the Italian economy. 

With so many eateries to choose from, knowing where to go, even when visiting just one city, can be challenging. So, as a trusted source for all things culinary, the editorial team at Cozymeal turned to personal experience as well as online reviews and recommendations to narrow down 10 spots for the best pasta in Milan.

Consulting online guides, customer reviews and local tips, we focused on restaurants that had consistently excellent reviews and were widely recommended by local residents who’d had a chance to sample pasta restaurants in Milan extensively. Some of the things we took into account were:

  • Local Flavor: Not all pasta shapes are universal, and many types of pasta originated in a very specific region of Italy. Sure, you can get your beloved penne or capellini in any Italian city, but neither is authentically Milanese. Since regional variation is a cherished element of Italian food culture, we’ve tried to include restaurants that focus on more regional specialties: that tends to be a surefire hint that a restaurant isn’t just catering to tourists.
  • Made From Scratch: When you think about the authentic Italian pasta experience of your foodie bucket list dreams, you probably imagine that the restaurant has somebody in the back rolling out fresh pasta dough. Freshness really does make a difference, so we’ve given priority to places that offer the best homemade pasta in Milan. 
  • Word of Mouth: Our picks for the best pasta in Milan have consistently glowing reviews from people who really know Milan food. If you can impress an Italian with your pasta, you’re doing something right! 

You can get decent pasta on any street corner in Milan. But we believe that if you really want the best pasta in Milan, you have to think about those three things, and they’re the principles that guided our selection of the best places to eat pasta in Milan.  

A bowl of pasta with tomato sauce next to a glass of wine
via Canva

The 10 Best Pasta Places in Milan

1. Pasta d’Autore 

If you’re searching for a restaurant where you can get some of the best pasta in Milan, just steps from some of the city’s best-known tourist attractions, this spot has to be top of your list. Though you don’t tend to find the best food in such heavily-trafficked areas, Pasta d’Autore is the exception, serving classic dishes with its house-made pasta in the Duomo area. A truly rare gem.  

The Vibe  

Chic and understated, a nice medium between the hole-in-the-wall spots and truly high-class restaurants that populate most of this list. It’s a family-owned restaurant with a smart, practical look, a sit-down meal that you won’t have to dress up for.  

What to Order 

Pasta d’Autore offers a mix-and-match order format, so choose the pasta shape and sauce that sound best to you — there’s not a miss among the whole bunch when you’re dealing with some of the best pasta in Milan. 

Pasta d’Autore | Corso di Porta Ticinese, 16, 20123 Milan | €€€ 

Two pasta dishes on a dining table
via Pasta d’Autore

2. Gloria Osteria Milano  

The best pasta in Milan certainly can come from an unassuming, no-frills pasta shop, but if you’re after a touch of glamor, you can have both in one place at Gloria Osteria Milano. This is a splashy place where the best pasta in Milan isn’t always traditional, but never fails to impress.  

The Vibe  

Ostentatious, bold and unapologetically lavish, Gloria Osteria Milano isn’t aiming for a humble plate of ravioli in butter. Oh, no: this is the place to go if you want to be wowed. Lest you forget that Milan is one of the world's fashion capitals, this uber-chic restaurant will be happy to remind you of that over a plate of some of the best pasta in Milan.  

What to Order 

Cacio e pepe is known as a Roman dish, not a Milanese one, but it’s easy to forget that when you’re eating here. No, it’s not exactly local, but Gloria Osteria Milano’s version is as knock-your-socks-off as anything you’ll find in Rome.

When it comes to the best pasta in Milan, “eat local” is a rule with exceptions. However, there are many other pasta dishes on the menu to choose from if that doesn’t take your fancy. 

Gloria Osteria Milano | Via Tivoli, 3, 20121 Milan | €€

Gloria Osteria Milano serves some of the best pasta in Milan
via Gloria Osteria Milano

3. L'immagine Bistrot Ristorante

If there’s one rule you remember about dining in Italy, let it be this one: the further you get from the tourist hubs, the more locally-oriented the food is likely to be. This often means that some of the best pasta in Milan is found further afield than most tourists venture: such is the case with L'immagine Bistrot Ristorante. Make the trek (about 20 minutes from central Milan by car) and you’ll be rewarded with impeccably crafted dishes and pairings from all the premier Italian wine regions.  

The Vibe  

This is a classy and classic Italian trattoria, but, in the style of all the best Italian institutions, it doesn’t cross the thin line from “stylish” into “pretentious.” This is a restaurant of genuine quality where locals might come for a nice dinner out, and it knows that it does not call attention to itself. 

