Milan: Navigli Food & Drinks Tour with Pizza, Risotto & Wine

Summary

Pizza, risotto, and wine along Milan’s lively canals in Navigli

You’ll taste your way through Milan’s Navigli district with a local guide — from hand-stretched pizza to creamy risotto and classic tiramisù. Expect canal views designed by Da Vinci, small group laughter over wine pairings, and moments where Milan feels less like a city and more like someone’s home kitchen.

What’s the experience like?

“In Milan, we don’t rush aperitivo,” our guide Marco grinned as he handed me a glass of something golden and fizzy. He had this way of talking with his hands — even when describing cheese. We started right by the Columns of San Lorenzo, where teenagers perched on marble and old men argued about football in rapid-fire Italian. The air smelled like warm dough from the bakery next door. I’d never tried pizza alla teglia before; it was crisp at the edges and somehow both light and filling. Beer made it even better — though maybe that was just the mood.

We wandered toward the canals, past bikes rattling over cobblestones and couples sharing cigarettes outside tiny bars. Marco pointed out how Da Vinci designed some of these waterways — honestly, I’d only ever thought of him as the Mona Lisa guy. At one stop, there was carpaccio so thin you could almost see through it, laid over creamy gorgonzola with polenta on the side. I hesitated at first (raw beef isn’t usually my thing), but everyone else dove in so I did too. It melted on my tongue in a weirdly comforting way.

The next bit surprised me: farinata from Liguria — chickpea focaccia cooked in copper pans until just blistered at the edges. There was a faint scent of rosemary and olive oil that clung to my fingers after every bite. We sat by Naviglio Grande with glasses of red wine while Marco told us about artists who used to live above these shops. At some point I lost track of time; maybe it was the way sunlight flickered off the water or just all that food slowing me down in a good way.

I’m still thinking about that risotto — rich yellow from saffron, tangled with braised venison that tasted almost sweet against the rice. Someone asked for seconds (not me… okay maybe it was). Dessert showed up when I’d already sworn I couldn’t eat another thing: tiramisù dusted with cocoa, soft as clouds. The whole tour felt less like ticking boxes and more like being let in on someone’s favorite neighborhood routine — little laughs between bites, stories you wouldn’t find on TripAdvisor.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Milan Navigli Food and Drinks Tour

• Meet at Columns of San Lorenzo
• Enjoy Pizza alla teglia with beer
• Taste local charcuterie and cheese with wine
• Try Farinata chickpea focaccia
• Savor risotto by the canal
• Walk along Naviglio Grande canal

Top questions

How long is the Milan Navigli food & drinks tour?

The tour lasts several hours and covers multiple stops for tastings along the Navigli canals area.

Is there vegetarian or gluten-free food available?

Yes, you can email ahead to advise of dietary requirements such as vegetarian or gluten-free diets.

Does this Milan food tour include alcohol?

Yes, wine and beer are included at several tasting stops during the tour.

Where does the tour start?

The meeting point is near Columns of San Lorenzo in central Milan.

Are children or infants allowed on this tour?

Infants and small children can join; prams or strollers are allowed.

Is public transport nearby for this tour?

Yes, there are public transportation options close to both start and end points.

What foods are included on this Milan food tour?

You’ll try pizza alla teglia, carpaccio with polenta & gorgonzola (or charcuterie/cheese), farinata focaccia, risotto with venison, local cheeses & dessert.

Is this suitable for travelers with severe allergies?

No; guests with severe or life-threatening allergies cannot participate for safety reasons.

What’s included

Your evening includes tastings of award-winning pizza alla teglia paired with beer, carpaccio or charcuterie boards with wine depending on timing, traditional Ligurian farinata focaccia fresh from copper pans, rich risotto alla Milanese with braised venison alongside more Italian wine, plus a classic local dessert to finish — all led by an English-speaking local guide through Milan’s lively Navigli district.