where to eat

CAFEs & BAKERIES

Marchesi 1824

Few shop windows in Milan stop people in their tracks quite like Marchesi’s, especially during the festivities when Pastry Chef Diego Crosara presents his too-beautiful-to-eat panettoni, colombe or other kinds of desserts immaculately decorated by hand. One of the city’s most historic cafés, Marchesi was born as a small pastry shop in an eighteenth-century palazzo on Via Santa Maria alla Porta and has since grown to three Milanese locations, all acquired by the Prada Group in 2014 and renovated with enough care to preserve what made them worth acquiring in the first place. Coffered ceilings, antique mirrors and art deco lamps provide the backdrop; the coffee arrives with a small lid to keep it warm and a plate of buttery biscuits alongside. The Torta Aurora, bourbon vanilla sponge with softly whipped cream, is the pairing to seek out. Impeccable in every sense, and entirely aware of it.. WEBSITE

Sant’Ambroeus

In Corso Matteotti in Milan, the historic Caffè Sant Amboreus (opened over eighty years ago) has recently undergone restyling without distancing too much from its heritage, to which the city is affectionately tied to. In addition to pastry – cappuccino and brioche here are the emblem of the Milanese – the “all day” dining concept was inaugurated, an authentic novelty in the Milanese capital: amidst boiserie antiques, mirrors and marbles, you can eat all day long, yes even at 4pm: bring on risotto allo zafferano, cutlet, avocado toast and lobster roll. WEBSITE

BAr Luce

Designed by filmmaker Wes Anderson, this pastel-hued café inside the Fondazione Prada is a dreamy escape from the fashion week frenzy. Think Formica tables, a retro jukebox, and perfectly crafted espressos—an ideal setting for a mid-morning cappuccino and brioche in between presentations (and away from the Quadrilatero hustle and bustle). WEBSITE

La Bruma

Born from the same roots as Via Stampa, with which it shares production knowledge and a serious approach to fermentation, La Bruma opened on Piazza Vetra as its own independent project. This contemporary bakery draws on northern European bread culture and brings it into a distinctly Milanese context. The model is deliberately straightforward: walk-in only, no table service, no reservations. Bread, coffee and leavened goods available throughout the day, through to aperitivo hour. WEBSITE

Pavè

One of the addresses that shaped Milan’s current appetite for considered, ingredient-led baking, Pavé on Via Felice Casati has been setting the standard for breakfast and brunch in the città since 2011. The pastries are exceptional: think soft brioches and flaky croissants, and the coffee is taken as seriously as everything else. There is also a second location on Via Cesare Battisti. WEBSITE

Cafezal

Italian-Brazilian Carlos Bitencourt experienced the third-wave coffee movement in London and decided, with considerable conviction, to bring it to Milan. Since opening the first Cafezal on the quiet Via Solferino in Brera, the concept has grown to three locations across the city, each with its own character whilst sharing the same founding rigour. The beans, sourced from over twelve countries, among them Brazil, Honduras and Ethiopia, are roasted in-house within the ultramarine blue walls of the micro-roastery, and the rotation is broad enough that there is always something worth trying. Caffeine-free options, including chai and mate latte, are available for those who want the ritual without the kick. The pastries are baked fresh every morning; the Pastel de Nata, crisp and warm with a properly creamy centre, is the one to order alongside your first cup of the day. WEBSITE

Orsonero

When Brent Jopson and his Milanese wife Giulia moved from Vancouver and opened Orsonero in 2016, single-origin beans and aeropress brewing were considered genuinely radical propositions in Milan. The city’s coffee culture has evolved considerably since then, but Orsonero, as the original, retains a particular loyalty among locals who were there from the beginning and have seen no reason to go elsewhere. The space is unfussy and genuinely inviting: no concept, no theatre, just very good coffee served by people who understand it. The flat white with oat milk is the morning standard; cold brew takes over in warmer months. A short selection of pastries lines the counter: the cinnamon bun is the one to go for. And recently, their second location has just sprung in Chinatown, on Via Lomazzo 20. WEBSITE

Pan

Chef Yoji Tokuyoshi spent nine years working alongside Massimo Bottura before opening Bentoteca, his Japanese-inspired restaurant in Milan. When the restaurant’s demand for exceptional bread outgrew what was available, the logical next step was to open a bakery of his own. Pan, created in collaboration with Alice Yamada in the Risorgimento district, is the result. The bread is the reason to come, and the shokupan, cloud-soft, pillowy, unlike most things you will find in the city, is the thing to order. The Anpan, a small brioche filled with Anko sweet red bean paste, is equally good; the Kare Pan, a panko-fried dough ball filled with vegetable curry, rewards the curious. Matcha runs through the drinks menu in five different forms, and the Basque-style cheesecake built around it is, by any measure, a very good reason to sit down. WEBSITE

Atto a Caffe Leopardi

After thirty years, the historical Caffè Leopardi enters a new chapter; Atto has taken on its legacy with a project that balances continuity and renewal in equal measure. The historic counter, Verde Alpi marble, original signage and wooden boiserie have all been kept, whilst new interventions bring the space firmly into the present: dark green resin floors, an open kitchen in steel and glass, and a layout designed to move naturally through the different moments of the day. The project is the vision of Giuseppe Loiero, founder of Mascherpa tiramisù and coffee, with a kitchen led by Argentine chef Maria Sol Baudry and the support of Mythila Shilke of June Collective. Specialty coffee and matcha anchor the morning while lunch brings seasonal small plates and sandwiches. From Thursday to Saturday, the kitchen keeps going through aperitivo with small plates, selected wines and cocktails. WEBSITE

June Collective

A thirty-minute tram ride from the city centre is, in Milan terms, a genuine commitment and June Collective is worth every stop. Opened by Mythila and Ilze, whose combined experience across Europe’s better food cities gave them a clear sense of what they wanted to build, the café brings a Nordic lightness of touch to a corner of the city that needed exactly this. The menu runs until noon on weekdays: homemade granola with Greek yoghurt and apricot compote, pancakes with cardamom glaze, çilbir Turkish-style eggs and seasonal cakes that change with genuine intention. The coffee covers the expected Italian bases alongside filtered options and a matcha latte; the chai latte has, by word of mouth at least, developed something of a reputation as the best in the city. WEBSITE

