Trussardi alla Scala

The address alone closes the argument: Piazza della Scala 5, directly opposite La Scala opera house, inside the Trussardi palazzo that has been synonymous with Italian craftsmanship since 1911. Trussardi alla Scala's rooftop terrace, with its views over the square below and the Duomo beyond, is among the most photographed restaurant settings in northern Italy — and one of the few where the reality exceeds the image.

Executive chef Luigi Taglienti, who holds two Michelin stars, constructs menus that treat Milanese and Lombard tradition with the same serious creativity applied to regional cuisines across Italy's best restaurants. His risotto alla milanese — saffron-suffused, bone-marrow-enriched, aged Parmigiano on the side — is the one that serious risotto devotees use as their benchmark. The veal tartare with egg yolk and Savoy truffle in season demonstrates the kitchen's ability to let exceptional ingredients perform rather than demonstrate technique at their expense.

The dining room across two levels is furnished with Trussardi leather, custom glassware, and the kind of art that rewards lingering attention. Business lunches have been conducted here for decades — there is something about the combination of address, design, and cooking that communicates success without announcement. The power lunch menu, available Tuesday through Friday, offers a condensed version of the dinner experience at a considerably lower price.

For evening, request a table on the terrace or in the high-windowed room overlooking the piazza. The wine list is Milan's most comprehensive for Barolo and Barbaresco; the sommelier's knowledge is both deep and practically applied.

Close a Deal: When address matters as much as cooking — and in Milan's business culture, it frequently does — Trussardi alla Scala delivers both. The combination of piazza setting, fashion house heritage, and Michelin-starred cooking signals a level of investment that closes rooms.