Milan Guide

If gin’s your thing, book it over to the only spot in Milan cooking up their own sauce. This good-looking Isola micro-distillery has plenty of other booze lining the shelves, and the cocktail list is no slouch – just make sure you pick from the menu, as leaving your order up to the bartender tends to stick you with a super-sized bill.

This is one of the coziest atmospheres to eat in Milan. 28 Posti (28 Seats, the name says it all) is a contemporary bistrot in the heart of the Navigli where sustainability meets chic.

We love our home down on the Navigli but we’re the first to admit there’s a lot of crappy fake trattoria tourist traps. Thankfully this is not one of them.

La Pesa, as the Milanese call it, is one of Milan’s most-loved culinary spots and one of the oldest restaurants in town, placed right next to Corso Como’s buzzy nightlife.

Far from the hectic scene in the center of town, you can always find inner culinary peace in this classic trattoria that has been run by the Masuelli family for over 90 years.

This charming little spot tucked behind one of the city’s architectural gems, the Rotonda della Besana, serves up simple, fresh food inspired by the spirit and directly delivered from the heart of Umbria. Small, simple plates of meats, cheeses and their famous Torta al Testo (flatbread stuffed with pork) are great for a post work aperitivo. It is a perfect all-day cafe but those busybees without time for a piccola pausa will be happy to discover that PreTesto also delivers— one of the few spots in the city to do so.

After checking out the impressive and thought-provoking exhibition in the museum’s main space, head upstairs for a light (and arguably pricey) meal in the fabulous new DesignCafé, which makes the entire Triennale experience a whole lot cooler. Or grab a quick but chic aperitivo on the garden terrace, where you can enjoy the view of Giorgio de Chirico’s Bagni Misteriosi, which finally has water in its fountains after 50 years.

Founded in 1947 by mid-century architectural gods Ignazio Gardella and Luigi Caccia Dominioni, this sophisticated little shop carries re-editions of classic pieces from the ’50s and ’60s. Known for iconic pieces from crescent-shaped velvet side chairs to sensationally simple brass doorknobs that populate top Milanese homes, Azucena is a humble altar for some of Italy’s most coveted design objects.