The story
Nestled along Milan’s Navigli district, La Pagnottella has quickly earned a devoted following for its bakery-pastry craft. Franchino Er Criminale, in his *Forni criminali* series, praises the focaccia and sfoglie as “excellent,” giving the spot a solid 4.5-star rating. The menu also includes a Brioche Vuota and a Fagottino al Cioccolato.
That said, he notes the selection of savory items is limited and the prices run a bit high. But for a pastry-forward morning bite or an afternoon break near Corso Cristoforo Colombo, this is a place to let the dough and chocolate do the talking. Don’t expect a full lunch spread—just quality, intentional Italian baking.
Synthesised by AI from every creator’s review. First reviewed 2024.
Most-loved dishes
AI summary of what 4 dish mentions say about the food
Reviewers rave about the sfoglie, calling it a flaky, buttery triumph. The overall vibe is one of rustic, unpretentious warmth that feels like a hug on a plate.
“These sfoglie are superlative. Look at that caramelization of the sugars on top, that baking, so crumbly. Delicious. This is how they should be made.”
What creators say
1 creator has covered La Pagnottella. Most active: Franchino Er Criminale
A bakery-pastry shop with excellent focaccia and sfoglie, but a bit pricey and limited in savory options. Overall positive.
Dishes mentioned
Focaccia
I got a piece of focaccia. It's light, well-cooked, you can see the oil layer, it flakes beautifully. It's very good, not a focaccia per se but an excellent one. I'd give it an 8, 8 plus, 8 and a half. They know their craft. It's very tall but soft and melts in your mouth.
- Brioche
Fagottino al Cioccolato
Well-cooked, good leavening, you can taste less butter, few chocolate chips because it's not a chocolate bread with a chocolate bar, it's a little bundle. They should put more chocolate.
Sfoglie
These sfoglie are superlative. Look at that caramelization of the sugars on top, that baking, so crumbly. Delicious. This is how they should be made.