Gelsomina

In Via Carlo Tenca, Gelsomina greets visitors with a splendid counter filled with puff pastry, flaky croissants, various pasticcini, savoury brioches, banana bread and carrot cake and more. Inside, a shabby-chic interior for those who seek to stop a little longer and enjoy a sit-down breakfast or lunch. Pastry chef Paola Bertolli works with the seasons and with a level of craft that elevates the whole enterprise well beyond the neighbourhood café category. The maritozzo, bouncy and generously finished with finely chopped pistachios, is the signature; the éclairs, tartlets and mont blancs are equally worth your attention. WEBSITE

Pasticceria Clivati

Founded in 1969 by master pastry chef Angelo Clivati, Pasticceria Clivati on Viale Coni Zugna has been part of the fabric of Milan’s Porta Genova neighbourhood for over half a century; the kind of address that has seen generations of the same families come through the door and never given them a reason to go elsewhere. The offer runs the full length of the Milanese day: breakfast pastries, fragrant shortbreads and vegan brioche in the morning; savoury filled pastries, salads and gourmet hot plates at lunch; an afternoon tea service with a selection of teas, infusions and mignon pastries; and an aperitivo hour anchored by vermouth-based cocktails and a counter of savoury bites. WEBSITE

Fiorario Bianchi

The Parisian-inspired café on Via Montebello is immediately distinctive: fresh flowers and plants fill every available surface, vintage furnishings crowd the room in the best possible way, and distressed walls give the space the feeling of somewhere that has been loved rather than designed. On arrival, a counter of freshly baked cakes and pastries sets the tone: seasonal tarts, bundt cakes, caramelised cannelés served on vintage chinaware that would not look out of place in a French country house. WEBSITE

Fine Dining

Abba

In Milan’s Certosa District, Abba emerges from the transformation of a former brush factory into a refined dining space by Italian architect Giulio Marchesi. With large windows and a palette of natural tones—earth, sand, and wood—the restaurant embodies elegance, simplicity, and harmony with nature. By night, it becomes an intimate and romantic retreat, offering a sensory dining experience. At the heart of Abba is chef Fabio Abbattista, whose philosophy blends Pugliese traditions, global influences, and haute cuisine techniques. His menu adapts not just to the seasons but evolves daily, guided by the optimal ripeness of ingredients. Vegetables take center stage, while ethically sourced meat and seafood complete the experience. WEBSITE

Ristorante Andrea ApRea

The chef, who had won two Michelin stars at the Park Hyatt, has just inaugurated his restaurant on the top floor of a nineteenth-century building that houses the Luigi Rovati Foundation, a new museum of art open on September 1st. The three tasting itineraries on the menu explore different flavours, with a look at the chef’s Neapolitan origins. On the menu of the Bistrot you will find gastronomic focaccia, salads and sandwiches and some dishes such as Milanese risotto and pasta with tomato sauce. WEBSITE

Horto restaurant

Norbert Niederkofler, three Michelin stars in San Cassiano in the Dolomites, has opened a new restaurant in the historic center of Milan. The idea is based on the Horti Conclusi, the gardens of the monasteries where aromatic and medicinal plants were grown in the Middle Ages. Together with a team of chefs with a distinguished curriculum, he proposes an ethical, relaxed cuisine, respectful of the time and of the territory that changes with the seasons. You have breakfast on the terrace, lunch at the Sole bistro, an aperitif on the roof of Milan and fine dining at the Horto for dinner. The restaurant is located on the rooftop of The Medelan, a new space that boasts office and retail spaces as well as unique terraces with incredible views. WEBSITE

Enrico Bartolini

The man of records: this is the definition that we read most often of Enrico Bartolini, because no one like him has collected so many starred restaurants in different parts of Italy. But this on the third floor of the Museum of Cultures is the flagship, the restaurant that has thrilled Milan by bringing the three stars back to the city. Classic-contemporary is the definition that the chef reserves for his cuisine, an affirmation that is reflected in the two tasting menus: “Best of” with historical dishes and “Mudec Experience”, that is the most recent and constantly evolving proposals from which take out 3 or 4 courses as you like, all accompanied by a wine selection that includes more than 7000 references. (Description from the Michelin Guide). WEBSITE

Moebius Sperimentale 

Entering Moebius, you immediately notice the 3-meter-high bottle cupboard behind the bar, featuring over 300 varieties of liquors and spirits. But Meobius isn’t just a cool cocktail and tapas bar; there’s a new life injected of innovative and experiential cuisine on the first floor, at Moebius Sperimentale. You eat inside the kitchen, literally – and watch the Chef’s while they prepare your tasting menu. Only five seats, so it’s worth booking well in advance. The Chef, Enrico Croatti, experiments with three menus: sea, land and an 8 course meal that blends the two. The philosophy behind each menu is the conscious and mindful selection of the ingredients, whether it’s seafood, vegetables or livestock. What we loved? the Michelin starred experience was unique, toasted bread, kombucha to start and a real friendly, intimate setting. WEBSITE

Ristorante Berton

Andrea Berton, with one Michelin star for his restaurant, was also awarded the prize of The Best Pasta on the Menu in 2022, It comes to no surprise as the concept behind his refined cuisine, is to bring to light those flavours and ingredients one wouldn’t usually consider. For example, Berton has curated a tasting menu in which broth is the protagonist, and of course its not just any broth. From mantris shrimp broth to beetroot broth, to ending the meal with chocolate broth. A unique culinary experience to enter with an open mind. WEBSITE

Seta Restaurant

Antonio Guida’s restaurant is always a very trendy address. Located in the internal courtyard of the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Milan, it is a formal and prestigious setting with dishes by Fornasetti. The chef offers a menu with Mediterranean flavours, with influences from southern Italy from which he comes, but in his dishes also memories of French classicism and a certain tendency to opulence and sweet succulence, which fascinates. But on the menu there are) but also exotic and oriental digressions. A special mention for the desserts of the restaurant’s pastry chef, Marco Pinna. WEBSITE

