For those of you who are only in town for a short visit we have made a mini route where you get all the best Milan has to offer in terms of both shopping, food, architecture and culture. For our first express shopping route we have chosen the area from Piazza Gae Aulenti to Piazza della Scala, from the new and modern to the old and traditional.
Start on Piazza Gae Aulenti; Milan’s newest area, where you should see the internationally acclaimed buildings “Bosco verticale” (the vertical forest))
On the piazza you find the famous Muji,
Grom ice cream,
Replay store with Italian denim and a nice bar where you can have your morning coffee,
and Illy café – the world’s best espresso.
Located under the square is the supermarket Esselunga if you want to shop for specialties.
From there continue down Corso Como and check out the famous design store and art gallery at no. 10 – good place for lunch.
at the end of Corso Como turn left and check out High Tech with all you can desire for your home and on the square (Piazza XXV Aprile) is food temple Eataly
Continue into the Brera area (Via Solferino, Via San Marco and Corso Garibaldi) which is the old artistic neighbourhood of Milan with lots of quirky and chic stores and galleries.
If you’re here on either a Monday or a Thursday it is worth your while to visit the open air market in Via San Marco.
Continue down to Piazza della Scala with Milan’s famous Scala theater.
If you still have energy and time to spare you are now directly behind Piazza Duomo just walk thorugh the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele which links Piazza della Scala and Piazza Duomo and you have Milan’s cathedral right in front of you.
Now you are probably starving and you are close to several good restaurants e.g. Langosteria Cafè,4, Galleria del Corso (find on map) excellent seafood €€€, Giacomo Arengario €€ on top of Museo del Novecento (find on map) with an amazing view of Piazza Duomo. and Piz, 34, Via Torino (find n map) genuine Neapolitan pizza €,
If you want a gourmet experience, then try out these amazing places at reasonable prices. We have also selected the best vegan restaurants in Milan – look for VEGAN in the list.
We would love to hear from you so if you feel like sharing your opinion about the restaurants on our list or know a place you’d like to recommend then use our form here.
If you do choose to dine at a restaurant with Michelin stars (1-2) you should expect to spend around €130 per person.
Italian restaurants generally have very high standards and one thing Italians are really into, is quality food. So it’s a good idea to follow the locals around lunch and dinner time.
Food is one of the most important aspects of life in this country; Italians discuss what they’ll have for dinner while they’re having lunch, So if a restaurant has a lot of Italian guests you are sure to eat well.
Besides the names you can find in the Michelin guide we recommend the following places. The price levels are varied – € 20-30, €€ 30-50, €€€ >50 – but note that it isn’t necessary to spend a fortune to eat well.
Langosteria Café 4, Galleria del Corso (find on map) right in the center of the city
Brera.
Pizzeria Sibilla, 14, Via Mercato (find on map). Phone +390239663561 great pizza but come early, you cannot make reservations here. €
Carminio, 3, Via del Carmine (find on map) Phone +390272022992. Known for the menu which changes from day to day depending on the best fresh ingredients of the moment. €€/€€€
Temakinho which boasts three of the hottest restaurants in Milan right now. One is in 53, Corso Garibaldi(find on map). Phone +390272016158 €/€€
Risoelatte 6, Via Manfredo Camperio (find on map) Phone +390239831040. Charming little restaurant furnished in the style of the sixties, homemade cooking. €€
El Tombon de San Marc, a wonderful restaurant with traditional Lombard cuisine, you need to book a tbale here for both lunch and dinner 20, Via San Marco (find on map), Phone +39026599507. €/€
Trattoria Masuelli San Marco 80, Viale Umbria (find on map) Phone +390255184138 , this place is a real gem with northern Italian cuisine at its very best and an incredible atmosphere. €€
Antica Foccacceria San Francesco 15, Via San Paolo (find on map) Phone +3902875411, genuine Sicilian Food in the heart of Milan. €/€€
Langosteria Café, 4, Galleria del Corso (find on map) Phone +390276018167 excellent seafood and service €€€
EXIT Milano, 2, Piazza Erculea (find on map) Phone :+390235999080 elegant, delicious gourmet food and lovely place, food is served all day until midnight €€/€€€
Piz, 34, Via Torino (find on map) Phone +390286453482. Milan’s best Neapolitan Pizza, the menu only features 3 kinds of pizzas but they are absolutely worth the wait. Be prepared for a line but it moves quickly €
Cracco, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II (find on map) Phone +3902876774. 1-star Michelin restaurant. €€€
Parco Sempione area.
