Milan was our first and last stop in our Italian trip. On our first stay we rented a lovely flat through AirBnB right across Duomo (balcony view pictured above). The building was old but the flat was nice and clean and the host was great.
The Duomo is a whole experience on its own. Do go up the roof, you will get an amazing view of Milan and also great details on the structure of the building. Also, when you go down, if there is service taking place stay for a few minutes to watch. It's a different experience. Then go through Galleria Vittorio Emanuele and I dare you to try and take a picture without people around. You can only add them to your concept, ha (I did, pictured below). Nevertheless it's an awe-inspiring building, Italy's oldest active shopping mall with the biggest brands housed in it.
Nearby there's Cioccolati Italiani. Stay with me for this, you may face an endless queue on this but if you visit late in the afternoon you will be fine, with far less people waiting. I had Sicily lemon and strawberry, on a cone with dark chocolate and nuts and inside the cone I had frigging liquid white chocolate, I mean, it was the best! If you want a simpler, tasty gelato, go to Gelateria Ambrosiana which is right in front of the Duomo. As expected I visited both.
For lunch, burgers at Prime. Of course, onion rings with cinammon and guacamole for starters, the Cheeseburger Italian Style with the best chips-like french fries. Also, it had a super sauce called ''Grandma's''.
The Duomo is a whole experience on its own. Do go up the roof, you will get an amazing view of Milan and also great details on the structure of the building. Also, when you go down, if there is service taking place stay for a few minutes to watch. It's a different experience. Then go through Galleria Vittorio Emanuele and I dare you to try and take a picture without people around. You can only add them to your concept, ha (I did, pictured below). Nevertheless it's an awe-inspiring building, Italy's oldest active shopping mall with the biggest brands housed in it.
Nearby there's Cioccolati Italiani. Stay with me for this, you may face an endless queue on this but if you visit late in the afternoon you will be fine, with far less people waiting. I had Sicily lemon and strawberry, on a cone with dark chocolate and nuts and inside the cone I had frigging liquid white chocolate, I mean, it was the best! If you want a simpler, tasty gelato, go to Gelateria Ambrosiana which is right in front of the Duomo. As expected I visited both.
For lunch, burgers at Prime. Of course, onion rings with cinammon and guacamole for starters, the Cheeseburger Italian Style with the best chips-like french fries. Also, it had a super sauce called ''Grandma's''.
Enjoy an Aperol at Terrazza Aperol that overlooks the Duomo but be prepared to have your drink standing up. Or be quick enough to grab a seat as soon as someone leaves.
For art, there's Fondazione Prada with some interesting installations like ''Giant Mushroom Upside Down Sculptures'' by Carsten Holler and some of the Atlas exhibition. We didn't have access to much but some of the permanent collections, and other than a few exceptions it wasn't my cup of tea. BUT, in the premises you will find Bar Luce, the cafe designed by Wes Anderson and it truly is a gem (and with decent prices).
Also, you have to eat at Five Guys. Amazing burgers, Instagrammable place, a bit expensive but worth it.
For art, there's Fondazione Prada with some interesting installations like ''Giant Mushroom Upside Down Sculptures'' by Carsten Holler and some of the Atlas exhibition. We didn't have access to much but some of the permanent collections, and other than a few exceptions it wasn't my cup of tea. BUT, in the premises you will find Bar Luce, the cafe designed by Wes Anderson and it truly is a gem (and with decent prices).
Also, you have to eat at Five Guys. Amazing burgers, Instagrammable place, a bit expensive but worth it.
I don't want this post to get too long so I'll just add a few more spots for food and drink. On our return to Milan we stayed in this flat, not very central but amazingly detailed, clean and spacious with a super friendly host. .
1. LuBar for a Garden of Eden's styled cafe for a nice breakfast. The menu includes Acai bowls and special sandwiches. If you want iced coffee ask for Shakerato. It's not your Freddo Espresso, but it's good.
2. Pizzium or Little Italy for amazing pizzas. On Pizzium we had one pizza with mozarella, dried sausage, ricotta and black pepper and one pizza with provola cheese, porchetta ham and baked potatoes. Both without tomato sauce and that was a bold choice. Little Italy was a seemingly tiny restaurant but looks can be deceiving. I had pizza with meatballs... my God it was possibly one of the best pizzas I had. Recommended, highly.
1. LuBar for a Garden of Eden's styled cafe for a nice breakfast. The menu includes Acai bowls and special sandwiches. If you want iced coffee ask for Shakerato. It's not your Freddo Espresso, but it's good.
2. Pizzium or Little Italy for amazing pizzas. On Pizzium we had one pizza with mozarella, dried sausage, ricotta and black pepper and one pizza with provola cheese, porchetta ham and baked potatoes. Both without tomato sauce and that was a bold choice. Little Italy was a seemingly tiny restaurant but looks can be deceiving. I had pizza with meatballs... my God it was possibly one of the best pizzas I had. Recommended, highly.
Milan is basically a shopping spree city. Some architectural diamonds here and there, a few landmarks, the Duomo and of course a million great spots for food and drink, so don't go there expecting else.
It's the more modernized Italy.
It's the more modernized Italy.