If you think Milan is limited to the Duomo, the Navigli, and Brera, there’s an area you’re missing: Milan’s Chinatown. We’re on Via Paolo Sarpi, a pedestrian street just under a kilometer long in the Sarpi neighborhood that, from dawn until late at night, smells of steamed dumplings, echoes with K-pop songs, and pulses with an energy unmatched anywhere else in the city.
It’s not just Milan’s Chinatown: it has become one of the liveliest, most unique, and Instagram-worthy spots in Italy’s fashion capital. Here, decades of Chinese immigration history, the creativity of a new generation of Asian entrepreneurs, and the curiosity of Milanese under 40 in search of authentic experiences all converge .
The result is a multicultural neighborhood unique in Italy, where you can have breakfast with steamed bao, lunch with artisanal ramen, enjoy an aperitif in a historic wine bar dating back to 1896, and end the evening with a tapioca bubble tea after shopping for Labubu, luxury streetwear, and viral TikTok snacks.
In this guide, you’ll find the 15 trendiest spots in Milan’s Chinatown, including restaurants, bars, cafes, and shops. Ready to discover them?
Ravioleria Sarpi — the temple of Chinese street food
If Milan’s Chinatown had a monument, it would be this steaming counter. Ravioleria Sarpi is the neighborhood’s absolute institution: handmade jiaozi made with organic dough, filled with beef, pork, or vegetables, steamed or pan-fried. The jian bing —a savory crepe with egg, herbs, and spicy sauce—has become an icon of Milanese street food. Expect a line, especially on weekends, but it’s worth every minute.
If you’d like, you can also sign up for one of their cooking classes.
Chateau Dufan — the new generation of Chinese restaurants
Chateau Dufan is the next-generation Chinese restaurant that Milan was missing. Dim sum, ramen, xiao long bao, and a well-curated wine list —a rare exception in the area. The interior seamlessly blends contemporary and Eastern styles: to give you an idea, even the bubble tea and red bean ice cream are on par with the rest. Reservations are highly recommended on weekends.
Bokok — tea room, bookstore, and Hong Kong cuisine
Walls lined with art books, soft lighting, the scent of tea, and refined dim sum: Bokok is likely the most aesthetically refined spot on the entire street. Inspired by Hong Kong tea houses, it offers Peking duck, ramen, steamed ravioli, and the famous braised Dong Po pork. Perfect for a leisurely lunch, it’s guaranteed Instagram-worthy. Book early—tables fill up fast.
Little Lamb — the addictive hot pot experience
Little Lamb isn’t just a restaurant: it’s a convivial ritual to experience at least once. A pot of boiling broth in the center of the table—spicy, beef, or chicken—and then total freedom: thinly sliced meats, ravioli, tofu, mushrooms, seafood—everything is dipped in and cooked to order. You can even choose your own custom sauce. Noisy, cheerful, and perfect for a group dinner. Milan has embraced it wholeheartedly.
Houjie — absolute authenticity, student-friendly prices
Open from 10 a.m. to midnight,Houjie is the local Chinese community’s favorite restaurant —and that should tell you everything. Traditional cuisine from Rui’an, Wenzhou Province: clay pot rice, braised eggplant, grilled skewers, and dumplings in broth at prices that will move you. Spartan decor, neon lights, no frills: the classic neighborhood spot where you eat incredibly well for very little money.
Pescaria — the fish sandwich that has taken Milan by storm
Not Chinese, but irresistible: Pescaria brings the gourmet fish sandwich born in Polignano a Mare just a stone’s throw from Chinatown. Grilled octopus, fried calamari, and raw seafood, all served in crispy buns in a bright, plastic-free setting. Philosophy and sustainability without sacrificing taste. A lunch break with a twist, embraced by local workers and creatives as a cult alternative to yet another all-you-can-eat sushi spot.
OTTo — the concept bar in the Sarpi neighborhood
OTTo is much more than a bar: it’s the meeting spot for the neighborhood’s creatives, freelancers, and professionals under 40. In the morning, you have breakfast with the famous “quadrotti”; at lunch, you put together your own charcuterie board; in the evening, it’s time for an aperitif. The terrace with its pergola—complete with power outlets at the tables—has become an open-aircoworking space for half of Milan. The windows showcase rotating contemporary art exhibitions. A must-visit.
Cantine Isola — 1896, a neighborhood wine shop and a piece of Milanese poetry
Since 1896. That’s no mistake. Cantine Isola is one of Milan’s longest-running wine bars and one of the city’s most authentic spots. Hundreds of wines available by the glass every day, a chaotic yet convivial atmosphere in the best possible way, just a few tables, and an outdoor seating area overlooking the pedestrian street. On Tuesday evenings: poetry readings in the Milanese dialect. One of those places that makes you understand why the locals never leave the neighborhood.
Mood Market — K-food, tteokbokki, and TikTok vibes
Mood Market is hard to categorize, and that’s exactly its strength. It’s an aesthetic Asian supermarket, a tea house, a bar, and a street food spot—all in the same space with immaculate aesthetics. At the entrance is Mamma Tteokbokki, the stall serving the super-spicy Korean rice cakes that went viral. Inside: snacks with adorable packaging, K-beauty, exotic drinks, and everything you see in the Reels of Milanese creators.
QQTea — the bubble tea shop that paved the way
One of the very first bubble tea shops to arrive in Milan, QQTea remains a local favorite even after years of competition. Black, green, or milk tea with the ever-present tapioca pearls, fruit jellies, or popping boba in dozens of color and flavor combinations—including the classics taro and matcha, which always top the charts. Affordable prices around 4–5 euros, open every day, with a minimalist and bright atmosphere. Instagram-worthy by nature.
Tang Food Market — the Asian supermarket of wonders
Two shops just a few meters apart, shelves reaching the ceiling, boxes of frozen ravioli, sauces of every kind, sushi rice, and K-pop trading cards: Tang Food Market is a must-visit for all fans of Asian food in Milan. Here you’ll find ingredients you can’t find anywhere else in Italy. It’s also great just to browse and end up with a shopping cart overflowing with snacks you didn’t even know existed.
Oriental Mall — five floors of Asia on Via Sarpi
A world apart, literally. The Oriental Mall spans five floors: two supermarkets, Asian clothing and hi-tech goods, a wellness center offering traditional Chinese massages, a tea room, a yoga space, kawaii gadgets, and—on the dessert floor—the unmissable Huang Ji Dessert, where people line up for Hong Kong-style smoothies and sweets. It’s not luxurious, but it’s as authentic as few places in the world outside of Asia.
BBM Boutique — unexpected luxury fashion in Chinatown
BBM Boutique is primarily a designer clothing store for children (ages 0–16) and, above all, the official POP MART distributor in Italy—making it the go-to spot in Chinatown to buy Labubu and other collectible figures without having to wait in line at the official store on Corso Buenos Aires.
Milano Pour Bear — the DIY experience that went viral
With over 58,000 followers on Instagram and a flood of Reels, Milano Pour Bear is one of the most viral spots in all of Milan. Book online and create your own acrylic ‘pour painting’ bear, a resin phone case with a charm, or take part in one of the creative workshops on the schedule. It’s an afternoon of guaranteed fun and a unique souvenir to take home. Also ideal for an original gift.
Cloud Shop — a bespoke creative workshop
By reservation only, the Cloud Shop is the favorite creative workshop of Milan’s most active social media communities. You can customize phone cases with Creamglue and charms, create scented candles, try tufting —the technique for making wool rugs and tapestries— and do nail art. Every session is an afternoon of pure creativity. The aesthetic is minimalist Korean, the prices are affordable, and the result is always something worth showing off.