Milano 2024
Milano was a great pitstop for our journey to and from Zermatt. What the city lacks in cultural sites, it makes up for in great shopping, dining and people watching. We only spent a few days here, most of which were focused on shopping, dining and living the aperitivo life.
Where we stayed
We stayed at both the Westin Palace as well as the Château Monfort. Both of these 5 star hotels were well located to get to most places by foot. My preference was the Westin Palace where our Bonvoy status got us a nice upgrade and this hotel was on the quieter side, allowing for an easier time adjusting to the jet-lag.
Links:
https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/milwi-the-westin-palace-milan/overview/
https://www.hotelchateaumonfort.com/en/
What we did
Our favorite part of Milan was walking around the Brera neighborhood taking in all the design and fashion inspiration. We also ventured into the Navigli neighborhood for a beautiful stroll along the 12th century canals. A stop to take in the stunning Duomo is always a must and this will conveniently lead you right into the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II one of the oldest shopping malls in the world. No stop in any major Italian city is complete without a visit to a Rinascente department store which has been serving trends since 1865.
Eating/Drinking
We didn’t have much time in Milan so this will just highlight some of our favorites though Milan offers some amazing options for dining.
Aperitivo
We loved.. loved N’ombra De Vin in the Brera for drinks. Get there early to snag a table for people watching. We also spent two occasions grabbing a cocktail and people taking in the chic vibes at Vesta which was also was in the Brera neighborhood.
Dining
For a quick bite you cannot go wrong with a panini from the seemingly ubiquitous All'antico Vinaio. If you head to the one on via Lupetta and it is a nice day, definitely head to part sempione and grab a bench.
If you are in the mood for Pizza, the famous L'Antica Pizzeria Da Michele has an outpost in Milan. The Pizza was divine!
If you need a break from shopping, Langosteria Café a recommendation courtesy of the Gucci staff was very close to all the shopping and was a perfect pranzo hot spot. The Paccheri with seabass for two was one of the best dishes we had on the entire trip! While we didn’t get to try the second recommendation from the staff at Gucci.. Gloria is on our short list for our next visit.
Osteria Del Binari has been around for ages and is a converted historical site from the times of Milan’s industrial past. A great venue for those Milanese classics amongst the locals.
Osteria Mema offered a cozy experience with great staff and delicious food.
Paper moon came as a recommendation from multiple friends and it did not disappoint. This chic restaraunt offers delicious food with a stylish vibe.
Another recommendation from our trusted sources was Ratana. Tucked away in an unassuming playground just around the corner from the famous Bosco Verticale green residential building, Ratana delivers on style, well executed cuisine and great staff.
