With Mediobanca and Banca Intesa right around the corner, men in suits have been walking in for lunch and dinner since Ristorante Il Consolare opened, in 1972. Though bankers have never done much for ambiance, there’s something edgy about this place, which specializes in fish. The owner, Giovanni Ralli, is rumored to be best friends with Mina, one of Italy’s favorite pop stars, and was once a regular at iconic Milanese nightclub Plastique. Amidst the stark décor and black chairs, you’ll have the best seafood of your life: impossibly tender octopus with potatoes, calamari gratinati, tuna and salmon carpaccios, and spaghetti alle vongole topped with bottarga. The clams are particularly small, and the bottarga is particularly flavorful; before digging in, we suggest taking the clams out of their shells—and don’t forget to add some peperoncino. —Elena Clavarino

Elena Clavarino is the Senior Editor for AIR MAIL