Secret Food Tour Milan: My Honest Review

I had a few days traveling solo in Milan so I booked the Secret Food Tour. I love taking a food tour on the first day in a new city. And even more so this time since I was alone.

Instead of staying in my hotel room feeling lonely and waiting for my lost baggage to arrive, I had a fun, social day exploring and eating Milan. No one cared that I was still wearing my travel clothes.

I chose Secret Food Tours because I had heard they have fabulous guides and that you get to taste a “secret” food on one of the stops.

Are there truly secret food dishes in Milan? I spent three hours eating my way through the Navigli and Ticinese neighborhoods stopping at 2 restaurants, a pizzeria, a street-food joint, and a gelateria with Secret Food Tour Milan to find out.

The Tour Experience

What really made this tour stand out was our guide. Davide’s incredible relationship with the local vendors who welcomed us and made us feel like we were getting special treatment. 

His young, social energy instantly broke the ice and set a relaxed tone for the entire afternoon. In our cozy group of six, several were true foodies. This was actually the 22nd food tour for one of the couples.

Davide didn’t break a sweat. He answered every obscure ingredient question our group threw at him with total ease, making us feel like we were hanging with a very plugged-in local insider.

The small group size is perfect for couples, friends, and solo travelers looking to socialize.

The Route: Neighborhoods & Vibe

Our tasting route took us through some of the most vibrant and trendy neighborhoods of the city, perfectly paced so we could walk off one bite before arriving at the next.

• Porta Genova (The Meeting Point): Porta Genova was a quick metro ride from where I was staying in Brera and served as an easy way for our group of six to gather. I quickly spotted Davide with his orange umbrella and his big smile.

• Navigli (The Canal District): From there, Davide led us to our first stop in the historic canal district. We learned that Milan used to have more canals than Venice but at a certain point they covered them up because travelling by cars and trams on the street was faster than by boat.

• Corso di Porta Ticinese: After several stops in Navigli, we wrapped up our journey wandering down this trendy historic street, known for its eclectic mix of indie boutiques, street art, and fantastic local food spots. Davide told us that before it became a fashionable shopping street, Ticinese was actually the gritty epicenter of Milan’s 1980’s punk rock and alternative scene.

First Stop: Naviglio 48 for Risotto

Our first stop was Naviglio 48, a restaurant with outdoor tables tucked under awnings along the Naviglio Grande located on Via Alzaia Naviglio Grande near Via Casale. It felt good to sink into the shade after walking the canal in the midday sun, and even better when our waiter arrived with bottles of Prosecco to share among the group.

Of course, the first dish was a risotto — this is Milan, after all — but not the classic risotto alla Milanese most people expect.  Instead we were served Risotto Carnaroli with Taleggio and Pears, a dish made from just six ingredients: Carnaroli rice, Taleggio cheese, pears, onions, vegetable broth, and butter. 

Davide explained that no wine goes into this risotto because the natural acidity of the pear plays against the creaminess of the Taleggio and does the work wine usually would. It was truly exquisite and a perfect way to start the afternoon.

Our guide also mentioned that Carnaroli is considered the best rice for risotto — its higher starch content gives that signature creaminess without turning to mush. It’s the same rice I use at home, actually in my Best Roasted Pepper Risotto Ever in 7 Easy Steps. Different flavors, same magic.

Second Stop: Il Mannarino – Butcher Shop with Kitchen

From Naviglio 48, we wandered down the canal, ducking through a quiet detour on Vicolo Privato Lavandai before arriving at our second stop, Il Mannarino. Garlic braids and dried peppers hung from the entryway announcing the restaurant’s southern roots in Puglia. 

Il Mannarino is both a butcher shop and a kitchen. We were led past the butcher shop down a few steps to a long table in the cantina. I could immediately feel the warm southern hospitality and smell the rich aromas in the air. The tables were soon laden with baskets of pane pugliese (my favorite bread) and carafes of red Primitivo wine. 

A butcher shop was the perfect place to taste our food tour’s “secret” dish which turned out to be Tartare di Fassona Piemontese — a delicate mound of hand-chopped raw beef. We were instructed to flatten it with our forks and then drizzle it with olive oil. 

