Natural Wine Bars Milano
Natural Wine Bars Milan
From the Navigli canals to Brera's historic cellars, discover where Milanese natural wine culture thrives amidst ancient basements, hidden gardens, and 19th-century wine shops
What to Expect
Milan's natural wine scene blends northern Italian tradition with radical experimentation. Expect 13th-century monastery cellars, historic Chinatown enotecas, and canal-side gardens serving orange wines from Sicily to Slovenia.
Navigli (Canal District)
The OG of Milan's natural wine movement since 2012. Owner Alessandro Ambrosi pioneered the city's first true natural wine destination on a peaceful stretch of the Navigli. Every bottle comes from small Italian artisans working without chemicals. The bistro side (active since 2017) serves genuine, seasonal cuisine designed specifically around the wines. No corporate labels here—just funky, soulful juice from volcanic Sicilian slopes to Slovenian borderlands. The owners are ever-present and will guide you through the hazy orange wines and cloudy pet-nats.
A hidden courtyard sanctuary that has been preaching natural wine gospel since 2018. The "apostles" are servers with encyclopedic minds who replace the need for a physical wine list—tell them "something funky" and trust the recommendation. Located just off a strip of vintage shops, the space features indoor and outdoor tables under tall trees with church steeples views. They specialize in spontaneously fermented Sangiovese and serve simple snacks like olives and anchovies that let the wine shine. The vibe is casual, convivial, and deeply knowledgeable.
Located directly on the Naviglio Pavese canal, this restaurant and wine bar sits in a rustic-chic space with garden seating. Chef Alice Delcourt brings a French-Italian approach to seasonal cooking that pairs beautifully with their focused natural wine list. The menu changes constantly based on market availability, featuring vegetables from their own garden alongside sustainably sourced fish and meats. The wine selection emphasizes Italian natural producers with a strong showing from Lombardy and Piedmont, served in a relaxed, country-meets-urban atmosphere.
Brera & Centro Storico
The cathedral of Milan wine culture, located in the basement beneath the 13th-century San Marco Basilica. Founded in 1973, this cavernous historic space uses original structural columns as tables, creating an atmospheric drinking experience surrounded by ancient stone. With over 2,500 labels including rare French allocations and Italian icons, they balance natural producers with classic Burgundy. The salumeria prepares artisanal charcuterie plates with prosciutto aged on-site. DJs spin ABBA and disco on busy nights, transforming the ancient cellar into a raucous celebration of wine culture.
Exactly what the name promises—a charming organic wine bar dedicated to natural wines and artisanal cured meats. Located in the heart of Brera, this cozy spot has built a cult following among locals for its uncompromising selection of Italian natural wines and perfectly paired salumi. The atmosphere is intimate and convivial, with wooden tables and a rotating selection of rare bottles from small producers. They focus on "vini viventi" (living wines) with no added sulfites, served alongside hand-sliced prosciutto and regional cheeses. True to Milan's aperitivo culture but elevated for the natural wine devotee.
A sophisticated Brera institution combining a natural wine bar with contemporary art exhibitions. The space features rotating gallery shows alongside a carefully curated list of organic and biodynamic wines from Italian small producers. The kitchen serves refined takes on Lombard classics—think saffron risotto and ossobuco—designed to complement the funky, mineral-driven wine selection. The crowd is a mix of art collectors, fashion industry insiders, and serious wine lovers. The basement level hosts private tastings and artist dinners, making it a cultural hub as much as a drinking destination.
Isola & Porta Garibaldi
The name references "cru"—the French term for terroir—and this bar delivers on that promise. Located in the trendy Isola district (with a second location near Arco della Pace), CRU focuses exclusively on artisans working with natural methods, mostly small Italian and European productions. The goal is giving visibility to winemakers who respect the land. The food menu features genuine products from suppliers sharing the same philosophy, including cured meats and cheeses from the Ticino Agricultural Park. The vibe is youthful, knowledgeable, and unpretentious, with a strong community of regulars who treat it as their living room.
A listening bar and natural wine spot in the heart of Isola, just steps from the Bosco Verticale towers. Wooden walls display vinyl records with a turntable that's always spinning—expect jazz, soul, and rare grooves while you sip. The wine list focuses on small Italian natural producers alongside obscure French and Slovenian labels. Small plates are subtle and unexpected: gilda skewers (anchovy and olive), tuna tostada, and mushroom tempura. It's where wine nerds and music lovers converge, creating a sophisticated but unpretentious atmosphere unique to Milan's scene.
