We are fortunate to have gotten tickets to La Scala when we will be visiting Milan in a few weeks. The opera starts at 8pm and we need to be there about a half hour before then. Does anyone have recommendations for where we should have dinner at 6pm or so nearby? Grazie mille!
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23986 posts
Unfortunately you may not find much open at 6pm. Our experience with Milan is that the restaurants don't start opening till 7 or later. Ask your hotel for a recommendation.
Posted by
Green Bay
22913 posts
There are some that will be open, but most do not open for dinner until 7 pm. Maybe think about dinner after the opera as most stay open until midnight.
There is also the possibility of this option at La Scala.
https://www.teatroallascala.org/en/menu-standing-tables.html
Posted by
Firenze, Italy
2020 posts
Usually artists eat something after the performance. There is the story of Toscanini conducting a sublime performance at la Scala. After that, he and his family walked back home - the Toscanini home was in via Durini – but he was somewhat delayed so relatives arrived home first and had dinner served. Of course, nobody dared starting eating before the maestro, so everybody was seating at the table with their bowls of steaming soup in front, waiting for him to arrive. When at last Toscanini arrived, he began shouting: "HOW DO YOU DARE EATING AFTER SUCH A DIVINE PERFORMANCE?"
And everybody had to go to bed without dinner.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Thank you for the responses (and I love the Toscanini story)! We're going to see Cosi Fan Tutte, which I've learned at La Scala is 3 hours and 10 minutes long, so we wouldn't be out until nearly midnight. I think the solution may be a late lunch and/or a hearty aperitivo before the opera, but I'll ask at the hotel the day before to see if there's a viable dinner option.
Posted by
Lake Oswego, Oregon
1384 posts
I had a very good lunch last week at Trattoria Milanese which is not far from La Scala. Or try Mamma Rosa's, if you don't mind a longer walk to the theater.
Posted by
Minnesota
20 posts
You might try Ravizzia 1871 for a light dinner. The focus is Sicilian. They are open. We had a good lunch there. And it is around the corner from La Scala.
The desserts are amazing.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/HGPnKCVLPLLkvxxH8?g_st=ipc
Posted by
Firenze, Italy
2020 posts
Thinking out loud: the tradition is eating something at one of the places in the Galleria. Of course they are very expensive, and at 6pm you are not going to have a full dinner, but I always saw people eating at every time.
A second option could be the food hall at the top floor of Rinascente Duomo shopping mall:
For the very cheap option, eat a "Panzerotto" at Luini. Probably there will be a queue and you will have to eat it standing: https://www.luini.it/eng/index.htm