April 6, 2026 | Travel
MILAN,
THROUGH its INSIDERS
words Maria Chiara Antonini
Experience Milan through the eyes of five architecture studios and designers.
STUDIOPEPE
For a refined breakfast or an elegant coffee break, we return to Pasticceria Marchesi 1824, with its timeless old-world charm.
Our restaurant list ranges from Røst, with its cool atmosphere and creative cuisine, to La Pesa, a true Milanese classic. For a more traditional “old Milan” vibe, we recommend Latteria San Marco, while those seeking a subtly Parisian atmosphere should head to Tram Tram.
To experience the most compelling art exhibitions, Triennale Milano is an institution, consistently offering a rich and diverse cultural program. Fondazione Prada follows, as much for its striking architecture as for its exhibitions, alongside PAC, set beside the Villa Reale. Then Pirelli HangarBicocca, where vast, monumental spaces redefine industrial architecture.
When it comes to inspiration, we hold two places especially close to our hearts: Fondazione Achille Castiglioni and the Fornasetti showroom—an extraordinary space where one could easily spend entire days, and one of our favorite places in Milan.
INFO
Founded by Arianna Lelli Mami and Chiara Di Pinto in 2006, Studiopepe is known for its refined and eclectic approach, spanning interiors, hospitality, and product design.
PARISOTTO + FORMENTON
For a leisurely breakfast or a quick lunch break, Pasticceria Sissi is a true city staple—an informal yet authentic spot.
An institution in its own right is Bar Basso, a genuine observatory of the international design community. It was here that the iconic Negroni Sbagliato was born, becoming a symbol of the place; yet what truly makes it special is the collective energy that fills the space during Milan Design Week.
For art lovers, Galleria Cadogan’s Milan venue creates a dialogue between tradition and experimentation. With its luminous courtyard, typically Milanese architectural elements, and a contemporary aesthetic, it presents a rich program of exhibitions throughout the year.
Another compelling art address is Galleria Mazzoleni, located in one of the city’s most elegant and culturally vibrant districts. Libreria at 10 Corso Como, now under the direction of Tiziana Fausti, is dedicated to books and magazines on photography, fashion, design, and art: for us, a true after-work pleasure, immersed in a setting that constantly evolves and transforms.
To discover Milan by night, among its early twentieth-century architecture, Piazza Meda is home to some of the city’s most significant buildings, including Palazzo Bolchini with its distinctive portico, designed by the architect Pier Luigi Magistretti. We had the privilege of restoring and enhancing the gallery itself, bringing harmony back to its historic elements: the lighting design highlights both the architecture and the celebrated sculpture by Arnaldo Pomodoro, transforming the square into a small jewel box.
Finally, understated yet authentic hospitality awaits at Casa Brera. Housed in a Rationalist building recently restored to its original beauty, the hotel strikes the right balance between history and design, offering an atmosphere that is at once intimate and cosmopolitan. Its panoramic rooftop, in the heart of the city, is not to be missed.
INFO
Working across architecture, interiors, and product design, Parisotto+Formenton moves between scales with a research-driven approach.
FEDERICA BIASI
My day often begins at PAN Milano, a contemporary Japanese bakery. The space was designed by WOK, architect friends who have done an excellent job, creating an environment that feels both essential and welcoming.
To immerse myself in art, I turn to Galleria Ciaccia Levi, an international gallery known for its rigorous curatorial program. I am particularly drawn to the direct relationship between the works and the space, which encourages a slow and focused viewing experience. I am also very fond of Galleria Lia Rumma, an essential reference point for contemporary art in Italy.
Altatto is one of the most compelling projects dedicated to contemporary vegetarian cuisine in Milan. I appreciate its creative yet rigorous approach: everything—from the dishes to the space—operates through subtraction and precision.
Another of my favorite restaurants is Sandì, which interprets a new idea of Milanese hospitality: quiet, calibrated, never ostentatious. The atmosphere is rarefied, and the cuisine follows the same measured pace, crafting a slow and deeply conscious experience. I would also add Ai Fiori Blu, a recent, informal, and convivial address where the cooking is refined and the atmosphere lively, free from forced aesthetic constructions.