The expert foodie in the group claimed it was the best tartare she had ever tasted. I wanted to love it that much too but, I’ll be honest, I think it needed a little salt. However, even I could tell it was extremely fresh and delicate. 

Even though the tartare was very high quality and truly special, we all agreed the eggplant caponata was the best. The other side dishes were a melted cheese dish and fried zucchini with delicious sauces.

Third Stop: A’Vucciria – Sicilian Street Food

Facendo scarpetta, or wiping our plates clean with the pane pugliese, no one wanted to leave this rustic culinary haven, but it was time to go to our next stop: A’Vucciria.

Just around the corner on Viale Gorizia, 32A, A’Vucciria is a traditional Sicilian market stall dropped right into Milan. The name comes from a legendary open-air street market in Palermo and means “hubbub”. 

In fact, we had to wait our turn to choose from a variety of arancini. Arancini are crispy, deep-fried risotto balls traditionally stuffed with gooey mozzarella, meat sauce and peas. Our group chose the pistacchio and pancetta version (pistachio and bacon).

Standing around licking our fingers, it was fun to read all the humorous signs written in dialect and look at the old market photos of Palermo imagining we were there.

Fourth Stop: Il Forno dal 1993 for Pizza

Passing the Arco di Porta Ticinese, we crossed over to Ticinese neighborhood to arrive at the pizzeria Il Forno dal 1993 on Corso di Porta Ticinese, 77.

Il Forno is known for its delicious pizza al trancio, or pizza by the cut or slice. You could also call it “pizza by the bite”. The pizza is made in rectangular pans and then cut into thick, mouth watering bites of pan-baked bread topped with oozing cheese and sauce.

Stuffed as we were, we couldn’t resist these delicious morsels. We tried a few types including the traditional red sauce with mozzarella cheese and a white pizza with cheese, olives, onions, and basil. 

Sitting inside at the casual tables, sharing from paper plates, Davide told us that the secret to pizza is keeping the dough in the fridge for 48 hours before making it.

This is also the stop where I got my drink upgrade. When I was looking to reserve this food tour, I was encouraged to buy the ticket within a short period of time to get a free drink upgrade. So of course I did. 

You definitely do not need to buy a drink upgrade on this food tour since you are served Prosecco and red and white wine at the other stops, but when in Rome…or I mean, Milan…Anyway, let’s just say after this, Negroni sbagliato became my new drink of the trip.

Fifth stop: Enrico Rizzi for Gelato

Continuing along Corso Porto di Ticinese past the Colonne di San Lorenzo (a popular hang out spot for students and young people for aperitivo), we arrived at our final destination: Enrico Rizzi in Via Cesare Correnti, 5 for dessert. Gelato of course.

Here you can find high-end artisanal gelato with unique flavors. I chose the pistachio and a very dark chocolate. The chocolate was a little too intense for me, but combined with the more gentle pistachio, it was divine.

This gelateria has won the prestigious Gambero Rosso award, equivalent to the Michelin Guide. The ratings are coni (cones) for gelaterias, bicchieri (glasses) for wine, and forchette (forks) for dining. Enrico Rossi has consistently maintained its esteemed 2 Coni rating over the years. 3 Coni is the max.

Secret Food Tours: My Honest Verdict

Was the Secret Food Tour Milan worth it? Yes, absolutely. This was a top notch tour with the perfect blend of information and camaraderie. Not to mention the top secret spots and secret dishes. 

While I didn’t immediately love the beef tartare, I ordered the salmon tartare the next day in Bellagio and it was to die for. Later in the trip I also had some bruschetta with beef tartare and I have to say I was completely won over by this Milanese delicacy by the end of the trip.

I also loved the small group size. This was perfect for me as I was travelling alone and by the end, I felt like I had made new friends including with our guide, Davide. I chose the 11:30 time slot because I wanted to fill my day, but the evening slot might have been more comfortable considering the hot summer weather.

If this sounds like your kind of afternoon, here’s the tour I booked.

Love food tours? You might also enjoy my food tour reviews in Bergamo and Rome — each one just as delicious, just as authentic.