Izu

A 4.3 from over 1,000 Google reviews puts Izu in a position worth paying attention to — especially for Japanese Contemporary dining in a city where the format is still finding its footing.

Izu, on Corso Lodi in Milan's southeast, earns a Michelin Plate in both 2024 and 2025 — a signal of consistent technical competence rather than fireworks, but meaningful in a city where Japanese restaurants rarely hold sustained critical recognition. If you are planning a special dinner and want something that sits between casual sushi and full omakase theatre, Izu is a serious candidate. The price tier (€€€) positions it below Milan's constellation of €€€€ fine dining rooms, which makes it a genuinely useful middle option for occasions that call for something considered but not ceremonial.

The room itself, after a recent refurbishment, reads as an elegant bistro rather than a traditional Japanese interior. The atmosphere is composed without being stiff , the kind of setting that works for a date, a business dinner, or a quiet celebration where you want the food and the conversation to share equal billing. On the sound front, expect a measured ambient level: not the silence of a tasting-menu temple, not the din of a fashion-crowd izakaya. The post-refurbishment fit-out has clearly prioritised comfort over statement.

The menu covers the expected range , sushi, uramaki, sashimi , alongside a category labelled "Izu special creations" and a selection of dishes that draw on both Asian and Mediterranean references. The ownership is Chinese, the culinary focus is Japanese, and the result is a kitchen that works within a defined tradition while leaving room for its own interpretation. That Mediterranean inflection is worth noting: for a Milan audience, it functions as a bridge rather than a distraction, and for visitors, it makes the menu more navigable than a strictly orthodox Japanese format might.

The Wine Program: Where Izu Separates Itself

Wine list at Izu is an asset that many Japanese restaurants in this price tier do not bother to develop properly. Here, an experienced sommelier oversees a list that includes both a curated wine selection and, as you would expect, a range of sakes. That combination matters more than it might seem. The ability to match a sake to sashimi and then pivot to an Italian white for a Mediterranean-inflected course is exactly the kind of fluency that makes a multi-course dinner cohere. For a celebratory dinner where you plan to drink well, this is the detail that gives Izu an edge over Japanese restaurants that treat the drinks list as an afterthought.

If wine is a priority for your table, ask to speak with the sommelier directly rather than ordering off the list alone. The combination of sake depth and Italian wine knowledge in a single list is not common at this price point in Milan, and it is one of the clearest reasons to choose Izu over a comparable Japanese venue with a thinner drinks program. For context, if you are looking at the full range of what Milan's dining scene offers on the wine front, our full Milan wineries guide gives a broader picture of the region's producers.

Booking and Practicalities

Booking difficulty is rated easy, which is a meaningful advantage for spontaneous occasions or group dinners with less planning lead time. Address: C.so Lodi, 27, 20135 Milano. For planning purposes, see our full Milan restaurants guide, full Milan hotels guide, full Milan bars guide, and full Milan experiences guide.

FAQ

• Does Izu handle dietary restrictions? The menu spans sushi, sashimi, uramaki, and cooked dishes with Mediterranean influences, which gives reasonable flexibility , but specific dietary accommodation details are not confirmed in available data. Contact the restaurant directly before booking if you have strict requirements.
• What should a first-timer know about Izu? Expect a Japanese Contemporary menu with broader range than a strict omakase house. The Michelin Plate (2025) signals consistent kitchen quality. The price tier (€€€) sits below Milan's leading fine dining, making it accessible without being casual. The room feels like a smart bistro after its refurbishment, not a traditional Japanese interior.
• Is Izu worth the price? At €€€, yes , particularly given the dual Michelin Plate recognition and a wine and sake program that most Japanese restaurants at this tier do not match. If you are comparing on pure value, it delivers more on atmosphere and drinks depth than many peers at the same price. For more ceremonial spending, Milan's €€€€ rooms like Seta or Andrea Aprea set the standard.
• What are alternatives to Izu in Milan? For Japanese Contemporary at a similar or slightly different register, Nobuya is the main peer to consider in Milan. For broader Italian fine dining at €€€€, Enrico Bartolini and Cracco in Galleria are the benchmark rooms. Further afield in Italy, Osteria Francescana in Modena and Uliassi in Senigallia represent the upper end of the national category. For Japanese Contemporary in other European cities, see Sankai by Nagaya in Istanbul and The Japanese Restaurant in Andermatt.
• What should I order at Izu? The menu covers sushi, uramaki, sashimi, the "Izu special creations," and Mediterranean-inflected dishes. First-timers should explore the special creations alongside a classic sashimi selection to understand where the kitchen's own voice sits. Ask the sommelier for a sake pairing , that is where the drinks list pays off most clearly.
• Is the tasting menu worth it at Izu? Specific tasting menu details are not confirmed in available data. Given the Michelin Plate recognition and the sommelier-led drinks program, a structured menu with wine or sake pairing is likely to be the format that shows the kitchen at its leading. Confirm availability and format when booking.
• Is Izu good for a special occasion? Yes. The refurbished room, composed atmosphere, mid-volume noise level, and strong wine and sake program make it well-suited for a date or a celebratory dinner. At €€€ it does not require the budget of Milan's leading tasting-menu rooms but still delivers a considered experience. For the highest-end occasion spending, Seta or Andrea Aprea offer more ceremony.
• Can Izu accommodate groups? Seat count is not confirmed in available data. Booking difficulty is rated easy, which suggests availability is not a bottleneck for groups. Contact the restaurant directly for group reservations and to discuss menu options in advance.

More to Explore in Italy

For other high-quality dining destinations across Italy, see Atelier Moessmer Norbert Niederkofler in Brunico, Dal Pescatore in Runate, Quattro Passi in Marina del Cantone, and Reale in Castel di Sangro.