What to Order 

L'immagine specializes in Milanese-style cuisine, which isn’t as pasta-heavy as some other regional cuisines in Italy. One exception: ravioli. If we’re talking filled pastas, this restaurant makes some of the best pasta in Milan.

The fresh maccheroni (macaroni, although a little different in shape from what you’re used to in the U.S.) is also a great choice if available. 

L'immagine Bistrot Ristorante | Via Varesina, 61, 20156 Milan | €€€

Rigatoni with pistachio and basil
via L'immagine Bistrot Ristorante

4. Bistrò 

Finding anything gluten-free in Italy can be a trial, which is why Bistrò is such a find: it’s an exclusively gluten-free restaurant that nevertheless brings the quality you’d expect in an Italian eatery. Anyone looking for the best gluten-free pasta in Milan needs to look no further.  

The Vibe  

Tucked away on a leafy side street, Bistrò is short on gluten but not on ambiance. There’s an attached bakery if you fancy a gluten-free treat to finish your meal.  

What to Order 

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering how good gluten-free ravioli could possibly taste, order the lemon-ricotta ravioli and see for yourself why it deserves to be ranked among the best pasta in Milan. 

Bistrò | Corso Magenta, 9, 20123 Milan | €€

Pasta carbonara in a pan
via Bistrò

5. Pasta Fresca Brambilla 

Some of the best fresh pasta in Milan is made here. Family-owned Pasta Fresca Brambilla began as a fresh pasta shop and test kitchen, and its restaurant is a later addition. Nevertheless, it has made Milanese and visitors alike very happy.

But this isn’t the kind of neighborhood eatery you can just stroll into: the restaurant only stays open until the day’s fresh pasta sells out, so you have to show up early if you want a taste of some of Milan’s best pasta.  

The Vibe  

This is in every way a local spot. The space and menu are both tiny, and their hours, as we mentioned, are limited by the pasta supply. But that small-batch, small-supply focus is what makes the fresh dishes at Pasta Fresca Brambilla some of the best pasta in Milan.  

What to Order 

Consult the restaurant’s hand-written menu board for the ever-changing specialties. Though dishes change with the day and season, our recommendation is to stick to whatever variation of ravioli is currently available: many diners cite Pasta Fresca Brambilla’s ravioli as some of the best they’ve ever tasted.  

Pasta Fresca Brambilla | Via Melzo, 2, 20129 Milan | €

Stuffed pasta in tomato sauce on a plate
via Pasta Fresca Brambilla

 

6. Bottega Farina 

Fresh pasta in a casual, intimate space, Bottega Farina is what many people picture when they think of the best pasta in Milan. You can even buy fresh pasta to take home and cook yourself.  

The Vibe 

Cozy and casual but polished: there’s nothing fancy about this fresh pasta spot, but its attention to design and aesthetics, even in such an unassuming setting, is pure Milan.  

What to Order 

If this isn’t your first attempt to find the best pasta in Milan, you’ve probably had your fill of stuffed pasta by now. At Bottega Farina, go for a change of pace with an order of orecchiette carbonara or the pasta amatriciana. 

Bottega Farina | Via Felice Casati, 39, 20124 Milan | €

A pan with tomato rigatoni with basil
via Bottega Farina

7. Pasta Fresca di Giovanni  

Ask locals to name the best pasta in Milan, and this name will probably come up more than any other. Pasta Fresca di Giovanni is a legendary spot for fresh homemade pasta, a true local’s choice that you might easily walk right by if you didn’t know what you were looking at. As such, it’s not exactly unknown, but this gem is still not to be missed.  

The Vibe  

Small, casual as can be and always bustling: Pasta Fresca di Giovanni may taste like fine dining, but this family-owned pasticceria’s setting is anything but. That’s part of the charm of this approachable spot: some of Milan’s best pasta in a convivial setting.  

What to Order 

Many of these small spots specializing in handmade pasta offer a mix-and-match menu, where you choose the pasta shapes and sauces you’d like to combine. We won’t try to sway your decision — whatever you choose will be some of the best pasta in Milan.  

