Everybody has probably been in a situation where their flight is delayed, canceled, rescheduled, or they have several hours of layover until their next flight. Or perhaps your flight is very early in the morning, and you are staying in a hotel close to the airport so you don’t miss it. In all these situations, finding something decent to eat can be difficult. Thankfully for you, if you are staying in Milan or passing through, there are plenty of great restaurants that are close to the airport, meaning that you won’t have to resort to getting fast food in the airport terminal or buying a ridiculously overpriced sandwich.

No, in Milan, you can easily enjoy a top-quality Italian meal just a few minutes from the airport grounds. One thing that makes both Italy and Milan unique compared to other countries is the high standards when it comes to food, even in restaurants on the outskirts of the city that surround the airport. In the following article, we will take a look at some of the best restaurants near Milan Malpensa airport, how to get there, what makes them unique, and why you should eat there.

(This article contains 3 restaurants in Milan near Malpensa airport, which are best in our subjective opinion. The order of the restaurants is not related to the quality they offer. Every restaurant has its pros and cons, so choose the one based on your personal preferences.)

Samarcanda Ristorante Pizzeria 

Samarcanda Ristorante Pizzeria is as good a restaurant as any you will find in Milan, let alone a restaurant located near the airport. It is situated within walking distance of the Milano Prime Malpensa section of the airport, has appeared on TripAdvisor’s 2023 Traveler’s Choice Award list, and has a great reputation both locally and online.

This beloved restaurant is the perfect spot for those staying in a hotel beside the airport and flying out the next day, or for those who have just got off a long or stressful flight and are looking for a place to relax, recharge, and enjoy some fantastic and authentic Milano cuisine. Samarcanda Ristorante Pizzeria is much more than just a pizza restaurant, although their pizzas are really highly recommended by everyone.

The menu offers a full range of Lombard, seafood, and Northern Italian dishes, as well as a full dessert menu to match. The pasta dishes have been particularly praised by guests as has the beer and wine list. The décor and atmosphere have also been applauded for its sophisticated look, authentic feel, ambient lighting, and stylish bar.

Samarcanda Ristorante Pizzeria is located at Via Gustavo Moreno 25, Case Nuove, on the corner of the Via Natale Palli and Via Gustavo Moreno intersection. The restaurant is open seven days a week. On weekdays it is open from 12:00 PM (12:00 hours) to 2:00 PM (14:00 hours) and then again from 7:00 PM (19:00 hours) to 11:00 PM (23:00 hours). On weekends it is only open for dinner service starting from 7:00 PM (19:00 hours) to 11:00 PM (23:00 hours).

La Quercia 

Sharing many similarities to the restaurant mentioned above, La Quercia also has a lot more to offer than your typical airport restaurant. For starters, the sleek modern design of the furniture, matched with the brickwork finish, is enough to rival any contemporary restaurant.

La Quercia also has a charming outdoor patio area for you to enjoy the afternoon sun or evening breeze alongside your food and glass of wine. Like Samarcanda, La Quercia is known primarily for its pizza and lighter bites.

However, it also caters to a full menu of courses, such as lamb chops, carbonara, gnocchi, local bread, seafood spaghetti, and a whole host of other great dishes you would expect to find in an Italian restaurant. They also provide some gluten-free and lactose-free options. As well as having a comprehensive selection of dishes on the menu, the prices are not too expensive, and there is a full bar on-site.

Even though there are a good number of tables, it might not always be so easy to get a table due to it being so close to the airport and often busy as a result. One other positive point worth mentioning is that many guests have confirmed that La Quercia will sometimes offer a free shuttle back to the airport or your hotel after your meal.

You can find La Quercia at Via Per Tornavento 11, right on the corner next to the First Hotel Milano Malpensa Airport Hotel on the Via F. Baracca road. The opening hours for La Quercia are from 12:00 PM (12:00 hours) to 2:30 PM (14:30 hours) for lunch and from 7:00 PM (19:00 hours) to 11:00 PM (23:00 hours) for dinner. The restaurant is open every day. However, on Saturdays, it is only open for dinner service.

Il Canneto Restaurant 

If you don’t feel like walking or traveling or don’t have enough time between flights to leave the airport and come back, don’t worry because Il Canneto Restaurant is actually located inside Terminal 1 of the Malpensa Airport. It prides itself on its ability to provide a peaceful and high-quality culinary experience just meters away from the bustling frenzy of the airport. Whether you are just looking for a few cocktails before your flight or a full three-course meal, Il Canneto Restaurant has you covered.

With an impressively stylish furbishing and ultra-modern ornamentation, it is actually fairly enough to forget you are in an airport and not in a fancy high-end restaurant, with the modern art wine rack installation being the restaurant’s centerpiece. The menu also matches the voguish ambiance with an assortment of excellently crafted and presented dishes.

As Il Canneto is an airport restaurant, it also caters its dishes to a broader European and International audience. This means that on top of the selection of authentic Italian dishes, you can also get items such as burgers and French fries. With that being said, many of the Italian dishes are presented as works of art and are definitely picture-worthy.

Il Canneto is open every day from 6:30 AM (6:30 hours) to 11:00 PM (23:00 hours). It is also worth keeping in mind that because Il Canneto is located inside the airport, you can expect to pay airport prices, which means that they can be substantially more costly compared to regular Italian restaurants.

Where to find the best restaurants near Milan Malpensa Airport?

If hunger catches you while you have some free time at Malpensa Airport, you don’t have plenty of options. However, there are still a few pretty good restaurants nearby where you can get a quick snack, pizza, or some more complex meal. But, don’t expect that these restaurants are as good as those located in Milan city.

If you want to save a bit, or prices at the airport are just unexcepted for your budget, get a taxi or walk for around 30 minutes to reach Case Nuove. It is a small settlement near the airport with few restaurants where you can order pretty good food for fair prices. Those who don’t have that much time can only rely on a few restaurants located at Malpensa Airport. These are pretty expensive, but you will get good food for your money at least.

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