first time in milan?

a guide for the capital of aperitivo. now you owe me one.

Milan can be small but a lot is going on. Years ago when I moved here I didn’t know how to approach this city. Honestly, I wish I had someone introducing me to the metropolis properly. That’s how I’ve come up with the idea of making a guide about it. About every city I’ve had the chance to explore radically too.

On that note, why not start with my city?! After years and years of nights outside, meals and cocktails with friends I can say I feel entitled to be your plug and help you sort this city out. You will find too many locations where to eat, drink, chill and have a stroll.

✩ I know the list is very rich but I live here and, believe me, the outcome is a very much edited version compared to what I’ve started it. So, if you want to jump to the noteworthy part of the whole guide, just scroll to the end where you’ll find my absolute favourite spots here in Milan.

Bakeries for breakfast, coffee & lunch:

I give a lot of importance to breakfast because it’s my favourite meal. Like, if I have a bad breakfast, I will probably have a bad day too. For this reason, you have to very much trust me on this matter.
Breakfast in Milan consists mostly of the perfect sacred duo of croissant + cappuccino – *insert heavenly choir music* – and that’s how you should have it while here. It can be at the bar, in pasticceria or more thought-out places like bakeries and speciality coffee shops. I take very seriously my coffee too. Maybe one day I’ll talk about my hyper-fixation for coffee, who knows? Anyway, usually, there’s no fixed time for breakfast, if the bar still has croissants, you can eat them whenever. Which is kind of rare if we’re talking about serious bakeries. However they serve sourdough bread and lunch menus, so they’re worthy for a brunch or a quick lunch too.

• Nowhere (Colonne): hand-drip coffee and the salted caramel blondie!!!

• Marlà (Porta Romana): my favourite croissants are the frangipane and the ricotta, however, they have a bombing croque monsieur too. You should head there early, as there’s always a long line.

• Signor Lievito (P.ta Romana): love the Scandi vibes of their sourdough bread with whipped butter and jam. Also, the babkas are to die for.

• Pavé (Porta Venezia & Crocetta): their cruffins are a 10/10, especially the raspberry one.

• Loste Café (Tricolore): a coffee freak’s paradise in partnership with the best kardemommeboller in town.

• Pan (Città Studi): perfect for when you are feeling particularly Japanese and are craving a yuzu croissant to dip in your matcha latte.

• Tone Bread Lab (Città Studi): pastries with a Georgian touch.

• Orsonero (P.ta Venezia): excellent lattes, flat whites and coffee in general.

• Eutopia (Moscova): refined flavours (like saffron custard, rose sablés, tahini cakes and even more…) and great gluten-free/vegan options.

• Tondo Forno Artigiano (Isola): if you love bread Tondo is the place to be, especially for their focaccia.

• Clèa (Washington): another popular place for viennoiseries – for example the pain au chocolat and the cubic croissant – due to this it might have a queue.

• June Collective (Certosa): this is the brunch spot with their fluffy eggs and mascarpone pancakes.

• Fòla (Pasteur): moist kanelbullar and wicked croissants.

Pasticcerie for breakfast & aperitivo:

Besides giving a lot of importance to historical landmarks, Milaneses hang mostly in traditional pastry shops for several reasons. The n.1 is because you can head there at any time of the day. Let it be a quick breakfast at the counter, a coffee with your best friend, a date spot, an afternoon pick-me-up, or even a cute gift. In short, Pasticceria is always the solution. Moreover, Milan is the capital of aperitivo and, trust me, there’s no other place if not a pasticceria to head to for an epic aperitivo.