Langosteria

Definitely the best fish restaurant in town. The reason is that the owner, Enrico Bonocore, is also a partner in a counter at the fish market: the first choice is always reserved for the cuisine of this restaurant in via Savona, in the heart of the Milanese design district. Three formats: two restaurants (one in Via Savona and the other in Montenapoleone), the bistro and the private restaurant to book on special occasions. A dish to try is the Catalan-style blue lobster, a classic among all the seafood, but we also love to order the Plateau Royale (if you have to splurge, go big-style). WEBSITE

Torre

Located on the top floors of the tower of Fondazione Prada, Torre is an exceptional place to experience high-end cuisine. Expansive floor-to-ceiling windows surround the interiors, complete with parquet flooring, walnut wood paneling, and hemp-covered walls enriched with artwork. The Chef, Lorenzo Lunghi, is focused on the principles of ethical cooking and ingredient care. Producers are meticulously selected from the Italian gastronomic landscape and every kitchen by-product is repurposed in some way. In addition to the à la carte menu, the gastronomic offering also includes a seven-course tasting menu that frequently changes to reflect the micro-seasons of Northern Italy and the seasonality of the fish. WEBSITE

da Giacomo

Giacomo Bulleri, of Tuscan origins, opened his first restaurant in the centre of Milan back in the 90’s and today counts not only five restaurants (3 in Milan, one in Pietrasanta Tuscany and one on Lake Como in a collaboration with the Grand Hotel Tremezzo) but also an additional Caffè, Pasticceria, Rosticceria, Gastronomia and Tabbaccheria. Each setting has a very different feel, from the wood paneling and embossed wallpaper design of Da Giacomo to the more nautical approach in Giacomo Al Lago to the unique experience in dining with a view of the Duomo at Giacomo Arengario. As far as the menu concerns, expect a combination of Italian cuisine in a contemporary guise and as for desert, the Bomba di Giacomo is a guilty pleasure everyone must try at least once (at least). WEBSITE

dal bolognese

A slice of Bologna in Milan. At Dal Bolognese you’ll find a menu filled with traditional recipes of Emilian cuisine including the beloved boiled meat, tortellini in brodo and fresh, homemade tagliatelle with ragù alla Bolognese. The restaurant is nestled behind the Duomo in the courtyard of Palazzo Recanati with pleasant outdoor area and an elegant indoors. WEBSITE

TRATTORIE/BISTROT

Trippa

Diego Rossi and Pietro Caroli have created Trippa, a place where tradition has gotten a bold shake-up, offering dishes that feel both familiar and entirely new. The Trippa Fritta, crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside, is one of their specialties, while classics like vitello tonnato are precisely prepared with a balance of rich flavors and delicate textures. Located in Porta Romana, the atmosphere is as much a draw as the food: shared and buzzing with conversation. Tables are packed, the menu changes daily guided by the market’s availability, and getting a seat is an art in itself. Trippa is an old-fashioned trattoria serving as a meeting ground, where friendships and passions grow over plates of ingredient-driven brilliance. WEBSITE

The Bar at Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren opens his first hospitality experience in Italy with The Bar at Ralph Lauren in the new Milanese flagship store in Via della Spiga, a tribute to the equestrian lifestyle long synonymous of Ralph Lauren, with interiors furnished with leather sofas, elegant dark wood panels and a curated collection of paintings and photographs. Here you can taste a unique offer in Milan of American cuisine inspired by Ralph Lauren’s favorite dishes, including the classic hamburger and the iconic mini lobster rolls. Signature cocktails like Ridgway Margarita, Manhattan or an Old-Fashioned for the seasonal menu. The bar is open all day and will serve coffee and patisserie in the morning, a light lunch and aperitifs. WEBSITE

Da Martino

Da Martino may look like a simple takeaway counter with a wood-burning oven and a few tables, but this family-run spot has been serving Milan since 1950. Founded by Martino from Tuscany and now run by his son Sergio, it’s a local favourite. Their menu changes daily, but expect classics like pizza by the slice, Fiorentina steak, Cinta Senese pork, and their famous cotoletta. Seasonal ingredients keep things fresh to always find something unique and different. Just like at home. WEBSITE

Trattoria del Pescatore

This trattoria specialises exclusively in seafood. More specifically, most of the recipes originate from Sardinia, the homeland of the ownersGiuliano Ardu and his wife, Agnese Atzeni. They have introduced traditional ingredients from the island, such as bottarga and created their signature delicacies, including their distinctive bread loaves and, most notably, the Lobster Catalana, which led to their breakthrough. By adding sliced red onions and Sardinian tomatoes, they created a version so successful that, in many places, it has replaced the original recipe. With all this in mind, Trattoria del Pescatore has now become the leading Sardinian seafood restaurant in Milan. WEBSITE

Trattoria Torre di Pisa

Founded by the Tuscan Meacci family in the 60s, Trattoria Torre di Pisa has historically been a high esteemed meeting place for important designers, painters, journalists and more. The restaurant carries a philosophy that remained close to its values of the past: the five large windows facing Via Fiori Chiari have not been altered and the historic wooden chairs are still in use like the opening back in the days. The current owner, Alberto Cortesi, a true Tuscan at heart, offers simple and authentic dishes all finished with the finest Tuscan extra virgin olive oil. The specialties are, of course, those of the traditional Tuscan countryside – think, fresh tagliatelle with hill-grown cherry tomatoes, rigatoni alla Toscana and theclassic Fiorentina. WEBSITE

Ristorante Rovello

Those looking for a restaurant with a Vecchia Milano style: think wooden furnishings and a classic Italian menu, should head to Rovello . This is a place that maintained its original address as its name but relocated several times throughout its journey. Now, Rovello can be found on Via Ariberto 3, where its cuisine remains deeply rooted in regional traditions, mostly Lombardy and Piedmont. Michele De Liguoro, the restaurant’s owner, pours love and passion into his creations, drawing inspiration from his grandmother—mind you, this is just the right place for a typical Italian dining experience, with dishes crafted from the highest-quality ingredients. WEBSITE

