Article by contributor Giulia Minguzzi
You can read this article in Italian here
Sunday: wake up late and treat yourself. In Milan, all it takes is a short stroll to stumble upon countless places that make you feel at home while offering something a little different from your usual Sunday lunch. Brunch, an international ritual that’s become very much our own, has won us over with its convivial, comforting and original spirit.
For Milanese locals, the weekend now means a regular brunch date — from late morning to early afternoon — where eating becomes an experience, a way to have fun and lose yourself in conversation. If you’re looking for brunch inspiration along the Navigli, you’re in the right place: I’ve put together a list of spots that capture the true essence of this ever-popular trend. Think of it as a guide to Milan-ise yourself, one brunch at a time!
Combo: the perfect spot for brunch (even outdoors)
Hostel, bar-restaurant, event space, art gallery — Combo wears many hats. Overlooking the Naviglio Grande, this 2,200 m² multifunctional space offers varied experiences with a common thread: conviviality. Combo is ideal if you’re visiting Milan and want to meet new people, need a quiet place to work (there’s a co-working area), or simply want a laid-back location for drinks or brunch with friends.
Every weekend, they offer a “Complete Brunch” from 11:30 am to 3:00 pm for €31. It includes a dish from their à la carte menu, fruit salad, baguette with jam and hazelnut cream, maple syrup pancakes, plain yoghurt with mixed seeds, freshly squeezed orange juice, a hot drink of your choice, and filtered water.
Alternatively, there’s a €24 menu including one main dish (think avocado toast, veggie burgers, salmon bagels, cheeseburgers, English breakfast or bowls of meat/fish, and a pasta of the day) plus coffee, water and the daily all-dayer drink — but no dessert included.
Thanks to Combo’s large outdoor area, it’s the perfect place to enjoy brunch in the sunshine. Afterwards, you can walk it off by browsing the vintage and second-hand markets often held along the Navigli on Saturdays and Sundays.
Combo
Ripa di Porta Ticinese 83 (metro M2 Porta Genova)
Marè: a taste of Romagna on the Navigli
Though you’re in Milan, Marè instantly transports you to the Romagna Riviera — where sunshine, sea and good food are a way of life. As someone half-Romagnola through my father, I couldn’t not mention this place, which captures the region’s warm hospitality and relaxed vibes.
Marè offers 5 different Brunch Sets — “Terra”, “Mare”, “Campo”, “Veggie”, and “Dolce” — all priced at €28, including water and a choice of American coffee or fresh juice.
The “Campo” set is particularly original: poached egg with sautéed porcini mushrooms, thyme and Parmigiano fondue. The rest of the set includes various vegetarian tapas and cheeses, such as a modern take on the classic Romagnolo crescione with kamut dough, wild greens, Taleggio and olives.
Don’t miss the squacquerone and caramelised fig cheesecake — a mashup of two iconic Romagna ingredients reimagined as a classic American dessert.
Pro tip: Ask for an extra piadina with squacquerone and jam — you won’t regret it!
Marè Milano
Ripa di Porta Ticinese, 67 (metro M2 Porta Genova)
Una Cosa Bistrot: a timeless courtyard brunch
For an Instagram-worthy setting, head to Una Cosa Bistrot — a spin-off of the well-known Ofelè in Solari. This hidden gem, nestled in a courtyard frozen in time, features warm, vintage-style interiors with retro lamps and antique furniture.
Menus are €30 (excluding drinks) and range from the classic Ofelè menu with avocado toast to the USA menu (bagel with spinach, poached egg and Hollandaise sauce), the Queen Elisabeth (a proper English breakfast), and Little Italy (meatballs in tomato sauce, cheese board, taralli, olives and burrata).
For the curious, there’s an Exotic menu (pea cream, poached egg, mango harissa, guacamole, black bean dip), and for vegans, the Rainbow menu (bagel with avocado spread, marinated tofu, coleslaw and chips). Dishes can also be ordered à la carte and vary weekly.