Pasta Fresca di Giovanni | Via Ascanio Sforza, 31, 20136 Milan | €

Pasta Fresca di Giovanni has some of the best pasta in Milan
via Pasta Fresca di Giovanni 

 

8. I Sapori Della Pasta 

Hop on a tram from the city center, and in about 20 minutes, you’ll find yourself at a low-key pasticceria that earns every rave review it gets. With the classic mix-and-match style of a restaurant dealing in handmade pasta, I Sapori Della Pasta offers a solid variety of classics perfectly prepared in an unassuming setting. The best pasta in Milan doesn’t always have to involve white tablecloths and wine, and this popular spot is proof of that.  

The Vibe  

With only a few tables, I Sapori Della Pasta would have a line around the block if it were as crowded as some of the tourist hotspots in the city center. Luckily, its location keeps it a (mostly) local secret, and its friendly, cozy storefront is bustling but not cramped.  

What to Order 

You probably already know what we’re going to say about this. With some of the best pasta in Milan, there’s no bad call, so it’s a great place to try whatever pasta dish you’ve been craving but unable to find on a fixed restaurant menu thus far.

I Sapori Della Pasta | Via Alessandro Volta, 15, 20121 Milan | €€ 

Some of the best pasta in Milan is served at I Sapori Della Pasta
via I Sapori Della Pasta

9. Trattoria Trippa

This Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant’s name might refer to the tripe dishes it’s famous for, but Trattoria Trippa is anything but one-note. Even less adventurous eaters with little desire to try tripe will find local and unusual dishes of a somewhat less adventurous bent here, including some of the best pasta in Milan.  

The Vibe  

A classic Italian trattoria in every sense of the word, Trattoria Trippa is a glass (or bottle) of wine kind of place where you can comfortably linger for hours. Our advice? Do it — this isn’t the kind of city where the waitstaff are going to try to shoo you out the second your plate is clean.  

What to Order 

The pasta dishes here change frequently, but all are exquisite and feature fresh pasta with simple but delicious sauces. You really can’t go wrong with any order!

Trattoria Trippa | Via Giorgio Vasari, 1, 20135 Milano | €€€ 

You can get the best pasta in Milan at Trattoria Trippa
via Trattoria Trippa

 

10. Osteria Mamma Rosa 

If you only have a few hours between trains to grab the best pasta in Milan, Osteria Mamma Rosa is your best bet. This established local favorite is only 10 minutes on foot from Milano Centrale, and has been making some of Milan’s best pasta and seafood in a welcoming but elegant space since 1986. Even if you aren’t in a hurry, it’s a must-visit pasta place in Milan. 

The Vibe  

This is a swankier spot than many of the other restaurants on this list, ideal for birthdays, anniversaries and any occasion that calls for a refined celebration. However, it’s also welcoming to almost all guests, so feel free to stop in while waiting for a train or to refuel during a day of sightseeing.  

What to Order 

Since Osteria Mamma Rosa is a seafood restaurant as much as a pasta place, ordering any pasta dish with seafood is a good bet. Although landlocked Milan isn’t known for its excellent seafood, this restaurant is a decided exception.  

Osteria Mamma Rosa | Piazza Cincinnato, 4, 20124 Milano | €€€ 

A plate of pasta with a yellow sauce and basil
via Osteria Mamma Rosa

Learn To Cook Italian Pasta

If you’re anything like us, all that delicious pasta you ate in Milan probably left you wishing you could learn to cook Italian food and recreate your favorite dishes at home. And if it did, we have great news for you: you can!

Ever wanted to try rolling out some fresh pasta for yourself? Consider checking out cooking classes in Milan, where local experts can guide you through the Italian cooking techniques you’ll need to recreate your favorite Milanese food memories at home. 

Or maybe you can’t make it to Milan just yet. If that’s the case, don’t worry: you can bring this foodie city to you and learn the same skills in cooking classes near you. There are even online cooking classes, allowing you to discover how to make fresh pasta from almost anywhere in the world.

Finally, if you’re lucky enough to visit Milan and want to discover even more top pasta places (or just other great restaurants in the city), taking a food tour in Milan is an excellent idea. A local guide will take you to a range of popular eateries, including many hidden gems and non-touristy spots loved by locals. 

Learn to make the best pasta in Milan at a cooking class
via Cozymeal

After all of your scrimping and saving, you’re here: all those Italian meals are no longer a dream but a soon-to-be reality. And with these 10 spots for the best pasta in Milan, you’re well-prepared to take on the city with the culinary know-how you need to experience it to the fullest. 

Our final tip? Brush up on your Italian — you’re going to be getting a whole lot of mileage out of your “please,” “thank you,” and “give my compliments to the chef.”

For even more ways to explore Milan and beyond, check out other experiences happening on Cozymeal.