Design

Osteria di Brera

Fresh fish...“la marinière” style

by Lavinia Colonna Preti
Osteria di Brera (MI) — Lombardia Secrets

In Milan, the historic fish restaurant founded in 2010 by Enrico Forti reopens in via San Marco with a decor inspired by French brasseries and a "la marinière”" mise en place that leads us with imagination to the charm of the most famous seaside Rivieras.

For over ten years, Osteria di Brera, once located in via Fiori Chiari, has been a trusted meeting place for fans of fresh fish and cruditès. With the idea of continuing the tradition wanted by his father, Marcello Forti took the opportunity to move the restaurant to a new location in Via San Marco and make it even more welcoming.

At the beginning of 2024, the Osteria reopened with a pop look inspired by the French brasseries of the 1960s and a palette dominated by red, blue and white colours. A joyful and lively combination that is also found in the beautiful staff uniforms with striped shirt and contrasting apron.

Osteria di Brera (MI) — Lombardia Secrets
Osteria di Brera (MI) — Lombardia Secrets

By collecting the legacy of the historic Osteria di Brera, we wanted to make it even more welcoming, a hymn to the joy of living and being together.

(Marcello Forti)

The beautiful and spacious outdoor terrace with blue director’s chairs and Louis Ghost by Kartell, perfect for enjoying cocktails and aperitifs with sharing plates of fish and vegetables.

In the kitchen, a true “sea wolf”: chef Giovanni Muro known as Johnny who carefully selects the raw materials to create simple and authentic recipes that enhance the flavor of the sea as much as possible.

Osteria di Brera (MI) — Lombardia Secrets

The undisputed protagonist of the menu is, in fact, the fish, from oysters to raw platters, from pasta to seafood and fried foods right up to sliced tuna and very fresh sea bass. There is also never a shortage of vegetarian options, such as scapece-style courgettes, potatoes sautéed with thyme, and various seasonal salads.

The wine list is signed by Enrico Merli McClure, historic maître of Stendhal, with important national and international labels and a rich choice of proposals by the glass.

Osteria di Brera (MI) — Lombardia Secrets
Osteria di Brera (MI) — Lombardia Secrets

The entrepreneur Marcello Forti, especially in recent years, has followed in the footsteps of his father Enrico in the restaurant business. Today he is the owner of several businesses that he follows with passion, including the nearby Stendhal restaurant in Milan, Mediterranea and Hostaria Bacanera in Venice.

Strongly attached to his roots, in love with Milan and its gastronomic history, in his restaurants traditional dishes can never be missing from the menu to pay homage to the territory – from cutlet to ossobuco to yellow risotto – a vintage Berkel slicer and a portrait of his father Enrico who today, more than ever, would be proud of him and of the renovated Osteria di Brera.

Osteria di Brera (MI) — Lombardia Secrets
Osteria di Brera (MI) — Lombardia Secrets

The Secret

The “la Marinière” style takes inspiration from the uniform of sailors in the 19th century. Coco Chanel was the first designer to make it a “fashionable” garment when in 1913 she opened a clothing shop in Deauville, a seaside town in Normandy, including blue and white horizontal striped sweaters in her collections.

Useful Info

Osteria di Brera
Via San Marco 5
20121 Milano
Tel. +39 02 29061051

Starters: from 15 euro
First courses: from 16 euro
Second courses: from 28 euro

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