Joia
Milan, Italy
Joia is a firmly established Milan restaurant rather than a hotel dining room or a loosely branded concept, and its official contact page confirms the exact city address at Via Panfilo Castaldi 18. The restaurant presents itself as ‘alta cucina vegetariana’, with lunch from Tuesday to Friday plus Saturday lunch, and dinner from Tuesday to Saturday. That verified pattern makes it a dependable destination for travellers planning a serious meal in the city centre rather than a speculative inclusion. The official site also confirms that all menus can be prepared fully plant-based or gluten-free if requested when booking, which is unusually practical information for visitors choosing a special-occasion restaurant in advance. Its importance in Milan comes from continuity as much as cuisine. Joia states that it was founded in 1989, that its vegetarian approach was recognised with a Michelin star in 1996, and that it was among the first recipients of the Michelin Green Star in 2020. The current ownership and management passed to Sauro Ricci and Raffaele Minghini in 2024, giving the restaurant a clear contemporary identity rather than leaving it as a heritage address trading only on reputation. For this ranking, it merits first place because it combines a verified Milan address, current operating details and a singular culinary position within the city.