Ottolina Café&Bistrot C.so Magenta — Restaurant in Milan

Disclosure: Self-initiated review. No benefits were obtained in exchange for this unbiased review.

November 2022

Came here at 8.45 am on a Sunday as there were few other places that were open.

Had a lovely croissant - warm, buttery and fluffy on the inside, beautifully crispy on the outside. This would rival any croissant in France. The cappuccino was pretty decent too, as was the yoghurt.

The best thing was the price, I paid just €8.

The entire cafe was clean and the staff were pleasant. I've only taken a star off because I spotted a fly on one of the croissants on the counter. Also one of the staff came out of the kitchen and started handling the croissants with bare hands. I guess he must be the pastry chef with clean hands, but customers don't know this. Please wear gloves when handling food at the...

Ottolina Cafe Magenta was the highlight of my culinary experience in Milan. Just 2 weeks ago I hade the best breakfast of my trip. 1 orange juice (4.5 euros) and 1 tarta di mele vegana (5 euros) that was crunchy enough but also able to melt in my mouth. I couldn't resist and took a chocolate muffin to eat afterwards and I can assure you it was the best muffin I had ever eaten in my life. Just moist enough, but at the same time gooey, and filled with little drops of chocolate. Also, the staff are amazing, friendly, and absolutely happy to help. This place is perfect for student travelers as it is packed with students from the nearby Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore. Definitely coming back when I'll visit...

Service was good and staff was really nice. Specialty coffee is not available despite being listed in the menu. Espresso was great, so was the food. The only reason I am giving a low rating is because the bathroom was absolutely disgusting, really dirty, like a roadside bathroom or a club after a certain hour. It was hard to believe how a cafe with decades of tradition would have such poor hygiene. Just for that I would not go back...