best Wine Bars
in Milan, Italy
Milan's Best Natural Wine Bars For Every Occassion
Milan is a lively city divided into distinct zones, each with its own vibe and unique offerings. While international restaurants, rooftop cocktail bars and trendy boutiques get most of the attention, Milan is also home to a number of inviting natural wine bars. As opposed to many other Italian cities, Milan even offers the chance to drink great wines from producers outside of Italy.
What Should You Do In Milan?
- Before diving into incredible natural wines, also consider doing a half-day food tour and indulge yourself in delicious Italian cuisine. You and your stomach won’t be disappointed.
- If you’d like to explore the history and art of Milan, book a private group city sites tour. Also, be sure to book a ticket in advance and skip the line when you visit Milan’s beautiful Cathedral.
- If time allows, you can also venture to Lake Como and St. Moritz, Switzerland with the incredible Bernina Red Train.
Where Should You Stay In Milan?
- If you want to be in the heart of the city’s sites and shopping districts, we recommend Hotel Milano Castello, or the The Square Milano Duomo Hotel.
- If you’d like to be closer to the nightlife action of the Navigli district, check out Savona 18 Suites, Aethos Hotel or, for a splurge, Magna Pars Suites.
CRU now has two locations in Milan!
Situated in the hip Isola area of Milan, CRU wine bar combines a dynamic selection of natural wines with a friendly and fun atmosphere. While the collection of wine labels changes frequently, it always includes very unique and intriguing native wines from across Italy. You can also drink rare wines from Georgian, Slovenian, and Austrian producers, that you won’t find elsewhere.
Come to CRU to soak up the enthusiasm and knowledge of owner and sommelier, Jacopo Ercolani, who opened the bar in 2018 after changing careers to follow his true calling. Dedicated to selecting the best wines possible, Jacopo has personally met and/or visited the vineyards of many of the winemakers on offer. You are bound to learn about new varietals and discover new organic producers from him and his passionate staff. The easy-going environment makes CRU a great place to meet friends before or after dinner. From exciting monthly events, to the excellent wine list, there’s always a reason to stop by CRU wine bar.
Cru’s second location at the beautiful Arco della Pace (Arch of Peace) opened in September of 2021. Expect the same hospitality, wines and fun from the Isola bar.
CRU Via Ugo Bassi 24, 20151 Milano, Italy
CRU Arco Piazza Sempione 6, 20154 Milano, Italy
Tues-Sun 6pm – 12:00am
Enoteca Naturale is one of the best options for groups and/or large gatherings of wine lovers. Conveniently located in the Ticenese area, between the city center and Navigli zones, you can easily incorporate it into your busy day. Complete with a beautiful outside space, as well as a large interior, Naturale is actually a social community space, restaurant, and a wine bar. Created in conjunction with the Emergency Services non-profit nextdoor, Naturale serves as a refuge for asylum seekers and donates part of its proceeds towards the effort.
When it comes to the wine, you are spoiled for choice with the curated selection of over 250 labels from top Italian and international natural producers. Once you’ve chosen your glass or bottle, don’t forget to peruse the ever-changing menu of appetizers, pastas, and cheeses to pair with your selection. In addition, you can often find interesting producer, music or cultural events taking place at the Enoteca. While in Milan, make a visit to support a great cause while you drink great wine.
Enoteca Naturale Via Santa Croce, 19, 20122 Milano MI
Mon-Sat 5:30pm – 11pm
In the heart of Milan’s Porta Venezia, a hybrid wine bar slash Osteria offers exciting selections of natural wines from around Europe. They also curate a wide range of Italian meats, cheeses, and typical dishes to compliment their wines. Choose from crostone, soups, veggie dishes, foccacia and more. The chalkboard menu changes daily, and some items do sell out quickly.
Concorrenza is one of the few wine bar restaurants offering online reservations. We highly recommend reserving a table, as the space is small and very popular.
