From art theatres staging quality shows to intimate luxury retreats, Outlook Recommends the best places to visit in Milan.
Eat:
FOR VINTAGE HOSPITALITY AND TRADITION…
Experience unforgettable evenings in the intimate atmosphere of L’immagine Bistrot Ristorante, whose cuisine stands out for its carefully selected, premium ingredients.
The restaurant offers a wide variety of appetisers and pasta, meat, and fish dishes, as well as red, rosé, white, and sparkling vinos from the finest Italian wineries.
FOR GOURMET VEGETARIAN DINING…
Joia, the first vegetarian restaurant in Europe to be awarded a Michelin star in 1996, aims to disseminate the principles of healthy, plant-based cuisine.
The restaurant is focused on quality, sustainability, and respect for the environment, with around 80 percent of Joia’s menu being vegan and gluten-free.
Its novel, unique dishes, made using seasonal ingredients, reflect both a spiritual journey and matured awareness.
Do:
FOR THE FIRST PUBLIC REPERTORY THEATRE IN ITALY…
The Piccolo Teatro di Milano (Piccolo) was founded on 14th May 1947 by Giorgio Strehler and Paolo Grassi, together with Nina Vinchi.
‘An Art Theatre for All’ is the motto and underlying principle that has accompanied the Piccolo ever since it was founded and continues to express its mission – staging quality shows aimed at the most wide-ranging audiences possible.
The Piccolo has produced more than 400 shows – many of which were directed by Strehler – offering major productions of both classic and contemporary writers that have, over time, become part of international theatrical history.
Strehler’s works alone include productions of King Lear and The Tempest (William Shakespeare); Harlequin, The Servant to Two Masters, and Brawling in Chioggia (Carlo Goldoni); The Cherry Orchard (Anton Chekhov); The Threepenny Opera, Life of Galileo, and The Good Person of Szechwan (Bertolt Brecht); and Happy Days (Samuel Beckett).
The Piccolo, which has had ‘Theatre of Europe’ status since 1991, currently runs three impressive auditoriums – Teatro Strehler, Teatro Grassi, and Teatro Studio Melato. The former, its main venue, was inaugurated in January 1998 to the music of Così fan tutte, an opera buffa by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the last production directed by Strehler before his death on Christmas Day in December 1997.
Almost 80 years on from the debut of The Lower Depths by Maxim Gorky, the Piccolo’s memorable curtain-raiser, the journey continues for this essential artistic and cultural institution, which is now an urban and European centre for culture.
FOR A UNIQUE SHOPPING DESTINATION…
Only 15 minutes from downtown Milan, Scalo Milano Outlet & More (Scalo Milano) is a shopping outlet village where you can find design, fashion, food, and a touch of art.
This dynamic and contemporary shopping destination offers some of the world’s most famous Italian and international brands all in one place, from Nike, Adidas, and Calvin Klein to Pandora, Tommy Hilfiger, Trussardi, and many more.
Milan is one of the world’s most important fashion and design capitals, and every style finds its place at Scalo Milano, where you can also find furnishings and decorations for any room – or even just aesthetic and creative inspiration.
For a bite to eat as you pop between the shops, Scalo Milano is equally a destination for food lovers, who can savour a flavoursome selection of restaurants, cafés, coffee shops, and confectionery stores.
The Design District, Fashion Village, and Food Court are all open seven days a week – with the exception of Christmas Day and New Year’s Day – so you’ll be able to shop ‘til you drop no matter when you decide to visit Milan.
Tourists should make the most of the I Love Card, which is free, digital, and comes with incredible benefits, such as 10 percent off in participating stores. For every €30 spent, you can even play for prizes, with gift cards given away every day!
Scalo Milano is easily reachable either by car, bus, train, or a shuttle service that connects it with the centre of Milan.
Sleep:
FOR LUXURY AND DESIGN…
Palazzo Cordusio Gran Meliá
FOR AN AUTHENTIC OLYMPIC RETREAT…
As Milan prepares to host the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, NEMI Hotel Milano offers a different perspective – an intimate and authentic retreat where guests can rediscover the pleasure of slow living and Italian hospitality.
During the Olympic period, NEMI Hotel Milano will be a meeting place for travellers, sports enthusiasts, and lovers of the city, offering an atmosphere of authentic and discreet hospitality – away from the crowds, yet at the heart of the excitement surrounding the event.