Terrazza Triennale 6, Viale Emilio Alemagna (find on map) Phone +390236644340 possibly the most amazing view in Milan and incredible food. €€/€€€
Antica Pizzeria Leone, 9, Via Carlo Ravizza (find on map) Phone+390248001829, good Nepolitan pizza. €
Pizza Lievità, 11, Via Carlo Ravizza (find on map) Phone +390284561374. good Neapolitan pizza. €
There is an excellent restarant near this area, it requires you to take the metro from the DeAngeli station and get off at Primaticcio and then walk about 5 minutes but it really is one of Milan’s gastronomical gems and has 2 Michelin stars called IL Luogo di Aimo e Nadia at 6, Via Privata Raimondo Cuccoli (find on map) Phone +3902416886. €€€
Navigli area.
Trattoria Toscana, 58, Corso di Porta Tuicinese (find on map) €/€€ phone +390222224813 relaxed atmosphere and big garden, great for summer
Antica Osteria Del Mare 105, Via Cardinal Ascanio Sforza (find on map) Phone +390289546534. Seafood €€
Temakinho, 37, Ripa di Porta Ticinese (find on map) Phone+39028356134, at the moment one of the hottest restaurants in Milan especially for lunch. €/€€
Al Coniglio Bianco, 12, Alzaia Naviglio Grande (find on map)Phone +390258100910 .Typical local food from Lombardy. €/€€
Antica Foccacceria San Francesco 15, Via San Paolo (find on map) Phone +3902875411, genuine Sicilian food in the heart of Milan €/€€
Il Caffè della Pusterla, 22, Via Edmondo de Amicis (find on map) Phone +390283633659. A typical Milanese place, where you can get anything from breakfast to dinner. Fantastic atmosphere. €/€€
Porta Venezia area
Mandarin 2, 22A, Via Garofalo (find on map) Phone +39022664147. An unusual combination of Sicilian and Chinese cuisine €€
Milan is big, but we have chosen the 6 areas that are the most interesting. For every area we’ll give you tips on good lunch restaurants, good cafés and the shops that are worth coming for.
1. Corso Garibaldi /Via Moscova /Via Solferino/ Heart of Brera / Corso Como
In the photo you see Milan’s brand new neighbourhood Porta Nuova, you also find the famous “Bosco Verticale” (vertical forest) behind Piazza Gae Aulenti. You must absolutely visit HighTech Cargo, a great store with home and lifestyle objects. In the rest of this area you find the quaint, trendy boutiques with the up-and-coming young designers where you can find cool, unique stuff.
Shops:Joost 2, Via Verdi (find on map) great design for both him and her. In Via Solferino is the world’s best men’s shoes shop – Iliprandi(find on map). Thursdays there’s a characteristic open air market here with fruit, vegetables and clothes.
Via Solferino is a treasure trove of amazing, original boutiques (find on map) check out the unique clothes store Goodsat 2, Via Castelfidardo (find on map) the concept is exclusivity, they sell their own range of silk shirts but also have other brands from France and Spain they also have bags and shoes they have have frequent discount days and the jewellery is also unique.
Also check out the luxury fashion outlet OutletMatia’s in 4, Piazza Carlo Mirabello (find on map). HighTech Cargo (find on map) is on Piazza XXV Aprile , where you’ll also find foodie paradise Eataly, which is housed in the converted Teatro Smeraldo. Here you can get specialties from small producers, it is also a fantastic place to eat or just have coffee with pastries. If you want delicacies to take home with you try also in the Esselunga supermaket situated beneath Piazza Gae Aulenti
From here you continue down super chic Corso Como – with the shop 10 Corso Como, which also houses the art gallery Galleria Carla Sozzani and leads you into Milan’s brand new area Porta Nuova.
Fashion blogger Chiara Ferragni’s store is located in Via Capelli, the short stretch between Corso Como and Piazza Gae Aulenti (find on map).
