Where to dine during Milano Wine Week 2026 in Milan’s historic centre

If you’re planning a Milano Wine Week dinner in the heart of the city, a few steps from the Duomo, this guide is for you. From 17 to 25 October 2026, Milan becomes Italy’s wine capital: nine days of masterclasses, tastings and events for the ninth edition. However, one practical question remains: where do you have dinner after the tastings?

This guide answers it, without repeating the programme you’ll find on the official website.

What Milano Wine Week is and how it works

Milano Wine Week is a non-trade-fair event: there is no single hall to visit. Instead, restaurants, wine shops, hotels, museums and showrooms across the city host tastings, masterclasses and themed dinners. For this reason, choosing where to have dinner is part of the experience.

The hub for the professional side is the Milan Marriott Hotel on via Washington. It hosts the Business Day on Monday 19 October, with over 1,500 sommeliers, buyers and hospitality professionals, as well as the Wine List Italia day on 18 October. The public-facing part, on the other hand, is spread across venues throughout the city.

The full programme and tickets are available only on the official website, milanowineweek.com, which is updated continuously. Therefore, check there for dates and bookings before planning your Milano Wine Week dinner.

Why choose a dinner in the historic centre

After a day of tastings you don’t need a loud venue. What you need is a table, a proper meal and, if you like, the chance to keep drinking well without travelling. In addition, the historic centre offers three concrete advantages.

You can walk. The Duomo, Cordusio and the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana are minutes apart, and the metro is close on every side. After a few glasses, that matters.

You’ll find authentic Italian cuisine. After so many tastings, a risotto or a cotoletta is as good for the palate as for the stomach. Moreover, Italian tradition pairs naturally with great reds and sparkling wines.

You avoid the crowds at the busiest venues. During the week the most talked-about places fill up. As a result, a historic restaurant with bookable tables reduces the uncertainty.

Wine at the table: what to pair with Italian cuisine

If you’ve just come out of a sparkling wine masterclass, dinner is the moment to put it into practice. Here are a few classic pairings that are easy to order:

• Saffron risotto with a Franciacorta Satèn, which balances its creaminess.
• Ossobuco with a structured Piedmont red such as Barbaresco or Nebbiolo.
• Cotoletta with a Franciacorta Brut, which cuts through and refreshes.
• Traditional starters with a fresh white, such as Lugana or Vermentino.

Our suggestion for your Milano Wine Week dinner

Al Mercante is at Via Cesare Cantù 7, on the corner of Piazza Pio XI, a two-minute walk from the Duomo and opposite the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana. Since 2010 it has been officially recognised by the City of Milan as a Bottega Storica (Historic Shop), and its story goes back to the 1900s.

The cooking is Italian, faithful to tradition: risotto, ossobuco, cotoletta. The wine list is curated by sommelier Claudio Romanini and ranges from Piedmont and Tuscan reds to Franciacorta sparkling wines and wines from Friuli and Trentino-Alto Adige. Before you come, you can browse the full selection in our wine list. In the dining room, the sommelier suggests at least two options for each course: one by the glass and one by the bottle, which is the easiest way to taste without overdoing it.

We are open for lunch and dinner every day except Sunday. Since tables fill quickly during Wine Week, we recommend booking ahead, especially for Saturday 17 and Saturday 24 October.

How to plan your Milano Wine Week dinner

Here is a practical tip: plan the event first, then dinner, not the other way round. Many masterclasses and tastings require booking and have fixed times. Once those are set, choose a restaurant within walking distance of your last stop. Please note that we are closed on Sundays, so if your schedule includes 18 or 25 October, plan your dinner for another day.

If you’re with a group, let us know in advance. For business evenings, dinners with clients or industry colleagues, see our business lunch and dinner options. Alternatively, if you prefer a quieter setting after a day of tastings, take a look at our romantic dinner in the historic centre.

Book your Milano Wine Week dinner

To book, use the online form or call us on +39 02 8052198, the fastest way to flag allergies, groups or special requests.

📞 Phone: +39028052198 ✉️ Email: [email protected]

This post is also available in IT.