Trattoria Madonnina, one of the oldest in Milan, stands where a small inn and restaurant were already present and known by the same name in 1722; at the time it was a simple country place, located along a strategic road to reach the Gentilino cemetery, where carriages and horses used to stop.

The restaurant takes its name from a wooden aedicule with the Virgin Mary placed on the facade of the building which, in fact, had the function of protecting travelers of the time from possible disasters that could hit them during their travels.

Here the Milanese tradition has been proudly kept intact for over 200 years, a truly authentic joint where you can taste the most popular grandmas’ recipes.

Today the restaurant has been enlarged compared to then, where there was the stable in the back you can now eat outdoors under a suggestive pergola covered with lush vegetation, the heater has taken the place of the fireplace, but, despite the years that pass, the Trattoria Madonnina has managed to keep intact its most authentic spirit.

In fact, in the rooms and on the walls, everything tells a story: from the many objects and memorabilia to the old furniture and cupboards, from the checkered tablecloths to the bar counter that looks like something out of an old 1960s movie.
Like the poster of the Teatro alla Scala. The restaurant has become famous, in fact, also for having been the childhood theater of the great tenor Giuseppe Di Stefano who was “discovered” here and launched towards an international career, never stopping to return accompanied by his famous friends.

Today at the helm of the Madonnina, after 30 years of management of Fabio Locatelli and Paolo Kempiso, we find Angela, Tommaso, Pasquale and Mauro in the kitchen, flanked by a young staff, who carry on a traditional family cuisine, typically Lombard, Milanese or anyway Northern Italian.

A real “grandmas’ cuisine”, based on seasonal availability, with dishes that include for example cassoeula, ossobuco, yellow Saffron rice or Cotoletta alla Milanese, the traditional veal cutlet which, on request, is also available not fried with oil but with butter, just like it used to be.

The Secret

In the past, bowls – a very trendy outdoor game in the old days – were played at the Madonnina. In fact, until the end of the 1900s the courtyard housed a very popular bowling club called “Bocciofila Madonnina”.

Useful Info

Trattoria Madonnina
Via Gentilino 6
20136 Milano
Tel. +39 02 89409089

First courses: 8 — 10 euro 
Second courses: 10 — 15 euro
Desserts: 5 — 6  euro