La Latteria San Marco

La Latteria San Marco is a true Milanese institution. Since 1965, Arturo and Maria Maggi welcomed guests into their intimate, nine-table space, serving a daily-changing menu rooted in fresh out-of-garden vegetables. Their specialty spaghetti with lemon and chilli even made its way to the White House! Now under new ownership by Vittoria Loro Piana, the restaurant remains unchanged—same charm, same menu, and still no reservations. Milanese tradition stands firm, just as it did in the early days when eager diners queued for a coveted spot. In short, add this one to your list—just don’t expect more luck than Madonna had in 2023 when she was turned away. WEBSITE

10/11

If there is one address that has quietly become essential to Milanese life, it is the Portrait hotel, the Ferragamo family’s Lungarno Collection latest, and arguably its most ambitious. The concept went well beyond a conventional hotel: the former seminary at its heart was reimagined around a vast public courtyard, now a pedestrian piazza where exhibitions, installations and aperitivo culture converge. It has, without much argument, become the coolest spot in the city at dusk: Spritz in hand, the timeless ritual of see and be seen playing out exactly as it should. Inside, the dining room overlooks a beautiful garden through glass walls, its interiors warm with fine materials and collector photography. The menu is a love letter to Milanese Sunday lunches: vitello tonnato, mondeghili meatballs, the iconic pasta in bianco, roast chicken and a golden cotoletta alla milanese that is, simply, the one to order. WEBSITE

VEGETARIAN RESTAURANTS

PIZZA

Confine

Confine is tucked into Cinque Vie, one of Milan’s most historically rich and atmospherically compelling neighbourhoods. Behind it are two Campanian partners, Francesco Capece, pizzaiolo, and Mario Ventura, maître and restaurant manager, who arrived in Milan with a clear and ambitious vision: to make pizza an experience worth sitting down for properly. The doughs are varied, studied and entirely recognisable as the work of a kitchen with genuine conviction; the tasting format moves through creative appetisers, multiple pizza styles and a dessert menu given the same respect as the savoury courses. The wine cellar is international in scope and thoughtfully matched to the food; a private room and wine cellar are available for more intimate evenings. WEBSITE

Denis Pizzeria di Montagna

Denis Lovatel grew up in the mountains of the Veneto and decided to bring a slice of the north to the city, literally. The concept behind Denis pizza di montagna is straightforward: mountain water, carefully selected flours, seasonal ingredients and the patience and precision that characterise mountain life translated directly into a pizza that is light and crisp. The dough is the result of years of research, and it shows. It is thinner, crispier and topped with ingredients that change with the seasons. WEBSITE

From around the world

Yapa

Cooking had always been a love story for Chef Matteo Pancetti, who passionately helms the kitchen at Yapa. Inspired by his past experiences, lands, people, cultures and lifetime journeys (including a time he was cooking with indigenous people in the Andes) Matteo presents a cuisine that blends Mediterranean passion, Asian precision, and South American spirit. A well-studied contamination of flavours: Think tiradito, made with tuna, Sorrento koshu and Taggiasca olives, or ‘tamagoyapa’, a Japanese-style folded omelette made with organic Italian eggs, katsuobushi and Chinese sriracha. A true tickle of senses. WEBSITE

drink

Fiorin Fiorello Fiore

Named after a Carlo Buti song and brought to life by five partners with backgrounds spanning design, wine and music, Fiorin Fiorello Fiore is one of the latest kids on the block. The design, by studio Parasite, is built around light, with two large luminous grids above the bar and a custom theatrical projector creating an underwater quality throughout. While the materials, raw brushed steel and wood root, create that international, industrial look and feel. The wine list is hefty, counting over 400 labels, curated by New York sommelier Louis Turano. The food, on the other hand, comes from Aldo Ritrovato of Stadera, one of the better kitchens in the city and takes on an international approach. Music is taken as seriously as everything else; a custom hi-fi system, a rotating cast of selectors brought in by founders Luca Fiore and Giorgio Miccoli of Milanese label Ultimo Tango, and a listening room.

Cracco in Galleria 

Carlo Cracco is a superstar in Italy, and his restaurant is considered among the 50 best in the world. Located in the Vittorio Emanuele gallery, the place offers an experience that goes far beyond flavours, smells and tastes. Find your seat in the preciously furnished bar and sip on a Negroni as you admire the 20s inspired design. WEBSITE

Bar Basso

Since 1947, Bar Basso has been one of Milan’s most iconic addresses: the bar that first brought the aperitivo out of the grand hotel lounge and into the neighbourhood, making exceptional cocktails available to everyone. The list runs to over 500 drinks, from the great classics to the house inventions that have since taken on a life of their own. The most famous of these is the Negroni Sbagliato, a happy accident born behind this very counter, which swaps the gin of a classic Negroni for Prosecco. WEBSITE

Deposito Enoteca

Riccardo Fedele opened Deposito Enoteca on Via Felice Casati with the intent of creating a convivial space where people can come along for a glass of natural wine and chats in an intimate, lowkey environment. he space, designed by studio HUS, works with the building’s original brick arches and natural materials to create a warm and contemporary atmosphere, without losing sight of what an enoteca should feel like. The food has a clear identity: serious raw materials and an open grill at the centre of the kitchen. The wine cellar runs to over 700 labels from Italy, France and beyond, with a clear preference for small producers working with biodynamic practices, spontaneous fermentations and minimal sulphites. WEBSITE

Atempo Bistrot

This new outlet in the Porta Venezia neighbourhood is a fantastic space for your wine fix. It’s cosy, intimate and avantgarde from a culinary perspective: the kitchen runs a short menu of around twelve dishes that change on a seasonal basis. The wine list follows the same logic, built around a careful selection of biodynamic producers. Our suggestion? head over for aperitivo and let the evening accompany you through to dinner, with a bottle of wine and a few sharing dishes for the table. WEBSITE

Tow

The Odd Wine operates at a genuinely interesting intersection: a niche wine cellar built on small producers and labels outside the commercial mainstream, a tapas menu designed for sharing and built on the contrast between international technique and Italian ingredients, and a cocktail programme constructed with the same considered logic as the food. WEBSITE

