A Taste of Milan: My Favorite Brunches
Milan might be known for espresso at the bar and a cornetto eaten standing up, and honestly, that version is hard to beat. But over the past few years a slower brunch culture has quietly grown, and I've happily explored it. These are the places I keep coming back to when I want a proper Sunday morning.
Founded in 1824, Marchesi is the kind of place that feels serious without being intimidating, the eau de nil interiors, the flawless service, the espresso. It's been part of the Prada Group since 2014 and has expanded to the Galleria and Via Montenapoleone, but the original on Via Santa Maria alla Porta is the one worth going to.
There's almost always a line outside this tiny bar in the east of the city, which tells you everything. Owned by an Italian-Senegalese family, Sissi does both sweet and savoury pastries equally well. In spring the little garden at the back is covered in wisteria, which is as good a reason as any to get there early and wait.
A little piece of southern Italy in the middle of Milan. Gelsomina is the place for Sicilian pastries. The pastries speak for themselves and that's honestly the most appealing thing about it.
Named after the Danish concept of coziness. Just off Corso Genova, Hygge does Danish pastries, scrambled eggs with smoked salmon, granola. The menu is small, the space is calm, and unlike a lot of places in this city it never feels like it's trying too hard. A good option if you want something a little outside the Italian pastry loop.
Yes, it's expensive. Yes, the people watching is genuinely excellent. Sant'Ambroeus is one of those Milan institutions that manages to feel special every time. You go not just for breakfast but for the experience of it, and that's a perfectly valid reason. A very good place to feel a little glamorous on a Sunday morning.
A more recent discovery that's already become a Sunday ritual. Felicetta has quickly earned its place among the best brunch spots in the city. Book ahead, especially on Sundays. It fills up fast and for good reason.
Technically not Milan, but close enough that it counts. In less than ten minutes you can be sitting in a rustic countryside setting that feels genuinely removed from the city. Best for a group, best for a slow afternoon. It's exactly the kind of Sunday that makes you feel like you live well.
Part café, part workspace, entirely photogenic. The space is full of flowers and the kind of aesthetic intention that makes you want to take your time. The matcha is excellent. Service runs on its own pace so don't come when you're in a hurry. But if you have nowhere to be and a laptop or a book, it's a very good place to disappear into for a few hours.
Ci vediamo al bar.
