Unique in Milan and Italy, Ronin is a 4-storey building in which each level is dedicated to Japanese-inspired art, from the izakaya and street food, to the karaoke rooms, up to a fine dining restaurant and an omakase that hosts guest cooking by master Katsu Nakaji.
Open in 2022, Ronin has revolutionized the world of Milanese entertainment. To give life to this “city within the city” dedicated to the Land of the Rising Sun, its rites and its cuisine, the members of the Salva Tu Alma group spent over 5 years of research and study.
The result is truly astonishing: in fact, entering one of the typical Art Nouveau buildings found in the Paolo Sarpi area, it seems like getting lost in the alleys of Shinjuku, the famous district of Tokyo.
Never give a katana to a man who cannot dance.
With access from Piazza Ercole Luigi Morselli, the ground floor is dedicated to Piccolo Ronin: an informal and irreverent izakaya osteria where, with the inevitable open kitchen, you can taste traditional Japanese street food such as gyozas, baos and handrolls. On the sides, we find a small private room with a large red chandelier and mirrored walls, and a Listening Bar area where artists and vinyl collectors can perform at the Klipsch hi-fi system.
On the first floor, with a dedicated entrance from via Alfieri, we find Ronin Robata, named after the traditional Japanese grill, the fine dining restaurant entrusted to chef Gigi Nastri. Whilst on the second floor there is Ronin Shokunin, an omakase (from the Japanese “to rely on you”, aka to the creativity of the chef) which in certain periods of the year becomes the home of master Katsu Nakaji, 2 Michelin stars in Tokyo, a legend of Japanese cuisine (until 23 December, while his next visit to Italy is scheduled for the beginning of 2024).
Here, over an open fire and coals that come directly from Japan, recipes are born that are only partly inspired by Japanese tradition, giving life to a gastronomic fine dining restaurant that draws from various cultures and wonders of the oriental world, from gyoza ravioli to wagyu sirloin up to the sushi bar. Among soft lights, red walls and ultra-minimal black tables, the chef’s table and the beautiful Dragon’s Room, the room dedicated to dinners and private events, just stands out beautifully.
On the second floor there is also one of the coolest experiences in Milan: Madame Cheng’s, a cocktail bar dedicated to high-end oriental mixology for aperitifs, after dinner and late-night drinks with 4 private karaoke rooms of different capacities (from 6 up to 14 people), all served with an offer of bento boxes for dinner (to be ordered at least 24 hours in advance), minibar with alcohol and snacks.
Here, as well as in the corridors and other common areas, it is impossible not to be fascinated by the intense blue or red electric neon lights and by the various works of art curated by the art advisor Carola Cometto who has selected “masters” such as Hajime Sorayama, famous for his “sexy robots, Yayoi Kusama, with her psychedelic creations, and Shōzō Shimamoto, founder of the Gutai artistic movement.
Booking dinner first, informal at Piccolo Ronin or more sophisticated at Ronin Robata, and then one of the karaoke rooms is certainly one of the most unforgettable experiences in Milan.
The Secret
On the third floor of Ronin there is Arcade, a private club with cocktail bar, billiard room, various lounge areas and a small stage, the scene of private parties and exclusive convivial moments.
Useful Info
Ronin
Via Vittorio Alfieri 17
20154 Milano
Tel. +39 02 89367101
Piccolo Ronin
Handrolls: from 9 euro
Baos: from 11 euro
Ronin Robata
Starters: 7 — 20 euro
First courses: 16 — 28 euro
Second courses: 18 — 38 euro
Karaoke
Rooms: from 6 to 14 people, working days from 115 euro, weekends at to 365 euro for a time slot of 1h 45’, drinks and food excluded
