Where to Eat in Milano: Panzerotti Luini

Milanese people have made a beeline for Luini since it first opened in 1949. Not sure where to eat in Milano? For a cheap, DELICIOUS, traditional and historic lunch or snack, head to Panzerotti Luini.

PHOTOGRAPHY PROPERTY OF SVADORE 

I first heard about the Panzerotti Luini from my mother. Her first Panzerotto brings her back to her childhood. She used to go eat them after school in Milan or with her father when she would walk through Il Centro. It is a far memory, but she still relives it today. Today people, like my mom, who used to go eat Panzerotti Luini after school now bring their own children, me, with them. The tradition continues to be passed down to the new generations and is a historic and traditional Milanese ritual.

Just steps from the Duomo, Luini is hard to miss. A queue begins to form outside the bakery that can be up to 10 minutes long during lunch. Not to worry though, the women at the cash register are fast since the locale is small and only offers take-away. Walk down the street packed with people and you’ll see the orange and red Luini bakery sign hanging outside a window recalling the golden color of the Panzerotto crust and the red interiors of the hot tomato sauce.

Fun fact, Panzerotti are actually a traditional food from Puglia. They were introduced to Milan in 1949, when Giuseppina Luini moved her family and her bakery Luini to Via S. Radagonda 16. At first the bakery focused solely on bread, but when she stumbled across her grandfather’s Panzerotto recipe, a variation of the original Panzerotto Pugliese, she couldn’t resist. Panzerotti Luini became an instant success in Milan.

So how can I describe Panzerotti Luini? They are a soft fried pizza dough stuffed with sauces. It’s like a mini-pizza or calzone, but way…WAY better. The original Panzerotti Luini are made with tomato and mozzarella and only cost 2,50 euro! That’s my go-to every single time, so I bought 2. But they have a variety of flavors from pesto, prosciutto, ricotta and chocolate, peaches with almonds and amaretti, zucchinis, spinach and ricotta, and more. Salty or sweet, Luini has got you covered and the rest of Milano covered! The Panzerotti are made fresh and given to you warm as if just taken out of the oven. Step outside onto the streets of the Duomo, open your piping hot bag, and smell that Pizza-like deliciousness! As I hold it in my hands, the outer layer of soft dough is perfectly and lightly fried and golden. As I take a bite, steam begins to come out from inside the hot Panzerotto, melted cheese and hot tomato sauce stick to the inside as I try and rip the Panzerotto apart with my teeth. DELICIOUS! My mom and I devour our Panzerotti Luini as we enjoy the view of the Duomo.

Stopping by Luini just steps from the Duomo is worth the experience in order to understand the sublime taste of the Panzerotto and to live a piece of Milanese history. For more on what to do during 24 Hours in Milano, read my post: 24 Hours In Milano: The Essentials What To Do, See and Eat.

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