Housed in a converted early-20th-century ironworks factory with soaring ceilings and industrial architecture, Ratanà is a temple to Lombard cuisine and natural wine. Chef Cesare Battisti focuses on "cucina conviviale"—rustic yet refined dishes like risotto alla milanese and mondeghili (Milanese meatballs) sourced from local farms. The wine list is extensive, featuring rare natural wines from Lombardy and beyond, with particular attention to aging potential. The space is dramatic yet warm, with an outdoor terrace overlooking the Isola gardens. A must-visit for understanding the intersection of Milanese tradition and natural wine philosophy.
Porta Romana & Ticinese
The undeniably cool wine bar in Porta Romana, especially for the fashion set. If your job title is "Creative Director," you're probably already here. It's shoebox-sized with a red velvet curtain entrance and a vintage "Pastificio" sign nodding to its former life as a pasta factory. The founders left the fashion industry to create this effortlessly cool hangout where rare wines from 2001 Brunello to obscure Slovenian orange wines are paired with freshly sliced speck and scamorza paninis. They host pop-up series called "Bar Paradiso & Friends" featuring guest chefs from Paris to London. Wear your best Sunnei sweater and join the street spillover.
More than a wine bar—it's a social project. Established in 2018 within the Emergency headquarters (the Italian NGO), part of proceeds support integration initiatives for asylum seekers. The setting is magical: a soft-lit garden facing the Basilica of Sant'Eustorgio. The wines are curated by founders Francesca Agnello, Guido Cerretani, and Marta Giannotti, emphasizing macerated whites, refermented pet-nats, and never-banal bottles from small Italian and French artisans. With over 4,000 labels including sake and spirits, the menu changes every two weeks featuring French-inspired small plates with Asian influences. Drinking here literally supports a good cause.
A Porta Romana institution with multiple locations across Milan, Hic (named after the Latin "here") focuses on natural wine as a way of life. The Porta Romana location combines a wine bar with full kitchen service, offering a menu that evolves with the seasons and pairs specifically with their biodynamic selections. The space is intimate and educational—they host regular wine courses and tastings. The list emphasizes Italian natural pioneers like Cascina degli Ulivi and Foradori alongside French naturals. The "Hic Academy" offers courses for beginners to experts, making it a center for natural wine education in the city.
Centro Storico & Chinatown
Winner of "Best Short List of the Year Denmark 2025" (International Open), CIZ is an osteria-winebar hybrid with an epic collection. Owner Vincenzo "Ciz" Gautieri has amassed over 1,800 labels, of which 700 are biodynamic or natural—possibly Milan's largest natural wine collection. The space focuses on artisanal productions and small quantities with compelling stories. While the wine list includes growth in Bordeaux and Champagne from vignerons rather than maisons, the kitchen keeps pace with calibrated pairings. Lombard traditions remain steadfast: saffron risotto, Milanese cutlet (among the best in the city), ossobuco, and mondeghili, alongside fresh fish and seasonal vegetables.
A historic wine shop established in 1896 in the heart of Chinatown, Cantine Isola feels like a vintage library with rolling ladders and floor-to-ceiling rare bottles. Awarded "Best By-the-Glass Offering" in the Milano – Il meglio della Lombardia 2025 guide. Nearly two thousand labels range from affordable daily drinkers to renowned collectors' items. On Tuesdays, the owner recites poetry to the crowd—a hush falls over the bar as verses echo through the historic space. Though simple plates of salumi are available, most regulars bring back dumplings from the surrounding Chinatown to pair with their pours. A true Milanese institution.
Owner Alessandro Ambrosi (formerly of Vinoir) opened this unique spot in 2013 specializing in "vini sfusi"—wine on tap—from steel tankards. In 2018, he shifted the entire concept to natural and biodynamic wines, offering 220-250 labels of living wines poured directly from the barrel. This is where you drink like a local Italian—no bottles, just fresh, unfiltered wine dispensed into carafes. The atmosphere is genuinely convivial, with communal tables and a focus on conversation over ceremony. They still serve wine on tap, but now it's all natural, biodynamic, and sourced from small producers across Italy. A true neighborhood "vinaio" experience.