Flor, Born to be wine

Since 2019 Flor Born to be Wine, on Via Vigevano, has been showcasing an impressive selection of national and international natural wines (over 500 labels). Federico Fiori’s passion for sustainability and craftsmanship became the foundation of his cosy wine bar that aims to be the place to discover genuine wines from small producers. Alongside his father and brother Federico manages their family farm & winery ‘VNA Wine’ near Milan in the Oltre Po’ Pavese and therefore was introduced into the world of biodynamic wines since a very young age. Come along for an aperitif and take a seat among the bottles carefully displayed  in loco, and join the venture in tasting unique labels with a small platter of seasonal bites either locally selected or grown on Federico’s farm. WEBSITE

Spirit de Milan

The bar, situated in an old factory, encapsulates the old traditional Milanese nightlife, when the city’s youth used to entertain itself by going dancing not in clubs but at improvised dance halls, strictly with live music and entertainment. You can look at their website to find out the kind of night the venue has to offer, or simply go there and enjoy the surprise. WEBSITE

Tàscaro all’Isola 

A piece of Venice in this red-walled bistrot, opened by Sandra Tasca, and is the ideal place to have an aperitif with traditional Venician dishes, so much so that you might even want to stop for dinner. WEBSITE

what to see

Fondazione Luigi Rovati

The area of the fashion district and surroundings is undergoing major renovation with openings prestigious. An example is the Fondazione Luigi Rovati, inaugurated last September. An entire building in Corso Venezia, the former residence of the Rizzoli family, has been renovated by the architect Mario Cucinella to house the Etruscan art collections of Lucio Rovati and that of contemporary art by his wife Giovanna Forlanelli. There are 140 Etruscan finds exhibited together with works by Lucio Fontana, William Kentridge and Arturo Marini. On the noble floor, among brocade upholstery, fuchsia boiserie and showcases of millenary objects, they are exhibited drawings by Andy Warhol, a horse by Ai Wei Wei and works by Giulio Paolini and Luigi Ontani to whom two rooms are dedicated. Take a tour of the library on the ground floor, have a coffee and order tapas and spritzes at the bistro with windows overlooking the garden. The menu is signed by Andrea Aprea, whose starred restaurant (the star arrived in November, a few months since the inauguration) is on the top floor. WEBSITE

Museo del Novecento

Four hundred works of twentieth-century Italian art in the Palazzo dell’Arengario, with floor-to-ceiling windows looking directly onto Piazza Duomo. The collection moves from Futurism through Arte Povera with enough space and intelligence to let the work breathe, and the temporary exhibitions are reliably worth seeing. Book a table at Giacomo Arengario on the top floor after you go: the terrace view of the Duomo with the fantastic spaghetto al pomodoro is one of the better ways to end a morning in the city. WEBSITE

Triennale Milano 

The Triennale’s mission is to promote design and applied arts. Important exhibitions and conferences are held throughout the year, attracting students and young designers en masse. In the permanent exhibition of the Design Museum, you will trace the history of the most famous objects designed in Italy. Among the lambrettas and typewriters, bizarre tables and chairs, you will no longer see a piece of furniture with the same eyes. On the ground floor you will also find a stunningly beautiful bookshop, which is worth a visit even if you are not interested in buying books. Moreover, on fine days, you can also appreciate the Design Cafè, inside the Triennale, part of which is in the Triennale’s outdoor garden where you can admire many sculptural works, including Giorgio De Chirico’s Fountain of the Mysterious Baths. WEBSITE

Armani/Silos

Opened by Giorgio Armani himself in honour of the 40 years of the most famous Milanese fashion brand, the museum showcases best of the stylists’ works, allowing get a real sense of Italian high fashion. The choice of an old granary as the site of the exhibition was not accidental: just as food is essential to life, clothing, which according to Armani is the most fundamental expression of one’s identity, is also of vital importance. After all, Milan, as one of the capitals of fashion worldwide, promotes the ideal that sometimes you can judge a book by its cover.  WEBSITE

Fondazione Prada 

Rem Koolhaas converted a 1910 distillery in the southern part of the city into one of Europe’s most serious private art foundations: seven existing buildings, three new structures, a cinema, a permanent collection that includes Ed Ruscha, Walter De Maria and Pino Pascali, and the Torre, nine floors of glass housing Miuccia Prada’s personal collection across each level. And if this wasn’t enough, the building complex also contains the notorious Bar Luce: a beautiful, bright space, designed by Wes Anderson, which looks like a movie set and is furnished as befits the space in which it is inserted. Here you will also be able to taste the sweets of one of the oldest pastry shops in Milan, which since 1824 has been kept alive by the Marchesi family: the quality has remained impeccable for almost two centuries! And the Torre restaurant at the top is one of the better places to eat in this part of the city. WEBSITE 

Villa Necchi Campiglio

Designed by Piero Portaluppi in the 1930s and now managed by the FAI, Villa Necchi Campiglio gives a vivid and specific picture of how a certain kind of Milanese family lived in the years between the wars. The swimming pool, the tennis court, the original furniture, the sheer scale of the house: all of it has been preserved with considerable care, and the result is one of the most enjoyable house museums in Italy. The garden bar is a good reason to time your visit for a warm afternoon. WEBSITE

Pinacoteca di Brera

The art gallery is undoubtedly the richest art collection in Milan. It was Napoleon who founded it in 1809, next to the Academy of Fine Arts, and displays six centuries of Italian painting, from Bellini and Mantegna through to Caravaggio and Hayez, displayed across one of the city’s most significant buildings. The exhibition gives a very crisp image of how Italian art evolved in the years, both in style and in content. One of the most interesting features is the restoration laboratory, designed by Ettore Sottsass in 2001 and positioned at the centre of the exhibition route, where visitors can watch conservation work in progress. WEBSITE

Il Labirinto di Arnoldo Pomodoro

The Labyrinth takes visitors on a journey through myth and memory, uncovering the roots of human experience. This installation, shaped as a labyrinth, is the ultimate synthesis of Arnaldo Pomodoro’s artistic and creative evolution. It reflects on his lifelong exploration of archaic script-like forms, expanding into architectural dimensions and theatrical spaces. Originally conceived in 1995 as a work in progress, the Labyrinth now resides in the underground spaces of the former Officine Meccaniche Riva-Calzoni, once home to the Fondazione Arnaldo Pomodoro (2005–2011) and now the Milan headquarters of Maison FENDI. WEBSITE

