Milan
Since Expo 2015, Milan has been a city on the move. New museums and cultural events have added fresh energy to a place long associated with business and the industrious side of fashion. Yet its appeal remains rooted in the more underrated qualities: an espresso taken at the counter, a quiet courtyard glimpsed through an open doorway or an evening aperitivo to wind down as the sun fades.
“Today, Milan is a dynamic, modern and forward-thinking city, capable of attracting visitors through cultural events, exhibitions, food experiences and lifestyle offerings,” says Nicola Balitro, head concierge at Park Hyatt Milano. Here, Balitro shares a few local recommendations, followed by Monocle’s own favourite addresses across the city.
Park Hyatt Milano
Tucked beside Piazza del Duomo, Park Hyatt Milano offers a discreet base in the heart of the city. Its 108 rooms and suites include the expansive Montenapoleone Suite, complete with a rooftop terrace and views across Milan. Downstairs, chef Guido Paternollo leads Pellico 3 Milano, while Mio Lab is a polished address for an evening aperitivo.
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Hyatt Centric Milan Centrale
Near Milano Centrale station, Hyatt Centric Milan Centrale is well placed for exploring the city and travelling beyond it. Its rooms pair parquet floors with contemporary furnishings, while the rooftop Organics SkyGarden @Cielo offers the hotel’s best feature: broad views across Milan from a greenery-filled terrace, best enjoyed over a cocktail at sunset.
Langosteria
Langosteria’s Via Savona flagship is a favourite among Milan’s fashion crowd and a reliable address for refined seafood. The room is polished but energetic, with assured service and a menu built around exceptional fish and shellfish. It is the sort of place where a business lunch can easily turn into a long afternoon.
Sant’Ambroeus
Founded in Milan in 1936, Sant’Ambroeus remains one of the city’s most elegant cafés. Its Liberty-style interiors provide a fitting backdrop for coffee, lunch or an afternoon pastry, while the atmosphere retains the easy rhythm of a neighbourhood institution. Come for classic Milanese dishes, then stay to watch the room fill with the city’s characters throughout the day.
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Monocle’s top picks…
Bars and restaurants
Marchesi 1824
Owned by the Prada Group and established in 1824, Marchesi is one of Milan’s classic pasticcerie. Stop in for coffee or to sample one of its pastries or cakes (the torta duomo is one of our favourites). There are several locations around town but the Santa Maria alla Porta one is the most historic and beautiful.
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Bar Basso
A Monocle favourite in the Città Studi neighbourhood, Bar Basso is a no-frills establishment: a shamelessly old-school spot that is famed as the place where the negroni sbagliato cocktail was invented. It becomes a second home for attendees during Salone del Mobile, where you have a high chance of bumping into one of our editorial staff (sbagliato in hand).
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Pastamadre
Chef Francesco Costanzo’s cooking focuses on his native Sicily’s renowned flavours, from tuna and octopus to pork and wild fennel. But don’t go expecting a run-of-the-mill “regional” restaurant; Sicily serves more as an underlying inspiration – an excuse to dish up tangled heaps of freshly made pasta, plenty of fish and desserts such as biancomangiare (a typical Sicilian almond-milk pudding).
Culture
Fondazione Prada
Rem Koolhaas transformed a century-old distillery into the Prada Foundation’s inimitable arts space that includes a gold-leaf gallery housing permanent installations, exhibition halls, a cinema, a library and even Bar Luce, designed by director Wes Anderson. There’s also a higher-end restaurant at the top of the main tower called Ristorante Torre. Whatever your cultural tipple, the real masterpiece comes courtesy of Koolhaas.
Triennale
Housed in an eye-catching building in Milan’s Parco Sempione, there is always something going on at the Triennale. Alongside being the home of the Museum of Italian Design, with its excellent archive and exhibitions, there are also workshops, talks and film screenings.
