MILAN, ITALY

Milan may be one of the fashion capitals of the world, but to me it is a city of amazing food and wine....oh the wine. Everything I love about Milan revolves around the food and vino, period. Save the shopping for Paris or New York.

WHERE TO EAT:

CUCINA DELLE LANGHE

Located in the Corso Como area, this is a great little restaurant to pop in and enjoy some classic Milanese dishes. The beauty here is simplicity; simple dishes made from fresh ingredients that are delicious and full of flavor. My favorite dish here is the saffron risotto or the spaghetti pomodoro. The restaurant is charming and has an old school vibe to it, but honestly, all the restaurants in Milan do unless you're looking for a modern hotspot. This is a no frills, just good food spot.

la latteria

THE most amazing homemade Milanese meals. This place is magical and a must when visiting Milan; apparently there's years of history here and somewhat of an institution. It's a husband and wife duo who owns the place, the husband is the chef and you'll see the wife going around, taking the food orders. It literally feels like you've stepped into their Italian kitchen, and for an hour or two, you're family. I can't begin to tell you how much I love this place, and the food is divine. So simple and yet everything was so, so good and fresh; from the pastas to the vegetables and everything in between. Honestly I would order as much as you can on the menu which is seasonal and changes daily based on the ingredients. The place is tiny though with only a handful of tables so try and go early if you can. Oh and they don't take credit cards, so come with a full stash of euros.

10 corso como cafe

Some of the best things in life come together here: shopping, outdoor cafe, and good food. Famed boutique that carries everything from Comme des Garcon to Diptyque candles, also has a super cute cafe/restaurant. Surrounded by greenery and florals, it's one of my favorite places in Milan to sit, eat, and people watch. They also have a great selection of magazines to browse through while you sip and eat, as if you need more of a reason to stay longer. The food is surprisingly good here too; I'm a skeptic of places trying to do a little bit of everything but the Corso Como cafe does it well with a pretty decent sized menu offering. I love having raw artichoke salads when I'm in Milan and they have one of the best artichoke salads in my opinion. Start with that and then choose any of the entrees and you can't go wrong. They have a great selection of fresh juices as well. Once you're done filling up, walk it off by browsing the great curation of the store.

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rocking horse

There's a theme here, some of my favorite restaurants/food can be found along the Corso Como area, including this pizza haven: Rocking Horse. I actually have no idea why it's called this, it's not like there's any horse references or themes when you walk into the restaurant, but it doesn't matter. You can call it whatever you want when the pizza is this good. They have an extensive menu of all different types of pizzas that come out piping hot and soo good. If you're up for it try the calzones too, they're as big as your face and look amazing. (Haven't worked up the courage to try one yet.) It's a simple restaurant, no frills, just good pizza. And the pastas are great here as well too. The plus of this place is that they're also open pretty late which is hard to find in Milan.

trattoria milanese

Might be one of my all time favorites in Milan, for all around great food. I've actually dreamed about this place when I'm in New York. The veal milanese with the saffron risotto are to die for, like nothing I've ever had. The ratio of veal to the breading is brilliant. I love taking the lemon it comes with and squeezing every drop of lemon juice onto the crispy, yet juicy cutlet. Heaven! Again, nothing fancy here, just amazing Milanese food at its best. The osso bucco is amazingly decadent here too and a favorite of mine to have during the fall and winter months because of how rich it is. I've been going for years and the waiters haven't changed which adds to the charm of this place. This is definitely a happy place for me.

bianco latte

Super cute gelateria/cafe on an otherwise bleak looking street in Milan. The gelato and coffee shop are located in the front along with a small display of housewares and gifts, with a full restaurant in the back. This place has a very Nantucket-like feel: bright, warm, charming. The gelato is the main attraction here, with the best assortment and flavors. Some of my favs: the bianco latte (duh), crema nona, and the caffe. Go to the counter, pay first and then bring your ticket to the gelato counter and go to town. You're welcome.

