WHERE TO STAY:

• Florentine architect Michele Bonan has recently added two new hotels which I usually like to stay when in Milan. Portrait Milano, a former archiepiscopal seminary which has been converted into a hotel, is the perfect choice for a memorable experience in a timeless atmosphere. Casa Cipriani, has a more intimate and private feel, combined to its exquisite interior design and classic Italian charm.
• A luxurious five-star hotel overlooking the famous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and a few steps from Piazza del Duomo, the Park Hyatt is perfect to enjoy everything that Milan has to offer. This hotel is perfect in keeping with the refined style and sophisticated elegance that characterises the city.
• A complex of four adjacent 18th century buildings in the centre of the famous Milanese Fashion District, from which you can comfortably walk to some of the most symbolic places of the city, such as the Scala, the Duomo and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. The Mandarin Oriental Milan mixes timeless Milanese design with the Mandarin’s signature Oriental charm and legendary hospitality.

WHERE TO EAT:

• Fall in love with the French bistro atmosphere and the cosy familiarity of Giacomo Bistrot: classic in furniture, modern in design, and with an international flavour.
• One of the most famous restaurants in Milano, the Langosteria, opened its Café in 2016 in the heart of the city, next to Duomo square in the elegant Galleria del Corso. Langosteria Café is a glamorous spot where you can taste high quality ingredients and refined cocktails while surrounded by suffused lighting and international atmosphere. A fluid concept where you can experience the cultural ritual of aperitivo or enjoy a delicious meal, from lunch to dinner, in an unforgettable setting.
• Since 1957, in the heart of Montenapoleone, the centre of luxury fashion shopping in Milan, there is Il Salumaio restaurant, considered a "piece" of the history of Milan, where you can enjoy a delightful lunch eating exquisite Italian dishes in the enchanting location of Palazzo Bagatti Valsecchi.
• You do not expect that beyond a little garden, inside an ancient Milanese house is a hidden avant-gard restaurant in Milan, Contraste, one Michelin star by chef Matias Perdomo. Here, in an elegant space with frescoed ceilings and glossy red chandeliers, you can taste a traditional yet reinterpreted cuisine offering contrasting, delightful flavours with a creative presentation.
• On the third floor of MUDEC-Museo delle Culture, in the heart of the design district, you can find an extraordinary culinary experience: the three Michelin star restaurant of Chef Enrico Bartolini. Here is where haute cuisine meets experimentation and constant research, and you can explore new worlds and new flavours deep-rooted in tradition.
• In the heart of Brera, the artists’ district, you can enjoy a romantic dinner at Clotilde Brera, a restaurant with a magical atmosphere and a beautiful terrace that overlooks St. Mark’s Square. The menu changes seasonally and presents dishes from the Italian tradition reimagined creatively.
• In the heart of the fashion district, hidden is another beautiful gem, the Paper Moon Giardino, an elegant restaurant surrounded by a charming garden where you can taste a wide selection of Italian cuisine in a vibrant contemporary atmosphere.
• Joia is the Micheline star restaurant of chef Pietro Leeman, the guru of vegetarian cuisine; very minimal, warm in colour, with furnishings that recall the sober design of Levante. The cuisine is focused on natural food, with an avant-garde touch, and beautifully presented.
• If you want to experience a traditional Italian lunch you have to go to La Briciola restaurant, located in Brera, the artistic heart of Milan. A cozy place, decorated with lighted trees and a warm atmosphere, to taste Milanese cuisine prepared respecting the tradition.
• When in Milan you cannot leave without a taste of the best ice cream in town. You have to go to Gelateria Crema and try its fantastic flavour selection. Definitely my favourite ice cream in Milan!

WHERE TO DRINK:

• A beautiful hidden gem right in the heart of the city, the Bulgari Bar is an oasis where you can escape from hectic city life by enjoying a delicious cocktail surrounded by the enchanting garden.
• Behind via Manzoni and close to the Scala theatre, in the beating heart of Milan there is the Mandarin Bar & Bistrot, within the 5-star hotel. You can have delicious, bespoke drinks in the charming courtyard area featuring lounge sofas, tables and soft lights.
• Il Bar Basso is a Milanese institution. A historic bar where the famous "Sbagliato" cocktail was created. With its ‘60s retro décor and convivial atmosphere, it is a must for those who go to the city during design week and fashion week, where you can meet designers, editors, artists and creatives from all around the world.
• If you want to get a taste of the Sicilian atmosphere you have to choose LùBar. Situated inside Villa Reale, near the GAM-Galleria d’Arte Moderna, in a splendid 18th century veranda you can enjoy a drink while tasting delicious Sicilian finger food.