Casa Museo Boschi di Stefano 

The Casa Museo Boschi di Stefano offers a glimpse into the world of 20th-century Italian art and the lives of its passionate collectors. Located in a 1930s building designed by architect Piero Portaluppi, this museum was once the private residence of Antonio Boschi and Marieda Di Stefano, an art-loving couple who amassed an extraordinary collection. Inside, you’ll find over 300 works from their extensive collection, featuring masterpieces by renowned artists such as Giorgio Morandi, Lucio Fontana, and Mario Sironi. The museum preserves the original layout of the couple’s home, creating an intimate atmosphere where visitors can wander through rooms filled with paintings, sculptures, and ceramics. WEBSITE

GAM Milano 

The Galleria d’Arte Moderna (GAM) Milano is a treasure trove of 19th-century and early 20th-century art, nestled within the elegant Villa Reale, a neoclassical masterpiece surrounded by tranquil gardens. Located in the heart of Milan, GAM showcases an impressive collection of Italian and European artworks, including pieces by artists such as Francesco Hayez, Giovanni Segantini, and Medardo Rosso, alongside works by international masters like Van Gogh and Cézanne. The villa itself, with its ornate interiors and stunning frescoes, enhances the experience, offering a perfect harmony between art and architecture. Beyond its permanent collection, GAM also hosts temporary exhibitions and cultural events. WEBSITE

Fondazione Achille Castiglioni 

Named after the illustrious milanese architect and designer Achille Castiglioni, creator of the famous lamp Arco and of many other unique items, the association has the aim of promoting and preserving the incredible amount of works of the design genius. Also to this aim, the association has opened to the public his old studio, made up by four rooms, which showcases some of his most famous works and also allows one to observe his singular way of working. WEBSITE

Cenacolo Vinciano 

While Leonard da Vinci’s most famous work may be the Gioconda, his Last Supper is arguably his most magnificent. He spent three years on it and finished in 1498. The humidity of the refectory wall has been causing conservation problems ever since, which is why visits are timed, numbers are strictly limited and booking well ahead is not an exaggeration but a practical necessity. The adjacent vineyard gifted to Leonardo by Ludovico il Moro, restored in 2015 and now part of the Casa degli Atellani complex, is also worth a stop. WEBSITE 

Museo Poldi Pezzoli

Gian Giacomo Poldi Pezzoli spent his life assembling one of the great private art collections of nineteenth-century Europe and left the whole thing to the city of Milan on his death in 1879. The result is a museum that showcases renaissance paintings alongside antique weapons, medieval armour next to Flemish tapestries, all within an apartment that has barely changed in 150 years. Antonio Pollaiolo’s Portrait of a Young Woman is among the highlights, and considerably less crowded than the equivalent works at the Brera. WEBSITE

Gallerie d’Italia

Divided into three historic buildings among Piazza della Scala, via Manzoni and via Morone, the gallery presents a collection of works dedicated to the history and landscape of Lombardy (the region of which Milan is the capital city) from the 1800s up to today. The contemporary art collection is in the fascinating spaces of the former Italian Commercial Bank. Don’t miss the menu at restaurant Voce, curated by Aimo e Nadia’s chefs, two Michelin stars. In the summer tables are al fresco in a garden that belonged to the Milanese writer of 19th century Alessandro Manzoni: every single Italian student has read his novel I promessi sposi at high school. Apart from that, the garden is simply spectacular, scattered with contemporary sculptures. WEBSITE

what to do

Ask us if you want to do special tours in the city. Discovering cuisine, perfumes, history but also artisans. Our specialists will open secret doors and enter a city that, without them, you will never be able to discover.

Food Tour around the city

Sara offers private 3-hour walking tours around the most charming neighborhoods of Milan (either Duomo, Brera/Isola or Navigli), starting off in the morning with breakfast with pastries, then a market tour to know more about the peculiarities of Milanese cuisine, an aperitivo followed by a more substantial bite, and gelato to finish. Book your tour here.

Home cooking  

Home cooking classes and gastronomic tours in Milan.  Sara is a food and travel writer. Her work has been featured on Italian and international publications, including Wine Spectator and The New York Magazine. 

Vintage Shopping

For a curated vintage experience in Milan, step into The Cloister concept store. This beautifully minimal space feels more like a gallery than a shop, with handpicked pieces that blend timeless elegance and contemporary edge. Anther favourite is Solamente Giovedì, where you will find some fantastic antiques. Finally, Cavalli e Nastri, the perfect stores to snap up old-school designer finds. These are your go-to if you wish to get your hands on unique finds.

Gyrotonic Class at The Garden

Escape the city buzz and treat yourself to a Gyrotonic® class at The Garden, a beautifully curated wellness space. This gentle yet powerful movement method combines breath, flow, and stretch — perfect for resetting both body and mind. The light-filled studio and calming interiors make it feel like a retreat, perfect to start a spring morning in Milan. Oh, and make sure to pop at the newly opened The Seed, a co-working space and healthy café for your matcha latte and kombucha fix.

RELEASE SOME STEAM

Unwind with a tailored massage at You Off, designed to release tension and restore balance. Every treatment is rooted in care, a quiet pause that leaves you feeling lighter and more present. Or perhaps book a sweaty, hot yoga class at HY Sweat Studio – endorphins will keep you on a high all day.

