If you’re visiting Milan and want to try a lesser-known Lombard sweet, then add pan meino to your Milan eats bucket list. These golden cornmeal cookies (of sorts (though some might say they’re more of a bread!) are finished with elderflower and powdered sugar—I think they’re delightful.
Today, April 23, is St. George’s Day, and pan meino is practically synonymous with the saint’s feast day. If you’re curious to know more about the history of pan meino and why it came to be associated with the holiday, then tune in to the latest episode of my podcast, The Milano Files Podcast. You can llisten here online or on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, and all major streaming platforms.
While Pan meino isn’t impossible to find in Milan and beyond, the bakeries that offer it are few and far between, so here are some bakeries in and around Milan where you can find pan mieno (which also goes by pan de mej).
Where to find pan mieno (pan de mej) in Milan
Pasticceria Cucchi – Milan
A Milanese institution that opened in 1936 and pan mieno is just one of its many delightful treats. Corso Genova 1, website
Pasticceria Ranieri
Opened in 1967. Go for the pan meino, and stay to ask in the shop’s elegant interior, featuring chandeliers and polished wood. Via Moscova 7, website
Pasticceria Sommariva
This historic bakery has been delighting customers with traditional Lombard pastries since 1919. Via Crema 25, website
Pasticceria Navotti
This gluten-free bakery offers versions of several Italian sweets and bread….pan meino included. Via Paisiello, 7; website
Pasticceria Clivati 1969
Another beloved old-school institution where you can try a variety of Lombard treats, including panettone by the slice, which is available year-round. They even sell the pan meino in cute tin packaging. Viale Coni Zugna 57, website
Pasticceria Pattini
Pasticceria Pattini is a historic Milanese bakery renowned for its artisanal pastries and breads. With multiple locations across the city, it offers a delightful array of traditional Italian sweets in a warm and inviting atmosphere. Corso Buenos Aires, 55; Via Solferino 5; Via Modena 14 (Sesto San Giovanni); Corso Garibaldi 93; website
Bakeries Beyond Milan to Try Pan Meino
Luisita, Como
Luisita has been a mainstay in Como’s historic center for decades, specializing in sweets that reflect Comasco and Lombard traditions. Via Boldini, 34; website
Pasticceria Besuschio, Abbiategrasso
This pastry shop south of Milan has been satisfying sweet tooths since 845, and it warrants a visit alone–though you’ll be quite taken with the town. They suggest dipping the pan meino in cold cream. Piazza Guglielmo Marconi, 59; website
Ghezzi, Varese
Established in 1919, Pasticceria Ghezzi is located in Varese’s historic center is one of the city’s oldest pastry shops. The setting is complete with original wood, marble, and brass interiors. In addition to pan meino, you should also try the Dolce Varese (aka Amor Polenta). Corso Giacomo Matteotti, 36; website
Panificio Crivelli, Monza
Established in 1969, Panificio Crivelli is a family-run bakery in the heart of Monza, celebrated for its authentic, handcrafted breads and pastries. Via Vittorio Emanuele II, 32; website
Cerere – L’Atelier del Pane, Canonica di Triuggio
In 2023, the Gambero Rosso guide named Cerere, an innovative bakery focusing on sustainability and quality, the “Bakery of the Year. ”
Cover photo credit: Alezack, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
