A €10 Chinese aperitivo with the prime Chinatown people-watching seat — and food that, well, we’ll get to.
Intro
Tucked into the buzzing heart of Milan’s Chinatown, Cantina Sarpi 1 has quietly become one of those spots everyone seems to “discover” on a sunny Tuesday evening. The pitch is simple, almost suspiciously so: €10, a Chinese-leaning aperitivo plate, and any drink from the menu priced at ten or under. In a city where a basic spritz can already run you nine, that’s a deal worth raising an eyebrow at — and a glass to.
The restaurant sits right on Via Paolo Sarpi, the pedestrian artery of Milan’s Chinatown, and the address — Sarpi 1 — is basically a wink to the whole neighborhood. It’s the kind of place you stumble into after wandering past the bubble tea shops and dumpling counters, half-curious and half-thirsty.
The Vibe
Let’s start with the strongest part of the experience: the outdoor setting. Sitting outside at Cantina Sarpi 1 and watching Via Paolo Sarpi unfold around you is honestly the main reason to come. The street has that lively Chinatown rhythm, and with Porta Garibaldi rising in the background, old neighborhood up close, new skyline in the distance, drink in hand, the whole scene feels surprisingly cinematic. It is one of those spots where the view does half the work for the aperitivo.
The atmosphere is casual, social, and easy to drop into, especially if you are already wandering around China and want to pause for a drink before dinner. This is not the kind of place you come to for deep culinary revelation or premium cocktails. It is more about location, movement, and mood. You come here to sit outside, order cheaply, catch the neighborhood at golden hour, and feel like you are part of the street for a while. For that, it absolutely works!
The Food
Now, about that ten-euro deal. You get a little plate with 2 baozi, 1 dumpling, and 2 spring rolls, plus one drink from the menu (anything priced ten euros or under, so wines, spritzes, basic cocktails — all fair game). On paper this is an actual steal, especially compared to the €15 olives-and-chips situation happening at half the bars in Milano.
In practice, the food is… let’s say it’s not the reason you’re here. Everything arrives looking like it spent the whole afternoon reconsidering their purpose in a Deliveroo bag before finally arriving at your table — the baozi a little tired and lifeless, the fried rolls more roll than fried, the dumpling hanging on for dear life. It’s not inedible, just deeply uninspired, the kind of plate you nibble politely between sips while doing the hard work of pretending it’s about the experience. And? It kind of is.
The Verdict
Cantina Sarpi 1 is best understood as a down-to-earth aperitivo bar with a convenient and affordable formula, it’s a vibe destination with snacks attached, and once you accept that, the math works out fine. 10 euros for a decent drink and a view this good is one of the better aperitivo deals in central Milan right now.
So come for the terrace, the people-watching, and the Porta Garibaldi sunset. Manage your expectations on the plate, bring a friend who likes to talk, and treat the food as set dressing — because you’ll be looking around far more than looking down. It’s not perfect, it’s not pretending to be, and at this price, it really doesn’t have to be!
Cantina Sarpi 1
📍 Via Paolo Sarpi 1, Milano
🌐 Instagram/website: —
Have you tried Cantina Sarpi 1 yet? Let us know your opinion, and don’t forget to bookmark chinatownmilano.it for more aperitivo finds around the city.