paper moon

Paper.Moon. There are just no words. This is my tried and true favorite place to eat in Milan. If there was one place I could eat every meal, every day, for the rest of my life, it would be at Paper Moon. Dramatic I know, but once you eat here, you'll understand. This is one of those spots where everything (meats, pasta, pizza) on the menu is good and you can't go wrong. And because it's so good, this place is always packed for lunch, dinner, and even late dinners. It's also a hotspot for power lunches and chicly dressed people. If you want to go back multiple times, I understand, but here are the things you must get: paper moon pappardelle, spicy pepperoni pizza, and the costata alla fiorentina (for 2). They also have a great spread of antipasto, buffet-style if you can make room for it all. Buon appetito.

rinascente food hall

This is the food hall located inside the luxury department store, La Rinascente. It's located on the 7th floor of the store and it is quite a sight. To start, it's a food hall and market combined, so there are restaurants and food products galore. From tricolored pastas, to truffle oil and even wines, you can find anything and everything 'food' here. In my opinion, this is the main attraction of the whole store. They have a beautiful terrace outside that's part of the Obica Mozzarella restaurant, and it's right next to the Duomo, so you're literally sitting an arm's length away from the top of the cathedral. When the weather's nice, it's amazing to sit outside, have some amazing mozzarella drizzled in oil olive, an Aperol Spritz, and people watch. My other favorite place to eat is De Santis. They're known for their paninis and omg are they good. I love the offerings of all the different meats and cheese combos that you can get from mortadella, bresaola, prosciutto to cheeses drenched in truffle oil, all on a perfectly grilled piece of bread. This is a spot where you can get some gift shopping done while dining on some good food.

la piadineria

To be real, I couldn't find a good picture of this place, so I just found a pic of a basic panini. BUT this isn't paninis, it's a piadina. Big difference. A piadina is like a panini but on an Italian flatbread with similar fillings that you would find in paninis but somehow, the taste is totally different. It's basically a mix between a pizza and a panini. Yum. This place is pretty much a grab and go, fast food type of place with a few places around Milan as it's a chain. I figured I'd include one of these because sometimes, all you want is something quick to take with you while you roam the streets. So expect more local chain vs a trendy sit down. And I don't know what it is, but I find the piadinas to be really good here for a quick craving or snack, and you don't need reservations!

WHERE TO GO:

10 CORSO COMO

A chic oasis tucked away behind an unassuming entryway on the street of Corso Como, 10 Corso Como (which is also the actual store address), is a place to spend a few hours in. Not because it's a particularly large space, but between the well-curated selection of Comme des Garcon (they have one of the best selections of CDG in my opinion), Alaia, and many more designers, there's also a whole 2nd floor of books and home design, so it's hard not to take your time here to ensure you don't miss anything. I've bought some of my favorite Junya and CDG pieces from here. I don't love the store design (some of the fixtures and layout are a bit odd), but it is very '10 Corso Como' so it works for them. The best part of the store is the cafe and rooftop terrace. The cafe is quite large with both an indoor and outdoor space. The outdoor seating area is beautiful with tons of lush greens and flowers everywhere, creating the perfectly chic backdrop while enjoying the food. (For more about the cafe and food, see the "Eats" section of this page.)

La Rinascente

I'd rather spend time walking the streets of Milan checking out the small shops and boutiques, but this department store is worth a visit, if not for the food hall alone. Located near the Piazza del Duomo, you can hit 2 birds with one stone by stopping here and then going to see the Duomo, which is a short 5 mins walk to the cathedral. The food hall is the best part of this store, with several amazing eat shops located on the 7th floor, including a huge terrace that is literally an arms length away from the Duomo. The views are amazing and when the weather's perfect, there's nothing like an Aperol Spritz while viewing the insanely intricate details of the Duomo. If you're looking for foodie gifts, the food hall has everything you can imagine from truffle oils to multi-colored pastas to bring home as gifts. (See more about the Food Hall under the "Eats" section of this page.)

