Alice

Alice opens with immediate clarity: this is a Michelin-starred Contemporary Mediterranean kitchen in Milan that puts seafood and seasonal produce at the center of every plate. Situated on the second floor of Eataly Smeraldo, Alice greets guests with natural light through picture windows overlooking Piazza XXV Aprile and an open kitchen where the rhythm of service and the hiss of pans shape the evening. The restaurant's focus on market-fresh seafood, tasting menus, and thoughtful wine pairing is clear in the first courses, and the setting reads as both refined and relaxed for visitors seeking serious gastronomy in the heart of the city. Chef Viviana Varese leads the kitchen with a career rooted in coastal Campanian tradition and formal training under Gualtiero Marchesi and at El Celler de Can Roca.

Viviana opened Alice in 2007 with sommelier and maître d' Sandra Ciciriello; together they moved the restaurant to Eataly Smeraldo in 2014 and retained their Michelin star first awarded in 2011. Their vision emphasizes ingredient-driven technique, gluten-free and vegetarian options, and careful sourcing from Milan's food markets. Sandra's market knowledge directs daily produce and seafood choices, ensuring each menu reflects current supply and sustainability priorities without sacrificing flavor or finesse. The menu unfolds through two tasting menus, Sandrina and Viviana, alongside à la carte options and a lunch menu.

Expect precise treatments of seafood, while meat preparations and desserts receive the same careful attention. Tasting menus run €110–€130, and sommelier-led pairings highlight Italian regions and market-driven selections that mirror the menu's coastal focus. The dining room blends contemporary finishes with nautical touches. Riva 1920 solid oak tables sit beneath handmade fish papier-mâché sculptures by Enrico Paolucci, and walls display ceramics and abstract sea-themed art.

The room feels bright and spacious; service is casual yet precise, with close attention from staff who explain each course and recommended pairing. A long sharing table in front of the open kitchen lets guests watch Viviana and her team at work, turning parts of the meal into a front-row culinary performance without sacrificing intimacy. For practical planning, Alice is best visited for an evening tasting menu when the kitchen is fully engaged; lunch offers a lighter menu and easier availability. Hours are typically 12:30 to 14:00 and 19:30 to 22:00, and the restaurant is closed on Sundays.

Reservations are recommended, especially for weekend evenings and tasting-menu seating; book via the official site aliceristorante.it or through Eataly Smeraldo's booking channels when available. Dress code leans smart casual, dress comfortably but avoid athletic wear to match the refined dining room. Alice in Milan rewards diners who seek carefully prepared Mediterranean cuisine with a seafood emphasis, measured technique, and market-driven wines.

Reserve a tasting menu to experience Viviana Varese's signature dishes and Sandra Ciciriello's curated pairings. For a memorable meal near Piazza XXV Aprile, book Alice and secure an evening at one of Milan's most consistent Michelin-starred tables.