Ciao Milano !

I often have the opportunity to go to Milan these last 5 years. This city is taking a big part in my life so I had to talk to you about it.

Milan isn’t the most beautiful city in Italy, it’s quite industrial because it’s the economic capital but it’s a culturally rich and living city that is worth it. It’s after all one of the fashion capitals with Paris, London and New-York. However, I must say I never really go shopping there… What am I doing then ? I eat of course and I stroll ! But where ? Seguitemi ragazzi !

Where to stroll ?

Nothing surprising, you have to see of course la Pizza del Duomo, the main square  of Milan, where there is the the majestic Duomo, 3rd biggest church of the world after San Pietro in Rome and Sevilla’s cathedral. Plus, from the top of the Duomo, the view is wonderful.

piazza del Duomo

on top of the Duomo

You can also see there the sublime Galleria Vittorio Emmanuele II  made of  an impressive glass roof overlooking two galleries. It connects la Piazza del Duomo with la Scala (most famous opera of the world).

piazza della Scala

A touristic thing to do : in the gallery go smash the bull’s genitals with your right foot by turning three time on yourself. They say it brings you good luck.

Behind the Scala there is the old area of Brera, my favorite part of the city because it’s far from the city bustle : a tangle of alleys, antic shops and beautiful buildings. Close by there is via Montenapoleone, the chic area of Milan with its luxury stores, private mansions and small private courtyards.

Not far from Brera the Castello Sforzesco stands, this XIVe military fortress has been transformed into a residence for Sforza ducs in the XV century. Today this gigantic building serves for art and history museums.

The Navigli are the last artificial canals of the city. It’s really nice to stroll there, especially during flea market day (one sunday per month) and to have a drink in the evening.

Where to go shopping ?

When I said I never go shopping in Milan it’s not completely true, I go shopping but mostly food shopping. :p  To find nice Italian products go to Peck, the Italian temple of gastronomic delights. A chic supermarket with good Italian products and a restaurant.

Peck – via Spadari, 9 – Milano

Since recently there is an Eataly in Corso Como.

Corso Como

I went to the one in Torino few years ago that I loved. I was a bit disappointed by this one which is less chic but the products are still amazing and you can find everything for the kitchen (food, kitchen ustensiles, cooking books…) on 4 floors. You can also eat on the spot an ice cream, drink the best coffee or even eat pasta. It makes me think a bit of Lafayette Gourmet.  Apart from Italy, Eataly is also in USA (NYC and Chicago), in Japan, in Dubaï and in Turkey.

Eataly - Piazza XXV Aprile, 10 – Milano

If you want to go clothes shopping go to la Rinascente (local Galeries Lafayette) and the chic area of Via Montenapoleone where there are the luxury shops like Prada, Gucci and tutti quanti… Finally, outside of the city there is a Fratelli Rossetti outlet where I bought a few years ago my dream boots (Vai Cantu, 24 – Parabiago).

Now let’s talk about decoration shopping with the amazing shop Cargo that I discovered last weekend ! First of all this is huge, 4 levels with absolutely EVERYTHING for the house.

What I loved the most is the plants area with this industrial fountain and all these succulents (yes I’m starting a new obsession with them, but for a lazy girl like me, it’s the best choice, even though I’ve already managed to kill cacti).

When going out of the shop, go have a coffee at the nice coffee place decorated by Cargo : Zan Zaran Zan Café.

Cargo – via Meucci, 39 – Milano

10 Corso Como which kinda is like the Merci shop in Paris. An amazing concept store as beautiful inside as on the outside with a design and cosy bar.

And when you’re going out, don’t miss this incredible wall !

10 Corso Como – Corso Como, 10, 20154 MILANO

Finally High Tech, the little brother of Cargo, a lot smaller but easier to get to because it’s in the center of Milan and you are certain to find something to buy.

Cargo- Piazza XXV Aprile 12, 20124 MILANO

Where to eat ?

Ah we are finally getting at my favorite subject il cibo !!! You have to eat panzerotti at Luini‘s. Panzerotti are fried turnovers pasta pizza stuffed with tomato and cheese (for the classical ones). You can eat them outside on Piazza del Duomo. I’ll recommend you to have one and a half or to two per person if this is your lunch (2,50€ the panzerotto).

Luini – via Santa Radegonda, 16 – Milano

Another unavoidable dish is : pasta al cartoccio at Il Quarto‘s, a very friendly restaurant. Pasta al cartoccio are pasta (it can be any kind of pasta like linguini or des spaghetti) with sea food  (mussels, octopus, prawns, clams) cooked in papillote with tomatoes and covered with pizza pasta.

This giant dish is really delicious even for me who isn’t really a sea food lover. Good luck anyway to finish it, I had to eat it several time before making it and people who knows me knows what a glutton I am ! Don’t worry if you don’t see it on the menu, it’s not written on it, you have to specifically ask for it. For dessert, take the lemon sorbet, it helps for digestion.

Il Quarto – via Carlo Ravizza, 8 – Milano

Between 6pm and 9pm when you’re having a drink in a bar in Milan, you can help yourself to an all-you-can-eat buffet of sandwichs, crostinis, delicatessen, cheese, bruschetta, crisps… ! For modest budgets aperitivo can be your dinner. The best place to have aperitivo for me is at the edges of the Navigli, so pleasant !

Otherwise if you’re looking for a restaurant there are plenty especially if you go to Brera or if you want a more rustic one go to the Navigli to have a typical Milanese dish like Milanese risotto (saffron risotto), Milanese escalope (« cotoletta alla milanese » in Italian) or osso buco.

It’s now dessert time so let’s start with gelati ! In general Italian ice creams are really good so not too difficult to find but I really like the ones from Grom (there are several Grom in the world including Paris). Click here to see the 7 addresses in Milan.

Another Italian sweet speciality that I love is crostata which is a jam tart. Go buy it at the delicious patisserie Panarello ! Perfect for breakfast, especially in my mother-in-law cosy kitchen you already saw here.

Panarello to see the 5 addresses in Milan click here

Finally, get lost in the streets of Milan and admire the architecture of churches and sometimes the buildings unusual one.

Piazza Mercanti

Piazza San Babila

Santa Maria del Carmine

Did you like our Milanese trip ? :)

Ciao ciao a dopo !