Riformer Pilates class

The Moscova district in Milan has seen a recent opening in the wellness world inspired by the Japanese culture: a contemporary concept that brings together a series of mindful rituals that doesn’t end at just pilates. Yes, there’s a beautifully designed reformer pilates room with daily group classes (and trust us when we say you’ll get a good workout from it) – but you’ll also be able to take a seat in the tea room, whip out your book and order a selection of teas, matcha latte and, if you feel a little peckish, matcha cheesecake, Daifuku Ichigo (mochi) or our personal favourite, the Matcha e hojicha brownie. WEBSITE

visit the opera house

Milan hosts the Teatro alla Scala, the most important opera house in the world and one of the most important for classical ballet. Tickets must be booked well in advance. WEBSITE

Attend a classical concert

To attend a concert, check the programs at Auditorium Verdi and Teatro Arcimboldi (which is not in the very centre of the city): they often schedule concerts with incredible orchestras and directors. WEBSITE

shop

Nonostantemarras

Nonostantemarras is the secret shop signed by Antonio Marras, a well-known name in the fashion industry and all-round Sardinian creative.It is located in a hidden courtyard behind the houses on Via Cola di Rienzo, in a former industrial space that used to be a workshop.In this large living room with antique furnishings and meticulously scraped walls, we notice the designer’s deep desire to communicate his art to a varied and curious public. In fact, the immense space is conceived as a multifaceted meeting point, where it is possible to move freely among paintings, books, clothes and accessories, forgetting about time and space. In summer, the courtyard lights up with colours and is inebriated with scents: having an aperitif there is a pleasure for the eyes. WEBSITE

Laboratorio Paravicini

According to Costanza Paravicini, ceramics have an absolute light that not even porcelain has. The laboratory, founded in the early nineties, because she wanted dishes that she really liked, today has five decorators and their daughters Benedetta and Margherita Medici. A visit to the atelier, in a courtyard of old Milan, allows for a colourful journey through table, tea or coffee sets, vases and hand-painted candlesticks. Among the iconic decorative motifs, those of the Izmir, Zodiaco and Circo collections and the new collection for Lisa Corti, queen of the mise en table and the art of living at home. WEBSITE

Spazio Rossana Orlandi

Opened in 2002 by Rossana Orlandi, Giorgio Armani and Donna Karan fashion consultant, the gallery began its activity focusing on Dutch design with designers such as Piet Hein Eek, Maarten Baas and Nacho Carbonell. Then the research expanded, with a catalog that reflects the most innovative scenes from Europe, Asia and America. The space is a showroom, boutique, bistro by Aimo e Nadia (2 Michelin stars) and an amazing typical Milanese courtyard. WEBSITE

Bitossi Home

Since opening in 2022, Bitossi has become one of the more joyful discoveries in Milan’s celebrated design quarter, Cinque Vie. The pastel-coloured space is an accurate reflection of the brand’s spirit: playful, colourful and rooted in the pleasure of a well-laid Italian table. A beautifully dressed display table with fresh blooms sets the tone on arrival; behind it, a mint-green cabinet presents mix-and-match pieces — plates, glassware, candles, cutlery, cups and any number of objects that make genuinely good gifts. WEBSITE

Tearose Boutique

Just opposite the Armani Hotel, Tea Rose occupies a quietly perfect position in Milan’s fashion district and makes the most of it. Founded by artist and event designer Alessandra Rovati Vitali, the boutique doubles as a florist and lifestyle store — stocking an edit that runs from Blaze Milano to Emilio Pucci alongside accessories, beauty and homeware. The Flower Lab, producing seasonal compositions that you can’t stop admiring (and buying). WEBSITE

Casa Amar

Italian Matteo and Moroccan Jihane met in Paris during their studies, discovered a shared passion for Moroccan craft on trips across North Africa, and in November 2022 opened Casa Amar on Via Pestalozzi in the Navigli quarter. Step inside and the scent of orange blossom and rosewater does the work immediately , transporting you somewhere considerably warmer. The carpets are the particular draw: contemporary patterns made using traditional methods, the kind of pieces that work in a Milan apartment as well as they would in Marrakech. A commitment to sustainable production runs throughout, and soon the store will launch a line of boucherouite, carpets woven from scraps and recycled denim. WEBSITE

Bea Bongiasca

After graduating from Central Saint Martins in 2019, Bea Bongiasca returned to Milan with a fully formed vision and presented her first collection at 10 Corso Como during Fashion Week. The debut flagship on Via Solferino 25, designed by Locatelli Partners, is a faithful translation of the jewellery itself: hand-enamelled pieces in a spectrum of pop colours, displayed in a space of flowers and neon and bright pink hues that Bongiasca has described as a grown-up version of her teenage bedroom. WEBSITE

Officine Universelle Buly 1803

Founded in Paris in 1803 and acquired by LVMH in 2021, Officine Universelle Bully arrived in Milan on Via Brera with its reputation and its aesthetic entirely intact. The store is immediately distinctive: travertine floors, traditional wooden fans, floor-to-ceiling lacquered cabinets housing a collection of water-based fragrances, scented body oils, hand lotions and toothpaste in packaging so considered it makes the act of buying toiletries feel rather more significant than it usually does. The early nineteenth-century French charm is worn lightly but consistently, and the whole effect is of somewhere that has thought carefully about what a beauty shop could be. WEBSITE

Laboratorio Niko Romito

For those without the time or the reservation to experience Niko Romito’s cooking at the Bulgari Hotel, his Milan flagship offers a very good alternative. The three-Michelin-star chef has dedicated this space to the creations developed at his laboratory in Abruzzo, a research kitchen where recipes are tested, refined and eventually perfected before reaching the public. The results include crispy sourdough, festive panettone, gluten and lactose-free cakes, vegan biscuits and low-calorie spreads of unexpected deliciousness. WEBSITE

where to sleep

The Carlton

Milan’s newest five-star hotel opened in November 2025 under the Rocco Forte banner. It is the result of a complete reimagining of the historic Carlton on one side of the Quadrilatero della Moda: only the name remains (now simply The Carlton, to signal its singular identity), along with a few rare original details, such as the old Murano glass lampshades gathered on the bar’s ceiling. The rooms are elegant and comfortable, with sofas and writing desks designed for today’s traveller—leisure, yes, but with a nod to business, too. Colours, materials, bespoke furnishings and carefully chosen artworks create the perfect contemporary Milanese atmosphere: refined, understated, quietly confident, yet more playful and hedonistic than in years past. There is also a spa, with a make-up and hair-styling chair for an hour’s indulgence, a bar that has already become a meeting place once again, and the restaurant Spiga by Fulvio Pierangelini, the group’s chef who champions “simple” cooking. Which means that his signature spaghetti al pomodoro, with a few secrets, will never leave the menu. 