We went classic with the Ofelè menu: one avocado toast with salmon, the other with bacon, served alongside veggie sides (in our case, hummus and roasted vegetables) and pancakes with syrup and fruit. Everything arrives together — start with the pancakes while they’re still warm
Una cosa bistrot
Via Scaldasole, 7 (metro M2 Porta Genova)
Sisu: à la carte aesthetic brunch
SISU (meaning “perseverance” in Finnish) is a new Nordic-inspired contemporary bakery near Corso Genova that’s captured the hearts of brunch lovers.
Forget your standard croissants — here you’ll find babka with apricot, tiramisù rolls, pistachio croissant rolls, cinnamon buns, and daily cakes both sweet and savoury. The space is bright, minimal, and impeccably styled — attention to detail is everything here.
Brunch is à la carte. I recommend the smash croissant with Parma ham and seasonal fruit (€7) for something unique and indulgent, or go classic with pancakes with smashed avocado, bacon, fried egg and flax seeds (€11).
They also serve excellent daily quiches (I had one with courgettes, carrots, radicchio and speck for €8) and creative dishes like seeded toast with smashed avocado, marinated tuna, lime and mixed seeds (€13).
Booking is highly recommended, as there’s always a queue — even at lunchtime.
Sisu
Via Gaudenzio Ferrari, 1 (tram 2,14; metro M2 Porta Genova)
The Doping Bar: buffet brunch with DJ set
“Oh My Brunch” is the new brunch format from The Doping Bar — a chic cocktail lounge from the Aethos group in Piazza XXIV Maggio. For €45, you get a cocktail, an egg dish, a main course, and unlimited access to the buffet, all set to live DJ music.
It’s a premium experience, but the quality of food and setting makes it worthwhile. From cold cuts and cheese to focaccia, quiches, vegetable salads, seafood salad and a wide variety of desserts — everything is beautifully presented and well-executed. Even the simplest dishes are elevated: the avocado toast, for example, features an avocado mousse piped onto toasted bread with a piping bag.
It’s not the cheapest option, but it’s perfect for a special occasion — elegant, fun and delicious.
The Doping Bar
Piazza XXIV Maggio, 8 (Tram 3,9,10)
Bgood: Milan’s most affordable brunch
If you’re on a budget, head to Bgood near Naviglio Pavese — Milan’s most affordable brunch, priced at just €18. It includes an open toast (with several options), two veggie sides, a sweet treat (“joy”), and a drink (filter coffee or cappuccino, plus fresh juice).
And here’s the best part: brunch is available every day of the week, not just on weekends. It’s simple, customisable, and perfect for a relaxed meal without spending too much.
Bgood
Via Antonio Tantardini, 8 (tram 3)
Mani Milano Lab: brunch & clay!
Seen those Instagram stories of people doing pottery workshops? Well, at Mani Milano Lab, you can do just that — paired with brunch!
Every Saturday and Sunday (11:00 or 13:30), join a two-hour ceramics class where you’ll create your own clay piece under expert guidance. The €55 fee includes the workshop and a classic brunch with gluten-free options: fruit salad, pancakes, yoghurt with cereal, sliced bread, boiled eggs, avocado and salmon, and American coffee.
It’s a great idea for a date or for showing off a different side of Milan to a visiting friend.
Mani Milano Lab
Via Arena, 19 (metro M2 Porta Genova)
Brunch on the Navigli: The Round-Up
Here’s your handy, screenshot-worthy list of the best brunches on the Navigli:
- Combo (Ripa di Porta Ticinese 83)
- Marè (Ripa di Porta Ticinese, 67)
- Sisu (Via Gaudenzio Ferrari,1)
- The Doping Bar (Piazza XXIV Maggio,8)
- Una cosa bistrot (Via Scaldasole, 7)
- Bgood (Via Tantardini, 8)
- Mani Milano Lab (Via Arena,19)
Article by contributor Giulia Minguzzi
What do you think of these brunch options in Milan Navigli? Let us know on Facebook o su Instagram!
Still hungry for more? Check out our list of top restaurants close to Bicocca university, a list of vegan pizza in Milan and… what to do in 3 days in Munich, Germany.
