Milan - A Perfect Day and a Half
Is everyone on your Instagram also in Milan? Posing with their Aperol and posturing their Prada Galleria? Blame Wes, point to Brexit, but it seems like the northern Italian city is having a moment.
And Just Like That and Succession are two shows that are markedly different, but what they have in common is the pervasiveness of Italian designers. While Succession gave rise to “quiet luxury”, a term now synonymous with brands such as Loro Piana and Bottega Veneta, And Just Like That frequently fetishizes Fendi.
Italian designers fuel the trends of today (or perhaps started them - discuss); Milan Fashion Week has thus become one of the hottest ticket(s) and Milan Design Week (Salone del Mobile Milano) has never been more popular. The global capital of fashion and design is also home to Italy’s stock exchange - which has attracted bankers and private equity investors in the wake of Brexit. Milan is a true “city”, diverse in both industry and culture. It’s geographic location in northern Italy, with numerous direct international flights - and a well-functioning train station - make the City the perfect place to lay your head before skipping to Lake Como, Venice, or Florence.
Today, Milan is a far cry from the “mud and industrial buildings” it was once known for. In terms of GDP, Milan is the wealthiest city in Italy, has the third-largest economy among EU cities after Paris and Madrid, and is the wealthiest among EU non-capital cities.
Some of our favourite fashionistas (we see you
) have relocated to the city and of course, with travel to Italy at an all time high, our feeds are flooded with gratuitous grams of Bolognese and Aperol Spritz.If you are planning on following in the footsteps Kendall to Loro Piana to pick out a cap, or Shiv to grab a gold pair of Bottega earrings, or Carrie, to snatch a Fendi baguette, the following is our recommendation on how to spend a day and a half in Milan.
DAY 1
Morning
The Fondazione Prada is an institution dedicated to contemporary art and culture, with both permanent and temporary exhibitions. It is also the host of Prada’s runway shows, film premiers, and industry talks. The industrial complex as we know it today, with its large, inviting pavilion and commitment to the rule of thirds, was designed by OMA Architects. If you bore of the art, there is a fifth floor observatory to view Milan.
Fondazione Prada is an easy subway + walk from the main city centre. We recommend buying tickets in advance, and wearing something by Miuccia. While it may seem counter intuitive to start your time in Milan outside of the city, we will now work our way back in. Plus, we want you to actually enjoy your time here - not throw yourself into a sweaty crowd of turisti.
An unmissable part of the Fondazione Prada is Bar Luce. It is one part Milanese café, one part whimsical set. The Wes Anderson designed café and bar is the perfect pit stop for a morning espresso and snack. If it is hot, we recommend a grabbing a cold treat from the freezer.
Photos c/o: Fondazione Prada
Lunch
Tucked on a quiet, narrow lane, a sharp turn before Bottega and and beside Louboutin, is Bice Milano. The restaurant name, “Bice” is a nickname for Beatrice Mungai, a multi-hyphenate woman and incredible cook who started the “tavern” when she moved to Milan. Her grandchildren continue to run the celebrity hot-spot, serving traditional Milanese dishes - including homemade pasta and their famous Pappardella. Bice has the best octopus I have ever tasted and a risotto that you will dream about. The patrons are Italian, the seats are close, the table cloth is white, and the interiors of the wood frames are vintage posters. This is the idyllic long lunch in the City.
Photos c/o @bicemilano
Afternoon
Spend your afternoon shopping along Via Montenapoleone and to Corso Vittorio Emanuele II. If you remain starved for art and culture, ask the shop keepers who designed the interiors, or who the brand’s latest creative director is - the employees of these stores are some of some of the most knowledgeable sources of fashion.
Dinner
Paper Moon (Giradino)
Situated in a palace in the heart of the city, Paper Moon reminds you of the potential of our cities. It is hard to believe that after walking the busy streets you can end up in a location so tranquil and refined. The interiors are white, the sturdy chairs are a dark wood with a curved back. The food is meant to be shared, and if you can score a spot on the back terrace we highly encourage it.
Photos c/o @Papermoon.milano
DAY 2
Breakfast
Sant Ambroeus (Milano)
You know the Spaghetti al Pomodoro that you love at Sant Ambroeus in NYC? It is better in Milan. Originally opened in 1936, Sant Ambroeus Milano reopened in 2022, designed by Fabrizio Casiraghi. Ordering an Omelette della Casa before seeing the sites is a welcomed way to start the day.
Photos c/o @santambroeus
Morning
Take advantage of sleepy tourists and take yourself on a walk through the city centre. On an easy loop you can hit the Duomo di Milano, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II (to the original Prada store) and the Teatro alla Scala.
Shopping & Lunch
It is never too early for an Aperol in Milan. Give yourself several beverage breaks as you pop in and out of the luxury store. The fashion is avant-garde and well-curated. It is wildly surprising that a store at the forefront of fashion (and food) could have just celebrated their 30th anniversary in 2020.
Photos c/o @10corsocomo
