It may be home to Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper, but Milan is also a great place for a delicious breakfast.

Milanese café culture is a cornerstone of daily life here, much more so than in cities like Rome.

Here, although people are equally busy and have little time on the morning commute, it is still preferable to enjoy more than just a quick caffeine fix on the go.

Milan has a vast array of cafes, offering anything from pastries and coffee to more substantial plates of fried goodies.

For those visiting Italy’s fashion, design and finance capital, you can enjoy the most important meal of the day near some of the city’s iconic hotspots.

Pasticceria San Carlo

Pavè

Cocotte

Mag cafè

California Bakery

If you’re planning to visit the beautiful church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, pop into Pasticceria San Carlo, on Via Matteo Bandello, to fill up on tasty pastries to start the day. Via Matteo Bandello 1. This artisan bakery near Porta Venezia is famous for its pastries, fruit tarts and delicious muffins. If you have the time to stop by for a more leisurely brunch, this comes with a glass of bubbly. Via Felice Casati 27. This vintage-style bakery-café offers a welcome refuge from the busy commercial street of Milan in the morning. A great place for brunch, their menu includes sunny-side-up eggs and pancakes. Via Benvenuto Cellini 1. Nestled comfortably on Ripa di Porta Tichinese area of the Navigli district, this intimate cafè is open from 7am and is the perfect place to enjoy a coffee and pastry or an excellent weekend brunch. Its picturesque canal-side location means you can head straight to the shops or markets for a browse straight after brekkie. Ripa di Porta Ticinese 43. This originally started as a family business, paying homage to the great American breakfast. It now has seven outlets across Milan, all using mostly organic products and old family recipes.

Via Larga 19.

Viale Premuda 44.

Piazza Sant'Eustorgio 4.

Corso Garibaldi 89.

Corso Como 5.

Via San Vittore 2.

Piazza Tre Torri.

The Bagel Company

Peck

GluFree Bakery

The clue is in the name – this place specialises in America’s favourite breakfast item, offering both sweet and savoury versions. Piazza Ventiquattro Maggio 1/8. Here you’ll discover a typical Milanese brunch, done buffet-style. Via Spadari 9. This artisan gluten-free bakery on Via Curtatone (and now also on Via Gian Galeazzo) does not compromise on taste to suit dietary requirements.

Nor does it compromise on style, with its wooden flooring and exposed brick walls making it a cool place to hangout while you sample their delicious baked goods.

Via Curtatone 6.

Viale Gian Galeazzo 6.

Icon Cafè

Near Sforza Castle, this place serves the best Italian coffee as well as tasty treats. Via Losanna 15.