Destination • September 2017
A stylish guide to Milan
As global pioneers of high fashion and quality craftsmanship, the Milanese have long been known for their inimitable sense of style. For Mario Moreschi, commercial director at Italian shoe brand Moreschi and grandson of the founder, high sartorial standards run in the family. Ahead of Milan Fashion Week (20-27 September), he reveals where to eat, drink, shop and relax in the city – like a true Italian
Where to shop
Owned by style icon Lino Ieluzzi, Al Bazar on Via Antonio Scarpa houses a unique assortment of classic Italian clothing. Injected with Lino’s eccentric personality, this store is a must-visit for any menswear aficionado. If you’re looking for something new, pick up one of its signature unlined and printed double-breasted jackets, designed by Al Bazar’s own private label and fitted by one of its in-house tailors. For more contemporary labels, visit Italy’s most prestigious and avant-garde department store, La Rinascente (pictured) opposite the iconic Duomo di Milano.
Where to be groomed
For an afternoon of luxury, visit the new spa at Hotel Gallia. A short walk from Milano Centrale station, the facilities are set across the sixth and seventh floors and include a private spa suite and hammam. Or, if the weather is fine, visit QC Terme (pictured), a wellness centre based on traditional ancient baths that promotes relaxation and rejuvenation through dips in outdoor pools and massages.
Where to have an aperitivo
Join the locals for an early-evening aperitif at La Bottega del Vino. Located centrally near the neoclassical Arena Civica, it’s renowned for an extensive wine list, and is one of the few places in Milan that offers to store its regular customers’ most prized bottles of wine.
Where to eat
D’O is an exceptional spot for an affordable Michelin-starred meal (dinner will set you back around €45-€50 per person). Owned by self-taught chef Davide Oldani – who worked with the likes of Gordon Ramsay, Gualtiero Marchesi and Alain Ducasse – the dishes showcase Italian ingredients in a playful, creative way. No two contain the same ingredient, and the starters – which include Oldani’s signature ‘caramelised onion’, a mouth-watering amalgamation of sweet, savoury, hot and cold – are not to be missed.
Where to get a culture fix
Milan has more than its fair share of museums, but Pinacoteca di Brera is among the finest. It houses one of the largest and most prestigious collections of Italian artworks, including paintings by Caravaggio and Andrea Mantegna. The Palazzo Reale hosts high-profile temporary exhibitions every year – visit before 24 September for an exhibition celebrating 100 years of the aforementioned Rinascente.
Where to get out of town
For anyone passionate about wine, the world-famous regions of Barolo and Barbaresco in the province of Langhe (pictured) are just a two-hour drive from the city centre. The winery of Giuseppe Rinaldi – considered one of Italy’s most famous producers of Barolo wine – is well worth a visit, as is his hometown Vigevano, in the heart of Italy’s shoemaking region.
Interview by Elizabeth Wilkinson
This article has been tagged Destination, Culture