Milan is a city steeped in history, with impressive art and heritage everywhere you look. But it's a forward-thinking place too, at the cutting edge of fashion, technology and climate-focused initiatives.
With this in mind, we were surprised to find that Milan's vegan scene is still developing, with the majority of menus lacking a vegan option (though do look out for random vegan pastries in supermarkets!)
Scroll down to see how we rank the vegan food that we tried, tasted, and approved, to make your culinary navigation of this beautiful northern Italian city so much easier!
Eating Vegan in Milan
"Milan is a true metropolis: strong and fearless but welcoming, too. Little by little, I came to realize that I could become someone here." – Giorgio Armani
Even though Milan wasn't the easiest place to find vegan food, that doesn't mean to say that it wasn't worth the hard work. In fact, the plant-based options that we came across were so delicious, we are really excited to revisit them in the future and see how the plant-based scene in Milan develops.
Here are our top recommendations for vegan food in Milan:
1st: VegAmore
Via Crema, 12, 20135 Milano MI, Italy
We came across VegAmore on our first night in Vienna and it was such a happy find. The restaurant is cosy with warm lighting and funky decor and the staff give you a really warm welcome. They were fully booked but luckily accommodated us on a table outside - they're popular so be sure to secure your booking in advance! Once we tried their food, it was so clear why they get booked up in advance!
For only €10 you get a plate with three choices from their selection of hearty, wholesome, homemade vegan dishes. The menu changes daily in line with seasonal produce, so is written in a chalkboard in Italian - but the staff are very happy to explain each of the dishes in English too. There is a menu of starters and the most incredible desserts, and bread, dip and water is served to your table as standard (part of the cover charge that is the norm in Milan; here it was a very affordable €1.50 per person). Our bread was served with a really moreish homemade cheezy tofu miso dip.
We sampled a variety of their main dishes: first and foremost their saffron risotto (a Milanese staple!), as well as seitan pasta, tofu and vegetable roll, tofu cutlets, pumpkin, and spiced cabbage. We were pleased that there was two of us so we could sample six dishes between us! Everything was hearty and flavoursome, but the winner really was the saffron risotto - a perfectly warming February welcome to Milan!
2nd: Soulgreen
Piazzale Principessa Clotilde, 20124 Milano MI, Italy
We happened to be in Milan for our anniversary so we wanted to make sure that we found something really special to eat - and that is exactly what we found at Soulgreen. This plant-based restaurant is a feast for the eyes from the moment you step through the door. With an innovative water filtration system, luscious greenery purifying the air, ordering through provided tablets, and offering quality seasonal plant-based cuisine, it's clear that Soulgreen are at the forefront of Milan's vegan scene.
We were so excited to find that the menu of the day featured two of the dishes that we were desperate to try while we were in the city. Milan is famous for its risotto and gnocchi, so of course those were the dishes we chose! The food was so fresh and flavoursome - the risotto was creamy just the right amount of bite, and the gnocchi was perfectly bouncy in the tastiest tomato sauce. Soulgreen's menu isn't the most affordable we sampled, but the quality that you're paying for here is clear.
With it being a special day, we couldn't leave without sampling Soulgreen's desserts! The whole menu was tempting, but we ultimately opted for the avocado-based chocolate mousse with raspberry coulis and a fruit salad. Now I know what you're thinking - most plant-based eaters have eaten so many fruit salads that they definitely wouldn't consider them a treat... but this was no ordinary fruit salad. The exotic range of fruits and berries were layered so artistically and topped with an edible flower; it was clear that each of these fruits had been selected for their superior taste. As for the mousse, it was so smooth and flavoursome, with the sharpness of the coulis contrasting with the sweetness of the chocolate for a delectable twist.
Soulgreen might be a little too expensive to frequent during your trip to Milan, but it's so good that budget allowing we would really recommend stopping by.
3rd: Mascherpa
Via Edmondo de Amicis, 7, 20123 Milano MI, Italy
You can't think of Italian desserts without tiramisu coming to mind. But that creamy goodness generally isn't something you'd expect to be vegan - in fact, tiramisu was one of the desserts that Kyra most missed since adopting a plant-based diet. So when we heard about Mascherpa, a tiramisu and coffee shop that always has a vegan option in the counter, we made sure to head there on our first day in the city!
When we visited, Mascherpa had a classic vegan tiramisu and a pistachio version in the counter. As for other vegan options, there weren't too many, but this is a place that specialises in tiramisu and does it so, so well (you can read more about Mascherpa in our plant-based vs original tiramisu blog).
So as vegan Italian cuisine goes, Mascherpa is among our must-visit locations in Milan - be sure to check it out!
4th: Flower Burger
Viale Vittorio Veneto, 10, 20124 Milano MI, Italy
Via Tortona, 12, 20144 Milano MI, Italy
Corso Garibaldi, 34, 20121 Milano MI, Italy
Bicocca Village Viale Sarca, angolo, Via Chiese, 20126 Milano MI, Italy
Flower Burger is an international chain, with three outlets in Milan. We had never tried their burgers before, and the colourful food and restaurant really drew us in.
The menu is full of exciting burgers made from healthy ingredients: the burger patties are chickpea, bean or lentil based, and are served with a range of unusual vegetables including courgette, aubergine and beansprouts. With colourful sauces and buns, their food is super instagrammable. It's really tasty and filling too, with potato or edamame bean side dishes and a range of drink and dessert options.
5th: Mani in Pasta
Via Padova, 205, 20127 Milano MI, Italy
Via Carlo Pisacane, 47, 20129 Milano MI, Italy
We simply had to fill ourselves with pizza while we were in Milan, so stopped by Mani in Pasta to sample their freshly made pizzas with vegan cheese option.
Mani in Pasta have a big choice of pizzas - which you can see being cooked in the restaurant - and you can opt to switch the regular cheese for their super stretchy vegan cheese. However there aren't many plant-based pizzas on the menu; we tried the vegetarian pizza, made vegan on request. Read the menu carefully because we were very surprised when to see that the funghi pizza came topped with lots of prosciutto ham. The restaurant are very good with allergens though, and double checked that Kyra didn't want pesto on her pizza, so it will be easy enough to confirm ingredients with them.
Which is your favourite vegan restaurant in Milan? Are there any new places or old favourites that we've missed? Leave us a comment to let us know (and others who might be visiting too!)
Recommendations
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Where should I stay?
There are so many places to stay in Milan, from international chain hotels to independent B&Bs and hostels. If you're looking for a basic but friendly hotel at a reasonable price, check out Hotel Giacosta - where the staff speak Italian, English, Arabic and Filipino.
If a top-rated and well-located hostel is more your scene, try Ostello Bello, who have won loads of awards for the standard and service they provide.
Tours & Experiences
We love long walks around cities but we know this doesn't work for everyone - sometimes you might just not have the time! If you want to see all the highlights of Milan in a really convenient way, why not try this hop-on hop-off bus tour, where your ticket is valid for 24 or 48 hours? Or if that's not quite for you, why not try one of the top-rated Viator tours below?
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