Round the corner you find the great laboratory and shop Arzigogolo, that makes very beautiful and original necklaces, earrings and textile bags at surprisingly affordable prices, it’s at 11, Via Maroncelli (find on map).
Coffee:: Panarello, 52, Via della Moscova, great pastry!! (find on map), at the same address you also find Pattini and and 50 meters from there in the direction of Corso Como there is Radetzky (find on map).
Lunch: Here is the very original Tramè, Piazza San Sempliciano 7 (find on map) and 22, Via Monte Grappa (find on map), where they prepare classical Venetian sandwiches, the place is cosy and the choice is great
We also recommend Fioraio Bianchi Caffè a florist and café at 7, Via Montebello.
In 12, Corso Garibaldi you can get organic burgers at Baobab (find on map)
Then there is Via Palermo a road wit many interesting eateries (find on map) Panini Durini, 4, Piazza Gae Aulenti (find on map) super delicious sandwiches and coffee to-go, please note that it is situated below the square itself next to the Esselunga supermarket.
You can get delicious to-go sandwiches and ready meals at Rossi e Grassi in 4, Via Ponte Vetero (find on map) and Via Solferino (find on map). 10 Corso Como Cozy courtyard, with good lunch. Pizzeria di Porta Garibaldi, 6, Corso Como (find on map). Temakinho 53, Corso Garibaldi (find on map) Pattini, 5, Via Solferino (find on map) although is technically “just” a bakery, they have lots of delicious dishes and pasta that you can eat either inside at the tables or outside on the comfortable benches. Of course they also have great pizza and foccaccia. El Tombon de San Marc, regular Milanese food, 20, Via San Marco (find on map). Café Gorille, near Piazza Gae Aulenti at 20, Via Gaetano de Castillia (find on map) a really cosy and beautiful café which is rich on atmosphere Panini Durini, 24, Via Mercato (find on map), delicious sandwiches, cakes and coffee to go. Pandenus, 24, Via Mercato (find on map), great lunch and aperitivo, breakfast every day from 7 am.
Italian ice cream: Grom, Piazza Gae Aulenti (find on map) good concept and excellent icecream. Rivareno, 20, Via Mercato (find on map) – absolutely fabulous ice cream made with only fresh, natural ingredients and sweetened with cane sugar.
The famous fashion quadrangle Quadrilatero della moda has its name after the four streets it is enclosed by: Via Montenapoleone, via Manzoni, Via della Spiga and Corso Venezia. This area is a celebration of luxury and beauty and is genuine old Milan and it is definitely worth a visiti. Many of the boutiques are entire fashion shows in themselves.
Shops: here you’ll find them all; Armani, D&G, Dior,Gucci, Bottega Veneta, Ferragamo, Louis Vuitton, Bulgari, Valentino, Prada, Versace, Cavalli, Missoni, Hermès, Burberry, Kartell, Alessi, Comptoir des Cottoniers, Trussardi , Paul Smith, (the last 5 are in Via Manzoni).
Also check out the luxury fashion outlet Outlet Matia’s in 37, Corso Venezia (find on map).
Coffee: While you’re here go and enjoy coffee at the charming Pastry shop Cova, 8, Via Montenapoleone with courtyard. Pastry shop Marchesi (find on map) one of Milan’s oldest pastry shopshas opened a new shop herein 9, Via Montenapoleone.
Lunch: GB Bar, 2, Via Agnello (find on map) Another exclusive and very cosy restaurant in this area is Il Salumaio di Via Montenapoleone at 10, Via Santo Spirito (find on map) – this is also a great place to have a coffee break. Brek good self service restaurant with reasonable prices,1, Piazzetta U. Giordano (find on map) Princi Bakery, Corso Venezia 21 (find on map) in principle this is a bakery but they prepare delicious lunch dishes: pasta, risotto and salads. Go early (before 12.30) because the place is normally packed!! Panini Durini, 26, Via Durini (find on map), small place but they make absolutely delicious sandwiches, soups, salads AND they’ve got incredible coffee (also to go) and cakes.
