A stylish Chinese pastry shop near Loreto with cute sweets, tea-house vibes, and prices that may test your dessert morals.
Intro
Dashi Pasticceria is one of those places that instantly catches attention. Tucked away near Loreto, it brings a more polished, contemporary take on Chinese-inspired pastry culture to Milan, with a tiny wooden interior styled like a quiet old-school tea house, and a glass display case that honestly looks like a jewelry box for sweets, a menu that leans heavily into light creams, layered textures, and pretty presentation. It is the kind of spot people notice first with their eyes, then justify with dessert logic later.
The concept is easy to like. You come here for a slow merenda, a cute catch-up, or one of those afternoons when tea and sugar feel more productive than real life. The selection has enough personality to stand out, especially if you are tired of seeing the same generic pastries everywhere. That said, Dashi is also one of those places where the expectation curve rises very fast, and not every part of the experience keeps up.
The Vibe
Visually, Dashi does a lot right. The pastries look elegant, the branding feels modern, and the whole place has that soft, curated energy that makes people immediately pull out their phones. It feels designed for people who enjoy dessert not just as food, but as a whole little aesthetic event. Milan loves a pretty dessert moment, and Dashi clearly understands the assignment.
The other option is the so-called terrace, which sounds chic on paper until you realise it’s literally just a few tables on the sidewalk of a regular Milanese street, with cars and scooters zooming past. Not exactly the Cina di campagna fantasy the interior promises! Fine for a quick stop, less ideal if you actually wanted to slow down, sip your tea, and pretend you’re somewhere far away from Loreto traffic.
The Food
This is where Dashi remains interesting, even when it does not fully convince. The puff with rose cream is delicate and lightly floral, without becoming too perfumey, while the puff with matcha cream has a more grounded, slightly bitter edge that works nicely against the sweetness. The flavors are not bad at all. In fact, they are quite pleasant. The problem is more about proportion and value: the portions feel small, and once you look at the price, the whole experience starts to feel a little too precious.
The matcha millefoglie and mango millefoglie are flaky, creamy, photogenic, and very easy to like. The matcha version brings that earthy bittersweet note that matcha fans are always chasing, while the mango one feels brighter, softer, and a little more playful. The issue is not really the flavor. It is the value. When €8 for a small piece is basically 3 bites, the price starts to feel a little wild. You may still enjoy every forkful, but the final impression is hard to ignore: nice texture, nice flavour, nice presentation… just too expensive for what actually arrives.
The Verdict
Dashi Pasticceria is a spot with real appeal, especially if you are curious about Chinese pastry trends in Milan and want something more niche than the city’s usual dessert rotation. It has visual charm, a few genuinely enjoyable pastries, and enough distinct identity to make it feel worth trying at least once.
But then there’s the service, which… we’re really trying to be nice here. The staff give off serious clueless-teenager energy — orders got mixed up, basic menu questions earned blank stares, and there was zero of the warmth you’d hope for from a place charging these prices.
Final take: Dashi is worth a single visit if you love aesthetic cafés and want to sample a few decent Chinese-Italian pastries with a side of TikTok-friendly decor. But for repeat trips? The combo of mini portions, maxi prices, and lukewarm service makes it a hard sell. Go once for the photos and the rose puff, and manage your expectations on everything else!
Dashi Pasticceria 大喜大
📍 Via Nicola Antonio Porpora 14, Milano
🌐 instagram @dashipasticceria
Have you tried Dashi Pasticceria yet? Let us know your opinion, and do not forget to bookmark chinatownmilano.it for more honest pastry spots and hidden cafés around the city.