bar martini

Known as the Dolce & Gabbana bar, this bar is a collab between Martini and DG. Located next to the men's Dolce & Gabbana flagship store, it's another unassuming doorway off the street of Corso Venezia, but a few steps in, you'll find yourself in a courtyard of fabulous people smoking and sipping on cocktails. The outdoor area is great for people watching and there's an indoor bar as well, but brace yourself. Inside, you'll find yourself transported back to a Studio54-esque vibe, with shiny black surfaces from floor to ceiling, mirrored tables, and black leather couches. I prefer the courtyard, but it's worth going in to take a look at. It's classic Italian decadence at it's best.

Excelsior Milano

This luxury department store is like the younger, cooler sister of La Rinascente. It's on the newer side, having opened its doors in 2011 and with 6 floors of everything from Off White to Gucci, it's fun to take a stroll through. They really go all out on the displays here with bright lights and sleek modern interiors, creating a futuristic vibe that can almost be a bit overwhelming. Depending on what floor you're on, it feels like you just landed on some futuristic spaceship filled with everything from Adidas to Saint Laurent. Don't miss the basement, where the food and wines are. You'll find beautiful displays of colorful fruit and veggies on this floor, along with a great selection of meats and fishes. The presentation is gorg and def insta-worthy.

bar Luce

I actually haven't been here, but I thought I wouldn't be credible if I didn't include it on my must-see list. The hype here is that it's the bar that Wes Anderson designed so everything is quite colorful and fun, with the retro and whimsical vibe that he's so well known for. The plus is that the bar is located in the Fondazione Prada, which is the huge art/gallery compound where old and modern art and design come together, with Miuccia Prada herself as a co-chair. The short of it, a must visit that I myself need to check out.

N'ombra de vin

I love this bar, but that's probably because it's literally a huge wine cellar in a basement filled with bottles and bottles of wine as far as the eye can see. No matter where you sit, you're surrounded by at least a hundred bottles of wine either on the floor near you or against the walls. It's insane. And this place is not small, so it's pretty incredible walking down the stairs and looking out into this amazing bar filled with wine bottles galore. Depending on the weather and what time of day or night you try to go, it may be tame or it can look like a mob scene of incredibly chic people clamoring to get in. There are a few different spots in this place, including the first-floor bar but the wine cellar is where you want to go. The vast selection of amazing wines will overwhelm you, but what a problem to have.

WHERE TO STAY:

Palazzo Parigi

I love this hotel. Having opened in 2013, it's one of the newer hotels and located near the fashionable Brera district. (Also around the corner from N'ombra de Vin, one of the places on my 'where to go' list.) Everything about it feels grand and yet cozy, with a beautiful garden and terrace area on the ground floor. There are subtle French design influences too like huge glass french doors in the seating and dining area, which I love, that leads to the garden. In the mornings they have an amazing breakfast spread of fresh fruits, eggs, and juices to nosh on. One summer, I had the most amazing mangos here for breakfast that I still think about. There are no bad rooms here, and the service is impeccable. I love it.

Excelsior Hotel Gallia

This hotel is conveniently located near Milan's grand train station, Milano Centrale, which is worth a visit as well. The hotel has a very modern Italian feel to it, with sleek interiors all throughout the hotel, from the lobby to the rooms. It also has a slightly futuristic feel to it due to the minimalist lighting and white marble floors. The Shiseido Spa located in the hotel is quite a treat with an indoor pool and different treatment rooms including a hammam to relax and unwind after a long day of eating and shopping. I've also used it many a times after a long flight when the rooms haven't been quite ready. They also have a nice rooftop bar/restaurant found on the 7th floor that has great views of the city, particularly at night. The hotel definitely feels very luxe and I find the staff here to always be super nice and helpful.