AD’s Milan city guide for design lovers is perfect for those who want to discover this Northern Italian city in style. Filled with independent boutiques, incredible museums and cutting-edge architecture, Milan is also the world capital of the apertivo and the home of Campari. This is a city that delights in finance and food and fine art and, of course, fashion. The Milan city guide for design lovers explores the best secret bars, shops and cutting-edge art galleries tailored to perfection, of course.
Where to stay
Casa Baglioni opened in February 2023 in the ‘Brera’ district, considered to be the arty-est in Milan. The hotel is indeed a celebration of Milanese artists, from the enormous chandelier in the lobby and the personal art pocket guide left in your room, tours can be booked with one of the exceptional guides for a behind-the-scenes visit to studios in the area. The Baglioni family have created a hotel on home turf that is comfortable, charming and most importantly, a celebration of their heritage.
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With incredible interiors that blend Art Deco features with Murano chandeliers and classical paintings, this hotel is one of Milan’s grande dame hotels. The elegant bedrooms are decorated with frescoes, but it is the Principe Bar with its tinted crystal bar and mirrored wall that is the real showstopper. There is a very smart gym (Club 10) with floor-to-ceiling windows on the tenth floor, and the restaurant Acanto has one of the finest wine lists in Milan.
This perfect boutique hotel has only seven bedrooms and is the perfect Milanese pied-à-terre just a short walk away from Via Tortona. What was formerly a racing bike factory, then a fashion studio for the Baccheschi Berti family, who then turned the space into a hotel. The design is a global mix of Persian rugs and Moroccan glazed tiles, and the furniture is handcrafted by Tuscan and Sicilian artists. In the den downstairs, barmen will shake up a cocktail or serve wine from the family vineyard. vicomilano.com
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With a gorgeous garden filled with horse chestnuts and plane trees, the Baglioni Hotel is the place to be seen in Summer for an aperitivi. Interiors are just as impressive with black marble, bronze and teak wood, and the bathrooms have granite bathtubs and, of course, Bulgari toiletries. There is a spa and a gold mosaic swimming pool as well as a restaurant where acclaimed chef Niko Romito serves classic Italian dishes.
Where to eat
Despite having only opened in 2022 Andrea Aprea’s restaurant has already won two Michelin stars. Working with architect Flaviano Caprotti the dining space sits above the Fondazione Luigi Rovati museum and draws design influences from its Etruscan heritage. There is an outstanding wine cellar and three tasting menus including an eight-course one exploring the chef’s culinary vision. andreaaprea.com
Combining Japanese flavours with Italian is an interesting idea and one that chef Takeshi Iwai calls ‘cucina libera’ or free cooking. It is clearly also working since Aalto has already been awarded a Michelin star. Located in the Porta Nuova district the restaurant also draws on Japanese influences in its design with wood, stone and glass harmoniously blending. The best option here is to try the tasting menu and sample the notable sake list.
More of a wine bar and famed for its aperitivio this bustling wine bar is also the place to head for old-style homemade dishes including mortadella and bean soup with focaccia and delicious cold cuts of meat. Dishes are made to share with friends and there is also an impressive selection of natural wines. This is the place to go for an authentic Italian dining experience.
The only restaurant in Milan with three Michelin stars, chef Enrico Bartolini has a motto “Be Contemporary Classic”. Dishes are always based around traditional ingredients but with an almost endless desire for innovation. Situated on the third floor of Milan’s MUDEC Museum of Culture it is fitting that Bertolini creates dishes that are works of art such as the oil and lime buttons with cacciucco and octopus sauce and there is of course also an exceptional wine list. enricobartolini.net
Where to drink
With a magical atmosphere, the lush garden in the Mandarin Hotel garden is unrivalled for privacy and an escape from Milan’s bustling streets. Food is curated by Michelin-starred Antonio Guida and the cocktails led by mixologist Gugliemo Miriello have been curated around the theme of ‘Around the World in 80 Days’. Start with the Reform Club a cocktail evoking the start of Fogg’s journey with Amaro Santoni and manzanilla sherry and see where the night takes you. mandarinoriental.com
From this iconic bar, you can look out towards the Duomo while absorbing the atmosphere in this iconic 108-year-old venue, a testament to Milanese chic. The Bar di Passo has an outdoor seating area with Art Nouveau decor and wooden counters with vibrant mosaics, the perfect place for an aperitif. The upper level houses the Spiritello room which is dedicated to mixology and where you can get one of the best negroni’s in town. camparino.com
This secret and elusive Bar combines the mystique of the American Prohibition era with its discreet facade and dim lighting. The mixologists here create cocktails that redefine the art of drinking but the only way to gain access is to make friends with the owners of Mag Cafe (who also run 1930) before they will consider giving you access.
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Where to shop
Having graduated from Central Saint Martins in 2019, Bea returned to her home town and opened her flagship store on Via Solferino 25. Designed by Italian studio Locatelli Partners the showroom was inspired by Beatrice’s bedroom, think flowers and neon enhanced with bright pink, the perfect backdrop for the jewellery which is all enamelled by hand. beabongiasca.com
This art gallery is known for its contemporary silk rugs as well as antique textile art, the owner Raffaele weaves a story around each piece which is almost as beautiful as the rug itself. There is also a curated selection of paintings and a vibrant series of rugs designed in collaboration with Romeo Gigli. altai.it
Painted in the most perfect shades of sherbert green and pink Bitossi is located in the design quarter of Cinque Vie. The art of Italian hospitality is celebrated here with homewares including glassware, candles, cutlery and cups. Bitossi is best known for fun graphics and symbols which decorate each porcelain dish. bitossihome.it
The first private members club for shopping brands at discounted prices in Italy. Sign up to the website to receive an invite to the next private sale and book your appointment. Brands such as Zimmermann, Off White and Bottega Veneta often appear on the shelves. After you have finished shopping you can pop downstairs for a drink in the bistro Cortile Flora. my.moscovadistrictmarket.com
With its origins dating back to 1803 and a store in Paris, the Milan outpost of this historic brand still exudes French charm with travertine tiled floors, traditional wooden fans and floor-to-ceiling wooden cabinets. Within the cabinets is a collection of fresh fragrances, body oils, toothpaste and hand lotions all with the most exquisite detailed packaging, far too beautiful to open. Just to add to the old-school charm there is also an onsite calligrapher who can create a personalised label. buly1803.com
Best art galleries to visit
This exhibition space is dedicated to contemporary art and culture and is housed in a complex that for many years functioned as a distillery. Architectural firm OMA (co-founded by Rem Koolhaas) has reimagined it into a collection of modern spaces. Exhibitions this year have included exhibitions by Christoph Buchel and Michael Borremans. fondazioneprada.org
This historic house museum is filled with private collections of Barons Fausto and Giuseppe Bagetti Valsecchit at the end of the 19th century. The museum is one of Europe's best-preserved historic museum houses and has preserved this extraordinary example of collecting and culture from the end of the 19th Century. museobagattivalsecchi.org
Silos is Giorgio Armani’s own museum dedicated to his fashion designs of the last 40 years and displaying around 600 of his works. There is also a digital archive that holds a collection of photos, sketches, technical drawings and illustrations. armanisilos.com
