Travel Guide: A weekend in Milan

Here’s my travel Guide for a perfect weekend in Milano with the best restaurants, museums, must-sees, shopping addresses and places to sleep!

WHERE TO SLEEP

Costanza Milano

If you love the feeling of living like a local, I highly recommend a stay at one of Costanza Cecchini’s lovely boutique homes! Costanza is the most charming host you can imagine and her three apartments – the Greenhouse Loft, the Wooden Atelier and the Pastel Home – are all situated in the Porta Venezia district, which is a 10-minute walk from the Duomo Cathedral, the Modern Art Gallery and the Natural History Museum. We stayed at the Greenhouse Loft, which was designed by London designer Ilse Crawford and her architect husband Oscar Pena. The one-bedroom apartment was once a garage but is now a cosy, contemporary home.

Indeed very green – The Greenhouse Loft

Senato Hotel

Charming boutique hotel with uniquely Milanese hospitality in 43 rooms. The welcoming interior is an assembly of marble, brass and wood designed by architect Alessandro Bianchi.
Senato Hotel, Via Senato 22, 20121 Milan, Phone: +39 02 781236

Senato Hotel

WHERE TO EAT

Pavè (Breakfast)

Perfect place for an Italian breakfast! Just few steps from Porta Romana Corso, this new space offers a wide range of leavened and fresh bakery products, sandwiches and quiches. And of course: Espresso. What else.
Pavè Milano, Via Felice Casati 27, 20133 Milano, Phone +3202 94392259

Pavè Milano

Pasticcheria Marchesi (Breakfast)

Steeped in tradition, Pasticceria Marchesi is one of Milan’s oldest and finest pastry shops. It is considered a benchmark for the quality of its fresh patisserie, its signature chocolates and its classic Milanese Panettone. If you can’t make it to Milan – you can order their products (love that packaging) here!
Pasticcheria Marchesi, Via Monte Napoleone 9, 20121 Mailand

Maruzzella (Dinner)

This place is Real. Italian. Pizza. Love!
Maruzzella, Piazza Guglielmo Oberdan 3, 20129 Milano, Phone +39 02 2952 5729

Un Posto a Milano (Dinner)

Located in a renovated 17th-century farmhouse and surrounded by a park, Cascina Cuccagna has now a multifunctional use a social hub, hostel, bar and restaurant: Un Posto A Milano. Locally sourced food, suggestions for vegetarians and vegans and dishes from the Italian tradition. It’s also close to Fondazione Prada, just saying 🙂
Un Posto a Milano, Via Cuccagna 2, 20135 Milano, Phone +39 02 5457785

Un Posta A Milano

Bar Basso (Drinks)

An institution! Bar Basso was the first-ever bar in Milan to introduce the “aperitif” to everyday people. And it’s primarily known for its signature cocktail: the Negroni Sbagliato, which is made with Prosecco (instead of Gin).
Bar Basso, Via Plinio 39, Milano

WHAT TO SEE

Fondazione Prada

Major must-visit! Exhibited across 17 striking buildings designed by Rem Koolhaas are hundreds of modern and contemporary artworks from Miuccia Prada and her husband Patrizio Bertelli’s private collection, including Damien Hirst, Louise Bourgeois and Robert Gober. After your visit you shouldn’t miss enjoying an espresso at Bar Luce, the pastel-coloured café designed by Wes Anderson!
Fondazione Prada, Largo Isarco 2, 20139 Milano, Phone +32 02 5666 2611

Fondazione Prada

Bar Luce at Fondazione Prada

Museo Vigna di Leonardo

This place is one of the most prestigious addresses in Milan, where Leonardo Da Vinci lived while he was painting The Last Supper. Now the palazzo is open to public and remnants of the beautiful vineyard were recently uncovered.
Vigna Di Leonardo, Corso Magenta 65, 20123 Milano, Phone +39 02 481 6150

Villa Necchi Campiglio

Built by Piero Portaluppi in the 30s the burgeois Villa Necchi Campiglio exhibits its original interiors with the story of the prestigious Lombard family Necchi-Campiglio. A must-see for architecture and interior lovers of the Italian architecture of the inter-war periods. The villa also played host to Luca Guadagnino’s movie “I Am Love”.
Villa Necchi, Via Mozart, 14, 20122 Milano, Phone +39 02 7634 0121

The Secret Flamingo Garden / Villa Invernizzi
I discovered this magical place by accident – in a beautiful garden behind the fences of Villa Invernizzi lives a group of pink flamingos like taken from a fairy tale. The building is private, but you can catch a glimpse from outside.
Villa Invernizzi, Via Cappuccini 7, Milan

WHERE TO SHOP

Dimore Gallery (Design)

Dimore Gallery, Via Solferino 11, 20121 Milano, Phone  +39 02 36 56 34 20

Excelsior (Department Store)

Close to the Duomo Cathedral, this impressive contemporary luxury department store stocks the top fashion brands on seven floors. It also has a great food market and an exceptional beauty department.
Excelsior, Galleria del Corso 4, 20122 Milano, Phone +39 02 7630 7301

Me in bag heaven at Excelsior

Frip (Fashion)

A small multibrand fashion store with international labels like Acne Studios and Marques Almeida. You’ll also find some young Italian designers, selected magazines and accessories.
Frip, Corso di Porta Ticinese, 16, 20123 Milano, Phone +39 02 832 1360

Milaura (Concept Store)

Located in the Brera district, Milaura is a lovely concept store with an international and innovative soul, selling the Milaura label and more than 100 other brands like Mesdemoiselles, Lemaire, Soeur, Vanessa Seward, Atlantique Ascoli and Rejina Pyo.
Milaura, Corso Garibaldi, 35, 20121 Milano, Phone +39 02 8909 3905 

La Double J (Fashion)

If you love eye-popping, vintage prints and silk blouses, you gotta love La Double J, a multi-tasking Milanese brand offering new fashion made with archival prints, cool home design and rare vintage.
La Double J, Piazza Arcole, 4, 20143 Milano 

Fornasetti (Design)

Being a Fornasetti-fan ever since, this place is heaven. There Fornasetti design is everywhere you look – from wallpapers, butterfly covered tables to trompe l’oeil umbrella stands. And the plates are a great souvenir.
Fornasetti, Corso Venezia, 21/A (corner via Senato), 20121 Milano, Phone +39 02 8416 1374

Dictonary (Streetwear)

Small Streetwear store close to Porta Ticinese selling brands like Maison Kitsunè, Norse Project, YMC, Wood Wood, Libertine Libertine and Base Range.
Dictonary, Corso di Porta Ticinese, 46, 20123 Milano, Phone +39 02 835 8212