From Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II to Brera: Reporter Gourmet's selection of historic and refined restaurants that guarantee haute cuisine even after the end of the theater season at La Scala.
The curtain falls late on the new season at the Teatro alla Scala. This year, the premiere on December 7, the solemn feast day of Saint Ambrose, treated the audience to the intensity of Dmitri Shostakovich's “Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District.” This imposing opera kept the elegant audience seated well past 10 p.m., leaving them with the desire to prolong the evening's charm in a venue worthy of it. For the elite in long dresses and tuxedos, the real Milanese challenge begins when hunger strikes: finding a restaurant that combines gastronomic excellence with exceptionally flexible service hours, just a few steps from the Piermarini.
We have selected four historic addresses, each with its own identity and indissoluble link with Milanese history and hospitality, perfect for transforming the after-theater experience into a memorable fifth act. From here until the end of the theater season.
Don Carlos
The closest choice to the ideal of a vintage post-theater dinner is undoubtedly Don Carlos, a private treasure inside the luxurious Grand Hotel et de Milan. This restaurant is a tribute to Giuseppe Verdi, who chose the hotel as his residence for 27 years. The setting is like a bonbonnière, made even more romantic by candlelight, where you can admire sketches and scenes from the Museo della Scala on the walls, while the Maestro's most famous arias play discreetly in the background. It is no surprise that formal attire is required to enter this place, where time seems to have stood still. The chef's cuisine creatively reinterprets Milanese classics, structuring the menu into “Acts” like an opera. Connoisseurs will not fail to sample the dishes dedicated to the city, such as “La Nostra Cassoeula” or “La Cutulèta” (Milanese cutlet), but to celebrate the evening in a sumptuous way, the Isos selection Carnaroli with oysters and caviar is the apotheosis. There is also an entire menu dedicated to Giuseppe Verdi, for true connoisseurs, but you can also try the famous spaghetti with tomato sauce and meatballs, a tribute to Caruso.
Via Alessandro Manzoni, 29, 20121 Milan MI
Telephone: 02 7231 4640
Savini Milano 1867
Less than a minute's walk from the theater, right in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Savini Milano 1867 is an institution founded during the Belle Époque. Dining here means immersing yourself in a piece of history that has hosted the cultural and artistic elite, from Giuseppe Verdi and Giacomo Puccini to Maria Callas and Charlie Chaplin. It was here that Filippo Tommaso Marinetti left his famous Manifesto of Futurism. Its elegance is reflected in its refined surroundings, from the charming interior rooms to the Sala Toscanini and the Sala delle Prime, overlooking the Galleria, perfect venues for prestigious events. Under the guidance of Chef Mario Massa, Savini is the guardian of gastronomic tradition, honoring it with the inevitable saffron risotto and ossobuco, while offering modern refinements such as carabineros with tomato and peach gazpacho. Its iconic location and commitment to flexible hours make it an irreplaceable reference point for high-class after-work dining.
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II - Via Ugo Foscolo, 5, 20121 Milan MI
Telephone: 02 7200 3433
Al Baretto San Marco
Moving towards Brera, just beyond Via Manzoni, you will find Al Baretto San Marco, a place that immediately evokes the golden years of Italian Dolce Vita. Far from the glitzy spotlight, this restaurant offers understated, discreet, and cosmopolitan luxury, with timeless interiors in a 20th-century building. The culinary philosophy, born from extensive experience in classic dining, focuses on Italian seafood traditions, with a constant pursuit of quality expressed in the motto: “What matters is not quality but consistency.” Guests leaving La Scala late appreciate the opportunity to enjoy refined raw fish, excellent spaghetti with clams and bottarga, or the catch of the day expertly prepared in the Josper, guaranteeing high-quality service and cuisine well beyond 11:00 p.m.
Via Marsala, 2, 20121 Milan MI
Telephone: 334 352 9882
A Santa Lucia Restaurant
For those seeking an authentic immersion in Italian culinary tradition with guaranteed opening hours, the A Santa Lucia Restaurant in Via Larga is an institution. Founded in 1929, it is a “safe haven” with waiters in livery and an atmosphere of yesteryear, a “never-ending spotlight” whose walls tell the story of Milan with a picture gallery dedicated to all the great guests who have frequented it. The menu is a generous journey that embraces the flavors of Campania and Rome, as well as a wide selection of seafood dishes. From spaghetti alla barese with turnip greens to tortellini from “Pastificio Barosi” in broth, passing through classics such as sole alla mugnaia or saltimbocca alla romana, Santa Lucia offers a solid and comfortable gastronomic certainty, known for being one of the most prestigious restaurants with the longest opening hours, making it perfect for long premieres and post-evening events that last until late at night.
Via S. Pietro All'Orto, 3, 20121 Milan MI
Telephone: 02 7602 3155
Each of these four is an extension of the luxury and cultural experience offered by La Scala Theater. A way to close the curtain not only on the opera, but also on your appetite, with the excellence that only Milan can offer until late at night.