Shops: From Piazza Duomo you turn down Via Torino with lots of sports shops and street wear. Victoria’s secret at 14, Via Torino (find on map) Around the corner are via San Maurilio and Via Santa Marta with little boutiques. (find on map) e.g. Funky Table, 19, Via San Maurilio. #roundTheCorner: Via Giacomo Mora (find on map) where there are vintage shops and Funky Table one of Milan’s oldest vintage boutiques. In this street you also find Groupies Vintageand Lisa Corti for you couch, ceramics and clothes. Corso di Porta Ticinese – street wear (great for teenagers), alternative design, vintage boutiques, this is a place where the Milanese themselves go browsing. Via Cesare Correnti an exciting area with various shops e.g. Joost. (find on map) great design for both him and her.This tour ends in Viale Papiniano,where there is a great open air market on Tuesdays 7.30 am-2 pm.and Saturdays 7.30 am-6 pm.
In Via Giacomo Mora (find on map) there are also a couple of cosy places for lunch. For tasty vegetarian food check out La Vecchia Latteria, 6, Via dell’Unione (find on map). Italian ice cream:: Grom, 51, Corso di Porta Ticinese (find on map) good concept and excellent ice cream.
4. San Babila/Corso Vittorio Emanuele #TheHighStreetInItalian – (Find on map)
In this area you are the easy prey for street vendors who will try to make you buy books, bracelets and other stuff. They are really nice but once you start talking to them you won’t get away until you buy something. Ignore them, they’ll try to make you take a bracelet saying it’s a gift – DON’T TAKE IT (unless, of course, you want to buy it)!
We are in the center of the city and here you find for example:
The regular High Street shops i.e. Brian & Barry – department store with an Eataly department. Boggi (great outfits for him), Diesel, Max & Co, Max Mara, Liu Jo,Sephora, GAP, Intimissimi, Calzedonia, Yamamay, Kiko, La Rinascente – department store,Sisley, Guess, Swatch, Footlocker, Benetton, H&M, COS, … & Other Stories and Zara. #roundTheCorner the outlet Intrend Diffusione Tessile (if you’re into Max Mara ,Max & Co), very cheap compared with their official shops, it is in Largo Corsia dei Servi). (Find on map) The beautiful Galleria Vittorio Emanuele with shops Stefanel, Prada, Borsellini, Gucci, Louis Vuitton
Lunch;Luini – note that it is closed in August – (they make Panzerotti – a kind of mini calzone either fried or baked, there’s normally a very long queue, but it’s very well organized and fast and more importantly; it’s worth the wait, you can eat it picnic style on Piazza San Fedele (right behind – (find on map) where you can enjoy coffee afterwards in the very hip Lavazza Store. Mercato del Duomo (food market, bistrot and restaurant with an incredible view over Piazza Duomo). If you want to see and be seen there are lots of outdoor places on Corso Vittorio Emanuele itself, Italians don’t go here, they are typical tourist traps. Worth mentioning is also Fratelli La Bufala, 8, Galleria San Carlo (find on map). On the same square you have Gino Sorbillo Neapolitan pizza in Milan.
Inside the Museo del Novecento right at Piazza Duomo you find the exclusive Giacomo Arengario with a view on the Duomo and the city. Crocetta – Panini D’Autore, 5, Piazza Diaz with excellent sandwiches, salads and first courses. Panini Durini, 4, Via Mengoni (find on map), delicious sandwiches, cakes and coffee to go.
On the top floor of department store La Rinascente there are several restaurants, a food market and the most amazing view over Piazza del Duomo.
Coffee:: Try out the delicious coffee with whipped cream at San Carlo al Corso, on Piazza San Carlo (find on map) or sip it at the exclusive Gucci Café halfway in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele (find on map) where you also find Prada’s in-store coffeshop/pastry shop Marchesi on the first floor with an amazing view of the Galleria. Hidden behind the scaffolding In Piazza San Babila for the new metro line is a real gem Pascucci at 22, Corso Europa (find on map). They import their own blend of organic South American coffee, you can also get lunch here.
Then there is the Lavazza Store, the slow coffee center in Piazza San Fedele (find on map).
