Discover the places to be in the Foggy Fashion Town

EXPO 2015 has just opened and Milan will host, over the next 6 months, events and visitors from all over the world. As Italy’s one of Stylight’s 14 awesome markets, we know Milan quite well, especially as everybody knows that “Fashion” in Italy almost always means the “foggy town”.

So, if you’re planning on being in town for business or, why not, for a weekend, here’s our piece of advice to live the perfect Milanese day. Or at least part of it, dài! Be ready to rid your prejudices about the foggy town: there are not just Fashion Weeks, football matches and business meetings in Milan.

9.00am “Un espresso, per favore!”: key-words you need to learn to be a perfect Milan citizen. You can try the delicious brioches at Fioraio Bianchi Caffè, a flower shop with gourmet cuisine, or find some hipster vibes at Pavè, tasting its famous lemon crust pastry with charred meringue. If you happen to be in the lovely Brera area, stop by Di Viole Di Liquirizia, which also has wonderful patio, where you can taste its interpretations of international classics such as sacher, salted butter and caramel cupcakes, tarte tatin and strawberry scones.

11.00am Meet me at 10 Corso Como – the perfect meeting place for a business rendez-vous and pleasant chats. The fascinating location is a shop, a gallery and a cafè, founded by Carla Sozzani, sister of the well-known Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Italia Franca. You have until the 2nd June to discover the pictures in the World Press Photo 2015 contest!

1.30pm Once you’re in Italy, you definitely have to taste real Italian food: you can choose the charming Antica Focacceria San Francesco for Sicilian food (don’t miss the ‘Pasta ch’i sardi’) or Salsamenteria di Parma if you want to taste real Parma ham. Good Milanese risotto and schnitzel? Go to H Club at Diana Majestic Hotel. And yes, you could also choose something a little more exotic: try Zaza Ramen in Via Solferino; it’s definitely worth it.

3.30pm Terme di Milano: oh, yes. You can find incredible thermal baths in the middle of traffic jams and tram rails. And don’t be afraid of the old orange tram parked in the garden: it’s a bio-sauna that can reach up to 70°C in temperature!

7.00pm “L’Aperitivo” – with the capital “A”: there’s no reason or excuse strong enough for you to miss this real Milanese appointment if you’re spending some time in the Italian fashion capital. Call it ‘aperitivo’ or ‘happy hour’ (yep, you can be happy, very happy, in Milan!), you have to enjoy this traditional moment, drinking a Spritz or an evergreen Negroni Sbagliato, if you’re willing to try something stronger. Places to go? Ostello Bello for an easygoing and international atmosphere (you can also find a room there, as it’s a real hostel), N’Ombra de Vin for the perfect combination of tasty wine and Italian food or BhangraBar for an Indian inspired location close to Arco della Pace, a charming, cool area especially during the good seasons. Happy Hour top locations in Milan are usually posh and trendy and, during spring and summer, some of them give you the opportunity to discover and enjoy lovely hidden gardens and courtyards!

10.30pm What did we say about fashion? You can find it everywhere in Milan. That’s why if you’re looking for a posh, cool club, you can’t miss shaking a leg at Armani Privè, Just Cavalli Club or Byblos Club. And if you’re looking for an easygoing place to spend an evening, try the new Fabrique Milano or plan a trip to Circolo Magnolia.

Are you a fan of heights? If you’re lucky (I know – everybody tells you that Milan is always rainy, and it’s quite true…) you can have a drink at one of the nicest roof-top bars in town: the iconic location Terrazza Martini, the new Osteria con Vista at Terrazza Triennale (stop by the Triennale Design Museum before your drink!) or Ceresio 7, which also has a wonderful swimming pool.

What to do – A good trendsetter knows that in Milan there’s an opening or celebrating event every day. But if you’re visiting the town without knowing any locals keep in mind our advice. You shouldn’t miss a stop by the Darsena Dock, in the Navigli area, with its new pedestrian area of 75,000 square meters, closed to navigation since 1979, the canals are now open again for boating. Have a walk there at the sunset and you’ll definitely fall in love!

As fashion lovers we couldn’t avoid recommending a visit to the newly opened Armani Silos, a museum and event space that King Giorgio inaugurated exactly for the opening of the EXPO, with a retrospective exhibition curated by the man himself of his women’s and menswear from the past 40 years (600 outfits and 200 accessories!), celebrating Maison Armani’s 40th anniversary.

Don´t miss this: Everybody knows the charming Brera district: with its Pinacoteca, it’s definitely the perfect area to have a walk, do some shopping in the artisan clothing shops and get great bohemian vibe. Brera’s small boutiques offer some of Milan’s finest “Made in Italy” fashions!

Our last tip? As digital addicts, we need to tell you which apps you need to download: first of all, the official EXPO 2015 Milan app, to be updated with all the events, and secondly the ATM Milano public transport… if you don’t want to use Uber, taxis, Car2Go and Enjoy car sharing!

|By Ilenia Sarman|