IYO

IYO is Milan's best-known contemporary Japanese restaurant and a pioneer of high-end Japanese cooking in Italy. It opened in 2007 on Via Piero della Francesca, in the residential Sempione area north-west of the centre, and has held a Michelin star since 2015. The cooking brings together Japanese technique and Italian ingredients and sensibility, and the restaurant has also been recognised by other Italian guides, including Gambero Rosso.

The menu is built around innovative sushi and contemporary Japanese dishes, offered as a shared tasting experience that changes over time. Expect carefully sourced fish and seafood, precise knife work and combinations that you would not find in Japan, with Italian produce appearing alongside Japanese staples. Staff can suggest drinks to match the menu. The dining room is sleek and modern, and the atmosphere is relaxed rather than formal.

The IYO group has grown into a small family of restaurants. IYO Omakase, a traditional Japanese counter focused on Edomae sushi, and IYO Kaiseki, devoted to traditional Japanese haute cuisine, are both on Piazza Alvar Aalto in the Porta Nuova district, and there is a seasonal outpost in Sardinia. The original on Via Piero della Francesca remains the most accessible way into the group's cooking.

Prices are high, in line with a Michelin-starred restaurant, so it is best for a special dinner. It suits couples, groups of friends and anyone who enjoys Japanese food and wants to see how it has been reinterpreted in Milan. Book through the website, by phone or via WhatsApp. The restaurant serves dinner every evening and lunch from Wednesday to Sunday, and it has announced the return of Monday dinner from October 2026, so check current times when you book. Tell the restaurant about allergies or dietary needs in advance, as the tasting format depends on preparation. Lunch is usually the calmer and more accessible time to try it.

Via Piero della Francesca is a long street running north from the Arco della Pace area. The Gerusalemme and Domodossola stops on metro line M5 are within walking distance. The bars around Corso Sempione and the Arco della Pace are a short trip away for a drink before or after dinner.