Macelleria Popolare: Milan’s Butcher by the Canal (and Yes, It’s Grass-Fed)

Every day on my way to coworking, I’d catch the most incredible whiff of grilled beef and think, “That has to be coming from somewhere inside this market.” The market sits on a dock-like structure above the Navigli canal in Milan — mostly hidden from the street, with a few grocers and some picnic tables scattered along the terrace. I never thought much of it… until one evening, over dinner with my friend (Italian food expert and all-around culinary compass Osman — check out his Instagram @yemekfelsefesi) and his lovely girlfriend Ele, I finally heard the name: Macelleria Popolare.

They described it in detail, and suddenly everything clicked. That amazing smell? It was coming from right under my nose — or technically, right across from my “office.” And I had no idea.

Macelleria Popolare is, first and foremost, a butcher. But it’s also a tiny restaurant tucked inside the floating market of Navigli. There are no white tablecloths or reservations — just counter space and picnic tables outside. If you happen to catch one of Milan’s rare sunny days, do yourself a favor: order your meat, grab a seat by the canal, and enjoy the views of the city.

Surprisingly, I hadn’t actually eaten there until last week. During Milan Design Week, our coworking space was packed with events and way too loud for a peaceful lunch. So when my friend Seren turned to me and asked, “So where do we eat?” — it hit me. “Would you like some meat? I know a place.”

Let me take a moment here to say: I cherish food-adventurous friends. Seren is one of them. So I’m dedicating this post to her.

We walked over and peeked into the butcher’s display. Neither of us fluent in Italian, I went with the classic: “So, what are we having?” The butcher suggested roast beef, and since Seren also happens to love liver (rare and precious friend alert), we went for both. Then the owner asked, “Would you like some of our bread with olive oil?” Check the photo below and you’ll understand why our answer was an immediate YES.

We ordered and went to sit at our canal-side tables. The bread? Addictive. Perfectly toasted and generously drizzled with olive oil. Then came the rest of our dishes. The roast beef was silky and seasoned with mustard and oil — simple, bold, perfect. The liver was tender and just the right side of pink, with no dryness in sight.

As we finished our plates (or so I thought), Seren looked at me and said, “You can’t really do a post with only two dishes, right? I think we need one more.” YES GIRL. I offered to bring her along to order, but she waved me off: “Surprise me.”

Back to the counter I went: “We loved everything — what’s the one dish we absolutely can’t miss?” His answer: steak tartare. No frills. No egg yolk. No pickles. Just perfectly chopped grass-fed beef with olive oil, pepper, and thin slices of fresh bread. Clean, honest, and melt-in-your-mouth good.

Bonus tip: both the owner and my friend Osman have sworn by their tiramisu. Sadly, I forgot my lactase pills that day (rookie mistake), but since it’s literally across from my coworking space, it’s only a matter of time.

Key Takeaway: If you’re looking for high-quality, grass-fed meat in a laid-back, canal-side setting — Macelleria Popolare is your spot.