The Spirit of Milan at Princi Bakery
We can thank Rocco Princi for founding this bakery in Milan in 1986. Though he himself has roots in the produce of the Calabrian countryside, he brought his passion for perfection to Milan, where he is well accepted in the city that he fully embraces–and he even coined the phrase Spirito di Milano!
Princi’s fame comes largely through a partnership with Starbucks that began in 2016 where their baked goods were featured in reserve stores and roasteries including the first Starbucks location in Italy.
If you are looking to find quintessential Italian pastries, Princi is the perfect bakery to enjoy a cappuccino and a fine treat. However, Princi has so much more than pastries–they also have surprisingly good Roman-style Pizza al taglio and sandwiches for lunch and, of course, there are many loaves of bread as well as extravagant desserts to take home for later.
The key to Princi’s refined success is its dedication to quality by preserving the traditional techniques of breadmaking. Despite modern processing methods, Princi uses strictly stone-ground flour which preserves nutrients, enzymes, and fiber. All of that translates to better flavor and texture, and it even promotes better digestibility–which is probably why we could eat so many pastries without regret!
We visited one of the 6 locations in Milan that is also part of an architectural design collaboration, and the atmosphere is perfect. Though we ordered far more than a normal outing would dictate, even that was not enough to sate our curiosity!
Sweet Offerings
Maritozzo
The modern expression of a Maritozzo is a brioche-like bun filled with more whipped cream than you have ever had on any pastry in your life. This is a pastry with a long history originating in Rome, and though the classic form is quite basic, there are plenty of variations. This one had a light espresso flavor infusing the creme with a chocolate filling to accompany the generous portion. This pastry is an easy go-to for many.
Veneziana alla Crema
Next up is my personal favorite out of the pastries we had: Veneziana alla Crema (also known as Venetian Creme). Despite its name, the Veneziana has its roots in the Lombardy region, not Venice, and is a popular Milanese pastry. It’s a soft, buttery brioche filled with crema pasticcera, which is an Italian vanilla custard, topped with Italian Pearl Sugar Grains. My wife is a die-hard chocolate fan, but somehow this one stole her heart and is her favorite as well!
Cube Croissant
We also tried a Cube Croissant. It shares the same filling as the Venetian Creme, and while it’s soft and flaky with extraordinary crema pasticcera, I can’t recommend this over the Venetian Creme. Much of the allure of this pastry is aesthetic, which is actually a very modern expression in the pastry world–and one that can be passed over if you can set your curiosity aside and look for the pure expressions of excellence. However, if you just have to try it, it won’t be a disappointment, but it simply does not top the Veneziana.
Brioche al Cioccolato
The Brioche al Cioccolato is a beautifully artful treat that alternates chocolate and classic brioche sections, topped with a delicate Princi-branded chocolate disc. This is light on the chocolate and is a delicate, delightful brioche experience.
Pane al Cioccolato
Moving from brioche to sourdough, if you’re looking for something light and laced with chocolate, DO NOT go for the Pane al Cioccolato! This hefty slice is deceptively laden, layer over layer with delicious, rich dark chocolate. I truly think there might be more chocolate than bread in this decadent yet simple treat. If you are stepping out for a chocolate-centric experience with an espresso–and haven’t eaten other pastries–this certainly might be your best choice for a show-stopper!
Torta di Mele
Last, but not least we tried the Torta di Mele, a smooth and delicate apple dessert with a hint of orange zest. It’s not overly sweet and could make a great breakfast item as well.
Savory Offerings
Princi is well known for their Pizza al Taglio which translates as “pizza by the slice”. This is actually the first pizza that I tasted in Italy. I didn’t even intend to have pizza here, but I was kind of desperate for something that wasn’t sweet. Fortunately, Princi is very serious about the quality of their ingredients and they already have the bread down. The rest follows suit, making for an exceptional pizza.
Margherita
The first and obvious choice was to try the basic Margherita. The ingredients are simple— just light sauce, tomato, mozzarella di bufala and basil. All fresh and all delicious. The simple combination of basil and mozzarella is always a winner and it perfectly decorates fresh focaccia bread with fresh tomatoes. This is excellent Roman-style pizza available in the heart of Milan.
Pizza con Speck e Fontina
The second slice we had was Pizza con Speck e Fontina. Speck is a cold-smoked cured ham similar to prosciutto, and fontina is a cow’s milk cheese that originates in Italy. This pizza had just a hint of white sauce. In Italy, more is not necessarily better; few ingredients are needed to make a perfect dish!
Sfilatino con Pistachio Mortadella
The Sfilatino con Pistachio Mortadella is a simple sandwich made up of only two ingredients: Olive Sfilatino, which is the long baguette-like bread, and Pistachio Mortadella that Princi imports from Bologna. You don’t need many ingredients when the bread and meat are both of top-tier quality and perfectly paired tastes. It is simple, savory, and delicious.
Our Experience
Even after two visits–and ordering more than 2 people should eat–we still have yet to exhaust our desire and curiosity for the menu at Princi. There are so many beautiful desserts, pastries and breads to discover and enjoy that come out in rotation depending on the time of day. I am so glad that we stumbled into this beautiful culinary experience!
If you’re in Milan, you can’t miss with Princi.
We recommend the location at
Via Speronari, 6, Milan
Our Full Review
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