The Best 5 Places To Have Breakfast In Milan, The Italian Way

First of all, what is a typical breakfast in Italy?

We Italians love our carbs (hello pasta every day), and breakfast isn’t an exception.

Carbs make you happy.

You may not be used to it. You may like your eggs or avocado toast in the morning, and reserve a sweet breakfast for the days you want to regress and spoil your inner child.

But we’re not talking about cheerios here.

Milk, coffee, rusks, jam, yogurt, and orange juice are all staples at the Italian breakfast table. Changing up the coffee for tea, the rusks for toast, the jam for honey, is something you can do to keep your meal interesting.

However, the real protagonists of Italian breakfast are two: pastries and coffee – nothing else.

So, while there are plenty of places where you can get a savory breakfast in Milan, when you’re in Italy you should do as the Romans do (at least once!) —and eat pastries for breakfast.

These 5 places to have breakfast in Milan definitely know how to make pastries worth eating.

So where can you find the best Italian breakfast in Milan?

We’ve selected some of our favorite places to get your morning started right.

These breakfast spots in Milan are all known for using top-quality ingredients and crafting their products with care, so you can rest assured that your breakfast will be as good as any Italian meal should be.

Panificio Longoni

Multiple locations, see below

However, if you’re planning to go somewhere else, they have seven shops scattered across the city, so you will definitely not miss them. All their bakeries offer delicious sourdough bread made with stone ground flour, pizza – and obviously pastries. This goodness makes people stand in long lines on weekend, and it’s worth it.

In fact, their quality is amazing. Their ingredients are selected and locally sourced to ensure that you get a product that tastes as good as it looks. Their pastries are the right amount of buttery and flaky—perfect for soaking up a morning cappuccino (or two).

Pavé

Via della Commenda, 25 (Porta Romana) | Via Felice Casati, 27 (Porta Venezia)

Croissants are an art form, and Pavé knows exactly how to do it right.

The process for making them is long and complex, but they are masterful at their craft. The staff is also super friendly and knowledgeable about the products they offer, with some new additions coming regularly.

The location’s got a very metropolitan industrial-style feel, and the quality of the food is always top-notch. This is definitely the best place to have breakfast in Porta Romana or Porta Venezia.

This cool venue is frequented by young people, and on weekends is not uncommon to have to wait in line, especially at their Porta Venezia location. 

Try also these places for the best coffe in Milan!

Princi

Multiple locations, see below

Princi is a bakery in Milan that has been around for 30 years, and it’s still going strong.

The idea of a bakery where you can sit and enjoy some delicious baked goods was introduced to Milan by the Calabrian owner Princi; it has since become a staple and has expanded to 5 locations across the city.

All their shops are centrally located, with a wide selection of baked goods and savory foods. When you’re in Brera for Breakfast, check out their location in Piazza Venticinque Aprile: there is a large seating area where you can sit and enjoy your meal. The quality of the ingredients used in the food is truly excellent.

Recently, Princi and Starbucks have decided to work together to create new locations all across the city, the first being the gorgeous Starbucks Reserve Roastery. It’s a really scenic and instagrammable place to have breakfast near Duomo and the Castle.

• Princi Porta Nuova: Piazza Venticinque Aprile, 5
• Princi Garibaldi: Largo La Foppa, 2
• Princi Porta Venezia: Corso Venezia, 21
• Princi Brera: Via Ponte Vetero, 10 
• Princi Duomo: Via Speronari, 6
• Starbucks Reserve Roastery & Princi: Via Cordusio, 1

Folà 

Via Luigi Varanini, 12 (NoLo)

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Folà, a women-owned business with international influence that opened a little over a year ago in Milan’s up-and-coming Nolo district, has already made a promise.

Folà is not just a bakery – here you can also have healthy lunches and treats all day. But let’s focus on breakfast: delicious baked products including cakes, cookies, brownies, banana bread, and of course croissants are always available, along with excellent coffee.

Besides, a welcoming and familiar atmosphere here will make you feel at home.

Gelsomina Pasticceria

Via Carlo Tenca,5 (Porta Venezia) | Via Galvano Fiamma, 2 (Cinque Giornate)

Gelsomina is a cozy patisserie shop with southern inspiration and a sophisticated, yet homey, interior.

Majolica tiles and potted fig plants adorn their two shops, with exposed concrete walls but a warm vibe. You’ll find many desserts here, but the star is definitely the “maritozzo”, a sweet and fluffy brioche of Roman origins, generously filled with whipped cream – ideal for a (hefty) breakfast.

As an alternative, you will always find croissants or pasticciotti from Puglia, two Italian morning staples. Obviously always served with coffee or cappuccino.

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