Ticinese and Navigli food-grazing walk: a walk in Milan

Street food, a historic pastry cafe, a covered market and the canal workshops, ending with a cocktail on the Naviglio Grande.

Best time: Late morning to lunch, or late afternoon into aperitivo; the Darsena market is best by day

The route, stop by stop

1
Basilica of San Lorenzo and the Columns
Roman columns; 10 min.
Sixteen Roman columns in front of one of Milan's oldest churches; the piazza is where students gather with a drink in the evening.
2
Romoletto Street Food
Suppli or pinsa slice; 10 min.
Roman snacks (pinsa, suppli) on Corso di Porta Ticinese, next to the San Lorenzo columns.
3
Medieval Porta Ticinese
14th-century gate; 5 min.
A 14th-century city gate in the middle of Corso di Porta Ticinese that most people walk under without noticing.
4
Pasticceria Cucchi
Brioche or panettone standing at the bar; 20 min.
A 1930s pastry cafe where Milanese have breakfast and buy panettone all year; Time Out's panettone pick.
5
Macelleria Popolare (Mercato della Darsena)
Grilled meat at the Darsena covered market; 40 min.
A butcher's counter inside the Darsena covered market that grills its own meat and sausages to order, with market-stall seating.
6
Le Striatelle di Nonna Mafalda
Or fresh pasta to go; 25 min.
Fresh pasta cooked to order and served fast, a cheap sit-down or takeaway lunch in the Navigli area.
7
Cortile degli Artisti (Vicolo dei Lavandai area)
Artists' courtyard and Vicolo dei Lavandai; 20 min.
A courtyard of artists' studios and workshops off the Naviglio Grande, a glimpse of the canal's old working life behind the bar strip.
8
Maido!
Takoyaki if still hungry; 15 min.
Japanese street food (okonomiyaki, takoyaki, onigiri) by the Naviglio Grande.
9
Mag Cafe
Aperitivo cocktail to finish; 60 min.
Vintage-styled cocktail bar on the Naviglio Grande; the Navigli bar that Milanese actually rate for drinks rather than the buffet.

Walking directions

Ticinese and Navigli food-grazing walk

The route, stop by stop

More walks in Milan