Shops: H&M, Zara, Conbipel, Benetton, Pepe Jeans, Kiko (affordable makeup), Guess kids, Vergelio sko, Bata shoes, Levi’s, Antony Morato, Geox , Elena Miro, Freddy, Furla, Intimissimi Lingeri, Liu-Jo, Camicissima (shirts for him & her), Celio (for him), Havaianas, Tezenis Lingeri, bassetti (home innovation), Du Pareil Au Meme (kids’ clothes) OVS(Italian low-cost clothing) have opened their so far biggest store in 21, Corso Buenos Aires The biggest and first shop in the Japanese chain Muji, to have opened in Milan.
#roundTheCorner -Lisa Corti
In adjoining Via Lecco no. 2 (find on map) you find Lisa Corti #roundTheCorner who sells colourful tablecloths, bedspreads, blankets for you couch, ceramics and clothes. Viale Tunisia Carpediemshop and at 6, Via Bernardino Ramazzini is one of the most interesting new openings East Market Shop – a spin-off of Milan’s absolute best flea market East Market – (find on map) – a must-see for vintage lovers.
Lunch: MINT Garden café, 12, Via Felice Casati (find on map) Really delicious lunch and brunch place.
Pizzeria Spontini, 4, Via Gaspare Spontini (find on map) Paninoteca, Galleria Corso Buenos Aires (find on map) Panino Giusto, 3, Via Malpighi – quality sandwiches (find på kort) Capatoast, 4, Corso Buenos Aires – a delicious new concept 30 different toasts including vegetarian and vegan ones. (find on map). Pavé, 27, Via Felice Casati (find on map) – delicious lunch and great coffee..
Coffee:
you could probably do with a break from the crowds on Corso Buenos Aires, so go into Indro Montanelli Public Gardens and have a coffee break at Bar Bianco (find om map); or go to Panarello, famous for their pastries (find on map)
Italian ice cream: Grom, 13, Corso Buenos Aires (find on map) or 6, Piazza Argentina (find on map) good concept and excellent ice cream. Pavé Ice cream, 21, Via Cesare Battisti (find on map), fantastic homemade ice cream.
This area is actually a shopping-route. Start at Via Marghera – via Belfiori – Corso Vercelli – Corso Magenta – check out the luxury fashion outlet Outlet Matia’s at 12, Corso Magenta (find on map – with a detour to Via Vincenzo Monti and a cultural break at “The Last Supper” (you have to book tickets phone number +39 02 92800360) another must-see is art gallery/design store Spazio Rossana Orlandi at 14/16, Via Matteo Bandello which is just a little out of the way but so worth visiing.
Shops: #roundTheCorner in 5, Via Luigi Sacco (find on map) Io & Meg different jewellery and clothes. Via Marghera here you find several shoe shops and varied clothes shops, outlets. OVS clothes shop H&M style. #roundTheCorner Via Belfiore (find on map) fantastic hardware store, Lo Sfizio clothes, Subdued, in Corso Vercelli you find department store Coin with medium prices, Boggi (stylish outfits for him), Comptoir des Cottoniers, Max & Co, Gallo if you’re into quality and stripes, Furlahandbags and wallets, Brian & Barry, Intimissimi,Sephora makeup, ZARA Home, Zadiq & Voltaire plus Swarovski, Songes, Victoria’s secret,20, Corso Vercelli (find on map)
Coffee: Biffi pastry shop: Have coffee or #aperitivo old Milan style or try it in the small coffee shop at 36, Corso Vercelli , where you drink coffee while enjoying the smell of freshly ground coffee beans, and you can buy some for your espresso machine at home.
Lunch: Ham Holy Burger, 34, Via Marghera (find on map) great burgers, Pizzeria da Gino,9, Corso Vercelli (find on map) Standing lunch with good pizza and ready meals. Then there is Fratelli La Bufala, 13, Via Cima Rosa (find on map) Panino Giusto, 8, Via Cherubini (find on map) quality sandwiches. Rosticceria Gallo, 8, Corso Vercelli a deli and restaurant for foodies with delicious ready-to-go meals (find on map) Fru.Eat on Piazzale Baracca (find on map) – healthy lunch based on fruit and vegetables. Panini Durini, 31, Corso Magenta (find on map), delicious sandwiches, cakes and coffee to go.
Italian ice creamGrom, 1a, Via Alberto da Giussano (find on map) Good concept and excellent ice cream.
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