#TheLIST: Where to Stay, Shop, Drink, & Dine During Milan Fashion Week
As the international fashion set makes the pilgrimage to Milan, we explore some of the city’s most chic destinations.
From eco-friendly hotels with stunning rooftop views, to garden bars with aperitivo hours serving up the best Italian fare, Milan is one stylish city—especially during fashion week. As the international style set makes the pilgrimage to Milan for Spring 2019, we explore some of the city’s chicest destinations.
Where to Stay: Bulgari Milano
What: Bulgari Milano is the unofficial meeting place for Milan Fashion Week. Each season, the chic hotel is packed with models, editors, and influencers, but stylish locals can be found enjoying aperitivo hour at the garden bar and unwinding in the spa year-round.
Where: In Milan’s fashionable Brera District (close to Via Montenapoleone). Although positioned in the center of the city, it's removed from any of the urban hustle and set in a tranquil garden that is accessible through a private road. (Via Privata Fratelli Gabba, 7b, 20121 Milano).
Why: It has the best display of street style outside of the shows: men pull off printed chinos and blazers with pocket squares; women blend the latest looks from the runway with an effortless elegance, a la Carine Roitfeld (what you won’t see here is athleisure). Bulgari is particularly hyped this season as Michelin-starred chef Niko Romito launched his fourth restaurant with the group this week, and the menu is sensational. Also, it has luxurious, spacious rooms, and Maseratis to transport guests around town.
Where to Stay: Hotel Viu
What: An eco-friendly hotel with a lush vertical garden, contemporary design, and a panoramic rooftop with a swimming pool.
Where: Located in Milan’s modern Porta Volta district, close to Bosco Verticale and Corso Como. (Via Aristotile Fioravanti, 6, 20154 Milano).
Why: Go for the rooftop swimming pool, where you can order food from Bulk Restaurant (which has excellent ceviche and guacamole) and cocktails from Mixology Lounge Bar and Garden.
Where to Stay: Mandarin Oriental
What: The first and only Mandarin Oriental hotel in Italy is relatively new and incredibly luxurious, blending oriental aesthetics with sophisticated Milanese design.
Where: In a tranquil yet central area, located close to Bulgari and Armani. (Via Andegari, 9, 20121 Milano).
Why: It offers vintage car rental experiences, a spa with Chinese Medicine specialists, an on-site hair and beauty salon, and a leafy inner courtyard. The rooms have spacious marble bathrooms and there are two specialty suites inspired by renowned Italian designers Gio Ponto and Piero Fornasetti.
Where to Stay: Armani Hotel
What: The Armani Hotel (which opened in 2011) occupies seven floors above the boutique. It’s sleek and minimalist, with each detail down to the bathrobes designed by Giorgio himself.
Where: In the Brera District, just a few steps away from the iconic La Scala Theater. (Via Alessandro Manzoni, 31, 20121 Milano).
Why: The rooms are modern and elegant, but the main draw is the Bamboo Bar, which is a popular place for a cocktail during Milan Fashion Week. It has panoramic views across the city and the Duomo.
Where to Dine: Giacomo Bistrot
What: A classic Italian restaurant full of character and stylish locals that have been regulars for years. The menu is heavy on fresh seafood, and there are a variety of pasta dishes and beautifully-presented cakes.
Where: Via Pasquale Sottocorno, 6, 20129 Milano.
Why: It’s always a good sign when locals are repeat customers, and this traditional restaurant has a long list of notable regulars. It has been around for decades and is still one of the most popular restaurants in town.
Where to Dine: Bar Luce
What: Contrasting the starkly minimalist aesthetic throughout Fondazione Prada, Bar Luce (based inside the complex), is full maximalist. It was designed by Wes Anderson and has super kitsch design with pinball machines, printed wallpaper, and retro furniture.
Where: Located at Fondazione Prada, in the Largo Isarco industrial district. (Largo Isarco, 2, 20139 Milano).
Why: It has a fantastic deli and great ice-cream. Plus, you can stop off before exploring the wonders of Fondazione Prada.
Where to Dine: Il Ristorante Niko Romito
What: Niko Romito’s new restaurant at Bulgari Milano that boasts a sophisticated crowd. It serves modern Italian cuisine in a beautiful environment with good music, and fabulous interiors by renowned architects Antonio Vitterio and Patricia Viel.
Where: At Bulgari Milano.
Why: Michelin-starred chef Niko Romito is on a roll this year, having opened four new restaurants with Bulgari Hotels (in Dubai, Beijing and Shanghai), and being listed on Sanpellegrino’s Best 50 Restaurants list for the first time. Some say he’s the new Jean-George, elevating the hotel dining scene for a new generation.
Where to Dine: Il Salumaio di Montenapoleone
What: A traditional Italian trattoria that has been a favorite with locals and jet-setters since the ‘50s and still remains one of the most coveted destinations in the city.
Where: Via Montenapoleone, amid all of the major brands: Prada, Chanel, Dior, Gucci. (Via S.Spirito, 10, Via Gesù, 5, 20121 Milano).
Why: The restaurant is an iconic destination with a fabulous courtyard and excellent pasta. It’s family owned, and has been managed through three generations to date.
Where to Shop: Antonia Boutique
What: A selection of high-end, contemporary brands including Isabel Marant, Attico, The Row, Zimmermann, Mr&Mrs Italy and more.
Where: Via Cusani, 5, Palazzo Cagnola, 20121, Milano.
Why: In addition to having a supreme edit from leading brands, the store was designed by renowned Italian architect, Vincenzo de Cootis, and seems as though it could be a gallery space.
Where to Shop: Vintage Delirium by Franco Jacassi
What: Some of Milan’s best vintage shopping curated by a former art collector, where many of the industry’s most important designers visit for inspiration. It features well-preserved pieces from a roster of leading designers including Versace, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Chanel, Balenciaga, and more.
Where: Located in a secret courtyard—away from the hoard of tourists – it’s not somewhere you could easily stumble upon (Via Giuseppe Sacchi, 3, 20121 Milano).
Why: It’s where the most stylish residents of Milan shop, including Giorgia Tordini of Attico, who is a regular. “If you are looking for vintage treasures and accessories this is the best place to visit,” she says. “Especially if you are a YSL lover, you can find stunning dresses, shirts, and belts from the ‘70s and ‘80s in mint condition.”
Where to Drink & Dance: Apophis
What: A late-night member’s club that is a fashion industry favorite for drinking and dancing, whether it’s after a show, or on a regular weekend night.
Where: Via Carlo Giuseppe Merlo, 3, 20122 Milano.
Why: Kanye West’s creative director reportedly does a monthly DJ set there and it’s a fun place to dance after-hours.
Where to Drink & Dance: Plastic
What: A Milan institution that initially opened in 1980 but was reopened in 2012. It’s known for its regular DJ appearances and neon-lit late nights.
Where: Via Gargano, 15, 20139 Milano.
Why: Like Apophis, Plastic is a great destination to take the after-party.
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