Welcome to Milan, northern Italy’s metropolitan city known for its fast pace, rich culture, and appreciation for fashion! The history in this city is incredible and includes one of the world's largest cathedrals, da Vinci’s infamous mural ‘The Last Supper,’ and of course one of the worlds most famous opera houses!

For us, we also know it for phenomenal food and adult beverages! Milan reminds me of Paris, London, and New York as they adore fashion! When you're in an area like this where fashion is paramount, you'll find some of the most greatest places to eat, drink, and party. It's a beautiful way to be seen in all those fancy clothes you just purchased!

One of my primary objectives since deciding to become a travel blogger was to avoid repeating travel destinations. I want to see as many new places as possible and learn about their culture. Milan, however, is just a speed-train from Basel and can easily be visited in a weekend! I’m fairly sure my bride is already thinking of another weekend to visit…

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What to Do

• Duomo di Milano (above)

  Also located at the Piazza della Scala is one of the largest and most magnificent cathedrals in the world. It took six centuries to construct this incredible landmark, and it’s stunning!
  Piazza del Duomo, 20122 Milan, www.duomomilano.it

• Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

  Italy’s oldest active shopping mall and likely one of the most beautiful you’ll see. It’s located by the Piazza della Scala and is always buzzing, day or night! You’ll find many high-end clothing stores including Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and more. There are also cafes, restaurants, and pastry shops located in this beautiful landmark. It boasts the most magnificent glass arched roof, an elegant yet intricate piece of architecture.

• Sforzesco Castle

  This castle was constructed by the Duke of Milan, Francesco Sforza, in the 15th Century. It has since expanded and is even larger! It’s located just outside of the inner loop of Milan but is walkable from many other points of interest. It’s beautiful and includes large areas of green space, a welcome addition to major cities such as Milan! Tickets for interior entry are 3-5 Euro, but if you want to stroll the grounds, it’s free of charge.
  Piazza Castello, 20121 Milan, www.milanocastello.it

• Arco della Pace

  Located by the park opposite Sforzesco Castle is the city gate of Milan.

• Teatro alla Scala

  Milan’s premier opera house, opened in 1778, is widely regarded by Europeans as one of the best opera houses in the world. If planning a visit, I highly recommend booking seats for a show.
  Via Filodrammatici, 2, 20121 Milan, +39 02 88 79 1, www.teatroallascala.org

• Santa Maria delle Grazie

  This church opened in the late 1400s and is included on the UNESCO World Heritage sites list! This is the convent where Leonardo da Vinci’s infamous ‘The Last Summer’ mural is located.

Where to Eat & Drink

Piz

If you’re seeking a fun atmosphere and casual vibe, Piz is a wonderful option! There are always a ton of people standing around outside waiting but it’s excellent food, and it’s fairly quick, so the tables turn faster than the European standard. Their pizza is wonderful, and the staff is incredibly friendly! You can quickly tell that they have fun in the kitchen making pies and they keep the drinks flowing! We had a great time and split a Margherita and White Pie!

(See their: Facebook) Via Torino, 34, 20123 Milano

Sushi B

Related Post: A Sushi Showdown in Milan

An absolutely wonderful Sushi option in the heart of Milan! The service is impeccable and I’ve literally been craving their sushi since our visit! Check out the above link for more!

(See their: Website, Instagram, Twitter) Via Fiori Chiari, 1, 20121 Milano

Cinc

This fantastic restaurant and bar is located in my favorite area of Milan, the Brera neighborhood. The streets are lined with beautiful and well-maintains homes and stores. It’s a chic atmosphere, and a Cinc offers excellent bar options. We arrived for aperitivo time and enjoyed ‘a few drinks’ and relaxed. If you are seeking wine, they have great options, but I had to go for the cocktails! They do a fantastic job with the cocktails!

(See their: Website, Instagram) Via Marco Formentini, 5, 20121 Milano

Nobu

Related Post: A Sushi Showdown in Milan

More sushi? Yep! I love some great sushi and there’s only the most basic of options where we live. The vibe in the restaurant is very cool and the menu provides many delicious options! Check out the above link for our Sushi Battle!

(See their: Website, Instagram) Via Gastone Pisoni, 1, 20121 Milano

L’Ov Milano

If you are near L’Ov and seeking a fun brunch with exceptional service, definitely stop in. We visited on a Sunday morning with reservations already in place and were welcomed by smiling faces. It’s a great atmosphere in a beautiful location and wonderful coffees and drinks. We enjoyed a lovely breakfast of eggs, bacon, pancakes and more! The staff was incredibly friendly and it made for a great start to the day!

(See their: Website, Instagram, Facebook) Viale Premuda, 14, 20129 Milano

Rebelot

Related Post: Aperitivo Time!

More to come on this lucky find next week! I will say, we felt very fortunate to arrive just before everyone else so had a great seat by the walkway, so you had the buzz from the Naviglio Grande yet seated just inside one of the more beautiful restaurants along that strip! This was our aperitivo stop on our last evening in Milan and in preps for the upcoming reservation at Besame Mucho, I went straight for their specialty Margarita which was excellent. So excellent I’m reasonably confident I ordered 3! Chanel dove straight into the wine list and was equally as pleased!

(See their: Facebook, Website) Ripa di Porta Ticinese, 55, 20143 Milano

Besame Mucho

I had a bit of hesitation given the sub 4.0 Google rating, but my obsession with tacos, tequila, and all of the other fabulous Mexican fare forced me to give it a shot. I’m glad we did! It is a bit away from the usual touristy area which was a was a nice change of pace. The location is in a great neighborhood that feels new, modern, and super clean. I, of course, went a little crazy with the menu and ordered all sorts of stuff for us to try! The food was fantastic and honest Googler’s should have this restaurant rated at a 4.5, but I’m not sure people genuinely appreciate well executed Mexican fare in these areas. As a US expat, I’m spoiled by the love and exposure of Mexican food and Besame Mucho is an excellent upscale yet authentic example

(See their: Website, Instagram) 15, Viale della Liberazione, 20124 Milano

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