For architecture, Quartiere Gallaratese stands apart. With the Monte Amiata complex by Carlo Aymonino and Aldo Rossi, it reflects a broader idea of collective living.
For those who prefer not to stay in a conventional hotel, Concoct Milano offers a model of diffuse hospitality built around the idea of a temporary home: each apartment is conceived as a small, autonomous design project.
INFO
Since founding her studio in 2015, Federica Biasi has developed a language rooted in clarity, material sensitivity, and restraint.
SIMONA CARDINETTI
A relaxing spot for my daytime coffee break is Caffè Fernanda, located inside the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera and the Pinacoteca di Brera. Dedicated to Fernanda Wittgens—the first woman in Italy to direct a state museum and a key figure in the reconstruction of the Pinacoteca after the Second World War—it is a place where art is truly in the air, furnished with paintings, original bas-reliefs, marble floors, and imposing doors.
For a total immersion in design, Compasso design gallery is the perfect address. Spread over four floors, it showcases highly curated contemporary design alongside historic pieces by renowned masters, such as Gio Ponti and Osvaldo Borsani. I love it because stepping inside feels like entering another world—surrounded by iconic works created by some of the greatest designers in history.
For music lovers, I recommend the Teatro Gerolamo. Just a short walk from the Duomo, this small nineteenth-century theatre resembles a miniature Teatro Alla Scala. Entirely clad in wood and faithful to its original style, it hosts contemporary theatre programming as well as performances and art installations. A true architectural jewel, and still relatively little known, is the Santa Maria presso San Satiro Church. This beautiful fifteenth-century church, hidden among large and imposing buildings, contains a masterpiece by Donato Bramante. Faced with limited space, he created a remarkable trompe-l'œil choir that produces an extraordinary illusion of depth.
In the heart of Brera, a historic restaurant I adore is Rigolo. Inside, photographs of the many notable figures who have dined there over the years line the walls, alongside cartoons specially created for the restaurant by illustrators. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, with tables dressed in classic white tablecloths, wooden Thonet chairs, and a delightful outdoor terrace overlooking a charming square.
INFO
After years working as a set designer for international events, Simona Cardinetti now divides her practice between interiors and object design.
VALENCIA/BISCOTTINI
To truly discover Milan, the best way is on foot. One of the most evocative streets for a walk—where you can admire some of the city’s most beautiful residential buildings all along a single stretch, designed by BBPR, Vietti, and GPA Monti—is Via dei Cavalieri del Santo Sepolcro, tucked behind the Church of San Simpliciano.
Another must-see address is the small neighborhood that unfolds around Via Lincoln. Here, rows of tiny, brightly colored houses with private gardens—each painted in a different hue—create a vibrant oasis that feels worlds away from Milan.
For a coffee break, two favorite spots: Loste Café, always bustling but well worth it for its truly excellent pastries, and La Belle Aurore, a historic bar often chosen as a film set.
Among restaurants, Nino is a recent addition—offering subtly reinterpreted Milanese dishes in a warm, carefully curated setting, with architectural and design choices that closely reflect our own aesthetic sensibility.
Located inside Casa degli Artisti—one of Italy’s earliest concrete buildings, constructed by Luigi Go—Degustazione Bistrò overlooks one of Milan’s hidden gardens.
At Galleria l’Affiche, you can purchase artworks of every kind and price range, from posters and prints to more significant pieces. For a total immersion in art books, Taschen shop is an essential stop: don’t miss the store’s beautiful terrazzo floors, custom-designed by artist Jonas Wood.
For a step back in time, and a key destination for lovers of paper in all its forms, visit the historic stationery shop and print studio Bonvini 1909, which still operates with vintage manual presses.
When it comes to staying in the city, we recommend two places: casaBase, a hybrid of hostel and artists’ residence within a creative hub with a rich year-round programme of events, and Vmaison, set in a small building in the Brera district overlooking a private garden.
INFO
Founded in 2016, Valencia Biscottini works across architecture, interiors, and urban research.