WHERE TO SHOP:

• Anyone who comes to Milan must take a tour of via Montenapoleone and the famous "quadrilatero", the Milanese fashion district where you can find the most famous boutiques of luxury brands. And of course, while walking through these delightful streets you have to visit the Aquazzura Boutique in via Sant ‘Andrea 12, the best shoe shopping in town!
• The fascinating 5 Vie district, the oldest crossroads in Milan, offers countless opportunities: an itinerary characterized by ateliers, design stores, niche boutiques, charming cafés, restaurants and contemporary art galleries.
• Gioielleria Pennisi is a unique place in via Manzoni, right in front of Via Montenapoleone, where you can discover delightful vintage jewellery and beautiful Art Déco pieces.
• In the characteristic Via Brera you can discover exclusive perfumeries in Milan, from uncovering niche perfumes or having a fragrance tailored just for yourself.
• In Via Fiori Chiari, right in the heart of Brera neighbourhood is located the showroom of Dedar, a family-run fabric company, founded in 1976 close to Como, in the heart of a manufacturing district. Its excellent fabrics are characterized by exquisite craftsmanship, seductive colour palettes and unexpected patterns, combining precious yarns with research into fiber technology.
• Nilufar Gallery is among the most internationally influential design galleries in Milan, founded in 1979 by Nina Yashar. Located in via Spiga and specialized in antique carpets, modern and contemporary furniture, the gallery has been able to distinguish itself thanks to a series of avant-garde exhibitions. In 2015, Nilufar Depot was inaugurated: an industrial space of 1500 square meters on 3 levels, renovated by the architect Massimiliano Locatelli and perfect for hosting surprising exhibitions. A must destination for the design lovers, especially during Design Week.
• Il Segno del Tempo is a very fascinating antiquities boutique in the heart of Brera district. Here you can find an exquisite selection of furniture, contemporary art and wonderful objects de curiosité.

WHAT TO DO:

• When in Milan you have to visit the Pinacoteca di Brera, a national gallery of ancient and modern art sourced from all over the world. The museum exhibits one of the most famous collections of paintings in Italy, specializing in Venetian and Lombard painting, with important pieces from other schools. Here, you can admire one of the most famous and iconic paintings of the Italian Romanticism, The Kiss by Francesco Hayez.
• One of the most famous paintings in the world, The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, is kept inside the refectory of the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, in the historic centre of Milan. If you come to Milan, you cannot miss this milestone in the history of Italian art and culture.
• Near to Santa Maria delle Grazie Church, in Corso Magenta there is another incredible place connected to the master artist of the Renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci, the Leonardo’s Vineyard. This beautiful vineyard, situated in the garden of Atellani House, was donated to Leonardo in 1498 by Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan.
• Enjoy an extraordinary experience visiting Duomo and walk on its rooftops discovering the suggestive panorama over the city.
• You have to sip a coffee in the historical Marchesi bar in Corso Magenta, a Milanese institution opened in 1824, to enjoy the real Milanese coffee experience and taste its delicious patisserie.
• In the heart of Brera is hidden of the most precious and secret corners of the city: the Botanical Garden. You can walk surrounded by a multitude of precious vegetation and flower species. You can immerse yourself into a magic silence broken only by the little birds singing and the delicate sound of water fountains. Definitely the best place if you want to escape from the noises of the frenetic city life and flee to an enchanted garden.
• When in Milan you can't miss one of the most important places in the world for contemporary art, the Fondazione Prada. The venue conceived by architecture firm OMA by Rem Koolhaas is the result of the transformation of a distillery dating back to the 1910’s and it is divided into three spaces: the Podium, a place for presenting avant-garde exhibitions; the Cinema, where you can enjoy the screening of cinematographic reviews of arthouse cinema; and Torre, where the permanent collection is kept and on the top floor you can enjoy an excellent drink at the beautiful terrace from which it dominates all of Milan.
• Fondazione Pirelli Hangar Bicocca is one of the largest exhibition spaces in Europe, dedicated to modern and contemporary art. Here, in a dynamic, industrial environment with a New York flavor you can see exhibitions and installations by international contemporary artists.