Good Restaurants in Navigli-Porta Ticinese (Milan)

Joe Pena's

If you like Latin American food in an authentic setting, dress up for dinner here and don't think about the cost. The décor is all South American in style, with warm colors, green leaves and wooden tables. Popular with the fashionable, but not so young crowd who enjoy the loud music and tequila cocktails. Guacamole, enchiladas, chicken and beef fajitas, hamburgers and other Mexican specialties are all made with good quality meat. You might want to taste the deliciously rich chocolate desserts served here, it will keep you coming back for more! You can also avail of their catering services during important business or private events. Check website for more details.

Officina 12

This is a newly opened restaurant which has already gained popularity among the young Milanese. The internal garden under the shade of an umbrella, with its white directors' chairs is really noteworthy. This is a very large restaurant like many old style pizzerias on the canals but is very pretty. Well looked after, elegant and sophisticated in its simplicity: antique pieces, paneling, wooden tables and beams. There are excellent pizzas cooked in the wood stove as well as traditional dishes with starters, main courses etc. Good selection of drinks to accompany the food or as aperitifs.

Pizzeria tradizionale

This is a little place where you eat well without spending a fortune, and it is located in a strategic spot (in the Ticino area), in one of the busiest parts of central Milan, where the young Milanese gather by day and night. The atmosphere is reminiscent of old style Milanese establishments, and is decorated in a tastefully sober style, with few furnishings. The ceilings are coffered wood, with beams and wooden tables. You can eat pizzas but that is not the only option: the house speciality is fresh fish. We recommend the Cuttlefish Risotto and the Swordfish Steak. The starters are excellent, as are the daily specials and the home made desserts. There is a wide choice of wines.

Solo Pizza

This simple, informal, sweet place is popular with all kinds of people as it is right on the bank of the Naviglio Pavese.

Trattoria Aurora

A fine, tasteful trattoria. The right place for those who want to try real Piemontese cooking. The decor and lighting are all in art deco style with exposed beams. Large windows, wooden chairs and orange table cloths. Beautiful and attractive summer garden for eating in the open. There is home-made pasta, tagliatelle, cheese and typical meat balls. Home-made desserts and a vast list of Piedmontese wines and others.

La Granseola

Not far from the railway track of Porta Genova with an atmosphere typical of old Milan, this restaurant belongs, without a doubt to those places that have made this area south of the cathedral, towards the Navigli and Ticinese, so characteristic. The decor is pleasant and welcoming, all in wood with wrought iron and flowerpots combined with good service and an undisputable touch of elegance. There are good quality fish dishes as well as more traditional cooking.

Tango

This place is on the street that links Porta Genova with the Alzaia Naviglio Grande. Walking along this street, you are catapulted into another dimension, away from the city and it feels as if you are in ancient Milan or a country village. There are many bars here, in the heart of Milan's drinking area.

Axè Brasil

This is the perfect place for those looking for a Latin-American atmosphere. The furnishings evoke the Amazon rainforest, the music reminds you of a Rio carnival, and the dancers make you think of Brazilian beaches. The food and snacks are all Latin-American, as are many of the cocktails. A purchase is obligatory.

Shambala

This is one of Milan's most interesting and attractive restaurants. Its only disadvantage is that it is difficult to reach without a car, but that doesn't stop the glitterati and fashionistas from making the trek. Housed in a renovated farmhouse on the edge of Milan, the tables, seats, lighting and decor are from Indonesia and the atmosphere is helped by the many candles everywhere. In summer you can eat outside in the Zen garden. The food is a real delight and a continuous discovery. The chef, Edo, a Japanese originally from Brazil, mixes Vietnamese and Thai dishes with ease to create flavours and colours that satiate the eyes and palate. The wine list is very good.

L' Ape Piera

L'Ape Piera is named after one of Bergonzoni's shows, and it's worth a visit just for the atmosphere. It is located opposite St. Christopher's church on the Naviglio, in a completely renovated 19th-century house. It has been painstakingly restored and is full of artistic and architectural surprises. The cuisine is creative but all stems from traditional recipes. Savor prepaartions that are full of homemade goodness, which are rich in flavor and generous in quantity The wine cellar is very well stocked and features many fine wines to accompany the tasty food.

Restaurant Cà Bianca

Located in a legendary place, this large white building with its private car park stands at the end of the Naviglio housed in a hotel serves creative and fresh Mediterranean cuisines. Besides dinner there is also jazz and cabaret shows performed by well known artists. The average age is fairly high (as are the prices!) and the atmosphere is elegant if a little elitist. There are traditional dishes as well as international recipes. The quality is naturally high, and the service is excellent. The wine list is enormous.

Le Vigne

This restaurant is in an excellent location, in one of Milan's most characteristic and lively streets near the canals - centre of Milan's nightlife. The osteria has the typical appearance of all the restaurants in this area, with a slightly artistic and chic air. The service is very friendly. The menu varies from month to month, but the quality remains the same. The cuisine is creative and original, especially for the first courses and stews. There are lots of meat dishes, accompanied by a extensive wine list with more than two hundred different types of wine.