Grand Hotel et De Milan

Rudolf Nureyev, Giuseppe Verdi, Maria Callas and Luchino Visconti are just a few of the legends who have passed through the Grand Hotel et de Milan, a place where time seems to move at a gentler pace. Overlooking Via Manzoni, the hotel has preserved its 19th-century soul for more than 150 years, with discreet updates—most recently by Dimore Studio—that layer contemporary comforts onto an atmosphere of enduring elegance. Original details remain, from brass ashtrays to Verdi’s writing desk, grounding the hotel firmly in its illustrious past. Verdi himself lived here for 27 years, drawn by its proximity to Teatro alla Scala. Today, the hotel remains a favourite with Milanese locals, who gather at the bar, bistro and winter garden. The kitchen, led by Gennaro Esposito, balances light Mediterranean touches with Milanese classics, while the Don Carlos restaurant offers a club-like, candlelit setting steeped in operatic history.

Casa Brera

Casa Brera occupies a converted nineteenth-century palazzo in the heart of Milan’s most quietly coveted district, steps from the Pinacoteca di Brera. Its interiors were conceived by Patricia Urquiola, who has approached the project with her characteristic instinct for warmth over spectacle: terrazzo floors, curved furniture, a palette of ochres and warm whites. The rooms are generous and thoughtfully detailed with several suites that open onto private terraces. The top floor (a rooftop with a pool) is occupied by Etereo, an all-day dining concept that kicks off with breakfast and ends with a dinner menu focused on mediterranean cuisine. Downstairs on the other hand, the recently opened Nusr-Et Steakhouse for you meat-lovers. WEBSITE

Portrait Milano

You would not need to be told that Portrait Milano belongs to the Ferragamo family. The photographs and patents of Salvatore Ferragamo lining the walls, the attention to material and craft, the family-signed bathroom amenities — the maison’s DNA is present in every corner, and worn with complete confidence. The entrance, via a magnificent baroque portal on Corso Venezia, opens onto a seventeenth-century column-lined courtyard, once home to one of the world’s largest seminaries and now meticulously restored by AMDL CIRCLE to house boutiques, bars and restaurants, among them Maria Sole Ferragamo’s first flagship jewellery store. The 10_11 Bar is a year-round fixture for Milan’s after-work crowd; the restaurant does classic bistro fare with a contemporary Milanese intelligence, and breakfast arrives on a long communal table laden with pastries. Order the moka. Elsewhere, Beefbar Milano occupies the vaulted former refectory with exceptional cuts of meat; the Longevity Suite spa offers everything from cryotherapy to a jet-lag ritual involving sensory deprivation. An address that delivers considerably more than a good night’s sleep. WEBSITE

Crossing Manzoni

The hotel sits at the intersection of old Milan and new: the building retains the architectural dignity of its nineteenth-century bones whilst the interiors have been reimagined with contemporary precision. In fact, owners Carlotta and her husband Alfio scouted galleries, workshops and design showrooms, integrating their finds with family furniture and artworks. The six rooms are calm and carefully considered, imbued with natural light and a grey-ish, taupe and white palette. There’s a common room where guests can help themselves to teas, coffee and biscuits. WEBSITE

Casa Brivio

In the newly rebuilt wing of their family palace in the center of Milan, cousins Carlo and Alberico Brivio Sforza have created a small 16-room hotel with a fresh, youthful concept, distinct from the typical five-star luxury establishments. The Covid period gave them the opportunity to think about a hospitality model more in tune with their generation of thirty- and forty-somethings, leading to the start of renovations and the hotel’s opening in April 2024, coinciding with Milan Design Week. Design is the central theme at Casa Brivio, developed in collaboration with Cassina and coordinated by architect Matteo Thun. Throughout the hotel, you’ll find references to Gio Ponti, Albini, and other masters from the 1950s and ’60s. But don’t worry about a showroom effect—everything is arranged with a residential touch. “We want our guests to feel at home, and a bit like true Milanese,” say Carlo and Alberico. “Our city is beautiful, but it needs to be discovered.” As refined hosts, they assist their guests with tailored recommendations and a custom map that highlights non-touristy bars, trattorias, and shops they personally frequent, especially in the surrounding Ticinese district. Breakfast is served in-room, featuring freshly baked croissants from Pasticceria Marchesi, another emblem of Milanese tradition. WEBSITE

FOUR SEASONS

Located in the heart of the city’s fashion district on Via Gesù, neighbouring the Palazzo Gianni Versace, the Four Seasons Milan is astonishing. A combination of classic and contemporary design set the rooms & suites apart, from the beautifully restored frescoed ceiling of the Fresco Suite to the fifth avenue feel of the Fashion Suite. All the common areas including the spa have been recently redesigned by Patricia Urquiola, a project aimed to renew the space with respect to the history of the hotel. WEBSITE

Vico

Vico Milano was brought to life by Neri Baccheschi Berti, the same family behind the Castello di Vicarello in Tuscany. The notion was to combine a hotel with an art gallery, presenting the seven suites and common areas in a beautiful, aesthetic way, Art and creativity have been deeply engraved in the history of the palazzo (located in Corso Genova 11) as it once used to house the Legnano bike factory and later the Bungai showroom. This heritage has been highlighted and reimagined through the hotel’s interior design; in fact, a lot of effort has been put into the furnishings; from internationally sourcing the materials to the tailor making of the furniture (the armchairs have been made to measure). These spaces were designed by the Sicilian architect: Giuseppe Alito. Alongside the hotel, Vico Milano houses a library, a lounge and a speakeasy-style bar with a wine list featuring Bacceschi Bert award-winning wines and a wide selection of cocktails. WEBSITE

VMAISON

In the heart of the Brera district, VMaison Hotel is a harmonious blend of modern design and creativity curated by the renowned VMaison interior design studio. The sixteen suites have been furnished with a precise and attentive selection of objects and decor as well as a contemporary vision with technological and modern comforts. There is a charming restaurant, Penelope, where you can dine contemporary Italian cuisine within an aesthetic environment. The entire structure is enclosed in a private garden and represents an enchanting and unexpected oasis of exclusive tranquility immersed in the frenzy of the city center. WEBSITE