Osteria Alla Concorrenza Via Melzo, 12, 20129 Milano MI
Monday – Saturday 6pm – 12am
Apart from being the first natural wine bar in Milan, Vinoir is undoubtedly the most famous. Located in Navigli, a popular nightlife destination, the bar is often overwhelmed with the number of wine drinkers they receive. These wine lovers come for good reason. Beyond the extensive selection from Italy, you can also find high-end aged bottles from Slovenia, Spain and France on their shelves.
If you are seeking to try different glasses instead, you’ll encounter plenty to choose from: the bar offers a broad choice of wine categories – bubbles, white, orange, red and rosè – and features multiple producers within each. This diversity and depth however, comes with a higher cost. Enjoying one of their vintage bottles isn’t exactly cheap, nor is pairing it with one of their daily proposals from their attached bistro. If you’re looking to save money, you can rather pick up a bottle to-go. Either way, Vinoir is a great choice for special occasions and celebrations!
Vinoir Ripa di Porta Ticinese, 93b, 20143 Milano MI
Mon – Sat 11am – 2:30pm & 6pm – 12a
Just a few steps away from Milano Centrale (Central Railway Station), Vineria Eretica has been serving natural wine lovers since the beginning of 2019. Located in a fully renovated space with an intimate atmosphere, this wine bar stands out for its diversity of rare natural French wines, among the Italian and other European labels.
Before ordering, don’t miss the chance to chat with the owner, Giuseppe Bertini, who has extensive knowledge of the producers and regions they showcase. He and his staff will give you personal assistance to find the ideal choice. If you’re looking for pairing your wine with food, take advantage of their own appetizers and dishes prepared with fresh biological ingredients. As an added bonus, Giuseppe has combined his love of film with wine, adorning the bar with vintage posters and cinema memorabilia to admire while you drink.
Vineria Eretica Via Rosolino Pilo, 14, 20129 Milano MI
Tues – Sat 5:30pm- 11pm
Opened in 2017, by the same owners of the bakery Forno Collettivo, Champagne Socialist is located in Porta Venezia, one of the most alternative zones of Milan, together with Isola. Decidedly more casual than Vinoir, Socialist has over 400 wine bottles displayed along the walls of their enoteca. Most of them are Italian labels separated by region, just waiting to be paired with sandwiches or taglieri (cheese/meat boards) from their small menu.
The highlight of Champagne Socialist is definitely their monthly wine tasting featuring one of the producers featured at the bar. The day I checked it out, they had just hosted Podere San Biagio from Abruzzo, who I had the chance to personally meet at their vineyard in Controguerra. For more about them, please head to my regional overview of Abruzzo.
Champagne Socialist Via Lecco, 1, 20124 Milano MI
Mon – Sun 6pm – 12am
Restaurants & Bars with Natural Wine
UGO: On the outside, UGO appears to be a trendy, yet warm cocktail and tapas bar. However, with closer inspection you’ll notice the large selection of small production natural wines lining the walls. In addition, the vintage mountain lodge decor and wood panelling transports you to a tranquil setting, despite being located in the heart of the bustling Navigli district. With a variety of international tapas and drink offerings, UGO is the perfect place to unwind and enjoy a night with friends and loved ones.
UGO Via Corsico, 12, 20144 Milano MI. Tues- Sun 6pm- 2am.
FUD Bottega Sicula: Come to FUD (a play on the word “food”) hungry. That’s truly the best advice I can offer. FUD’s enormous burgers and delicious sides are not to be missed! Hailing from Sicily, FUD opened a location in Milan in 2018, blending Sicilian hospitality, creativity and cuisine with burger-joint staples. As if that wasn’t enough, they also offer excellent natural wines and craft beers from Sicily. For those interested in lighter salads and sandwiches, they have you covered as well. More importantly, to ensure the best quality, FUD carefully selects top, artisanal suppliers for all of their food and drink offerings.
FUD Bottega Sicula Via Casale, 8, 20144 Milano MI. Everyday 12pm – 1am.
