1284. 700 years of history: if the walls could talk about this oldest restaurant in Italy, who knows what they would say. In addition to being the oldest in Italy, it also holds the record for being the second oldest restaurant in Europe after the Stiftskeller St. Peter in Salzburg, and we have it here in Milan. Located on the outskirts of the city, this trattoria is an old farmhouse furnished like a country villa. Three cozy indoor rooms with a total of 75 seats and an elegant outdoor terrace.
We are talking about Antica Osteria Bagutto, which for decades has been a benchmark for typical Lombard cuisine, with a menu that enhances the authentic flavors of the region through meat and fish dishes prepared with top-quality ingredients.
The oldest restaurant in Italy: L’Antica Osteria Bagutto
Photo: Facebook / Ristorante Bagutto 1284
Located in the Ponte Lambro area, Antica Osteria Bagutto takes its name from Berlochium, a Lombard term meaning “place where you eat.”
The Osteria del Bagutto, documented as early as the end of the 16th century as the property of the Borromeo family, then passed to the Raineri Marquises in the 18th century and subsequently, in the 19th century, to the Priori di Brera. Over time, it was run by various families of Lombard innkeepers, keeping the tradition alive to this day.
It seems that even Napoleon himself had the honor of stopping at Italy’s oldest restaurant in the 19th century.
The menu follows a traditional line, offering both seafood and meat dishes: from mondeghili to Milanese tripe, from yellow risotto to ossobuco and elephant ear cutlets. And then there are fish fillets, raw tartare and much more. A varied menu that satisfies all palates, which we link here if you want to take a look.
How much does it cost to eat here?
Photo: Facebook / Ristorante Bagutto 1284
Obviously, it depends on what you choose. Most of the dishes at Antica Osteria Bagutto range from €14 to €35, with the Chateaubriand with Bernese sauce exceeding €80. But basically, in this oldest restaurant in Italy, prices are in line with the city. About €50 per person for dinner, including drinks. From 20 to 40 without drinks. Obviously, these are estimates, as it all depends on your choice of dishes.
How to get to the restaurant in Ponte Lambro
From the center of Milan, it is a 23-minute drive via the Autostrada del Sole motorway. By public transport, you can take the M3 yellow line to the San Donato terminus and from there, just outside the station, take bus 45. After six stops, get off at Ospedale Monzino, walk a couple of minutes, and you will reach the Antica Osteria Bagutto.
Where: Via Elio Vittorini, 4. Open every day except Sunday for dinner. Info and reservations on the website.
