Bars and restaurants
Camparino in Galleria, Centro Storico
No trip to Milan would be complete without a visit to Camparino. Steeped in the history of the Campari brand, this bar features a stunning Liberty mosaic, white-coated waiters and arguably the best Campari spritz that you’ll ever try (in a beautiful glass to boot). Camparino has a long list of cocktails that you can sit down to sip in the more sultry upstairs space.
Langosteria Bistrot, Navigli
Marshalled by savvy and charismatic Enrico Buoncuore, Langosteria now boasts outposts in Paris and St Moritz (as well as a Ligurian summer pop-up) but it all started here. The Bistrot is our favourite of its Milan offerings, with excellent service and the freshest fish, both raw and cooked.
Sandì, Porta Venezia
Sandì is led by Laura Santosuosso – originally from Modena and one of Milan’s most talented chefs – and her partner, Denny Mollica. Housed in a building from the 1960s that was once a bakery, the menu changes often according to the season. It is only open for lunch, with the exception of Fridays.
Antica Trattoria della Pesa, Porta Garibaldi
The sort of place where regulars eat at the same table every week for years on end. This elegant, old-world restaurant dates back to 1880. Having been owned by the Sassi family since 1992, it is one of Milan’s holdout trattorias. The menu features meat-heavy Lombard staples, including breaded-veal cutlets and slow-cooked ossobuco (bone-in shin steak).
Marchesi 1824, Centro Storico
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.
Pastamadre, Porta Romana
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).
Nebbia, Navigli
With one of the most inventive menus in the city, this is a place that ranks highly with the region’s chefs. Nebbia (which means “fog” in Italian, a play on the capital of Lombardy’s hazy winter days) has a modern European bistro feel to it, offering contemporary twists on classic dishes and always a great wine selection.
Sant Ambroeus, Centro Storico
Sant Ambroeus was established in 1936 but the business sold the original location and moved to the US where it became SA Hospitality group. The company recently bought back the building and gave it a tasteful refurbishment that mixes pendant lights and marble with white tablecloths and classic wood panelling. The menu, which runs from breakfast to dinner (closing between midday and 18.30), is a mix of the US and Italy, from eggs cooked any style with applewood bacon in the morning through to turbot and artichokes in the evening.
Dry Milano, Porta Garibaldi
This smart restaurant kick-started the city’s gourmet-pizza movement when it opened in 2013 (other recent additions that are also worth checking out include Confine and Denis). Dry’s offerings, whipped out of the Neapolitan brick oven, are arguably still the best in the city and you can pick from classics or some of the chef’s more unusual offerings. Be sure to leave room for a cocktail: we recommend the French 75.
Bar Basso, Città Studi
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).
