This insider's city guide has been a long time in the making. We've eaten in countless Milan restaurants, dined in the best foodie gems and visited the latest local hotspots. We've also asked the most discerning locals we know to share their favourite hangouts – whether brand new or classic institutions. We bring you our hand-picked selection of our favourite places in Milan right now.

Whether you're looking for a chic design hotel, a cosy boutique gem, or a luxurious 5-star haven, here is our pick of the best places to stay in Milan.

A luxury address that blends classic contemporary style with oriental luxury ...

With an enviable location only minutes from La Scala and Milan's glamorous Golden Triangle luxury shopping district, the Mandarin Oriental sets the bar for luxury in Milan. Set across four elegant 18th-century buildings, the hotel features glamorous interiors designed by architect Antonio Citterio. The spacious rooms and suites offer bespoke furnishings, oak floors, plush velvets and spa-like bathrooms in Italian marble. After an afternoon’s indulgence at the state-of-the-art spa, sip cocktails in the dramatically monochrome Mandarin Bar before enjoying a lavish meal at the Michelin-starred Seta by chef Antonio Guida, the Mandarin Oriental’s elegant courtyard restaurant.

Via Andegari 9 Milan, 20121
mandarinoriental.com  |  +39 02 8731 8888

An urban luxury hotel concept in Milan’s design-led fashion district ...

Following a lavish €150 million renovation, a former 1920s bank has been transformed into a sleek, 5-star urban sanctuary designed by acclaimed Italian architect, Italo Rota. The hotel's 154 rooms feature the best of Italian furniture design, including dramatic Artemide lighting, Driade furnishings and Meritalia chairs. Enjoy an aperitivo with panoramic views of Milan Cathedral in the background, followed by dinner at one of the hotel’s in-house Italian restaurants. The futuristic Boscolo Exedra SPA features a waterfall, six treatment rooms, floatation tank, sauna and hammam. €€€

Corso Giacomo Matteotti, 4, 20121 Milan
milano.boscolohotels.com  |  +39 02 7767 9611

A luxurious sanctuary nestles within an 18th-century palace ...

Nestled within an opulent 18th-century Milanese palazzo, the Bulgari Milan draws upon the luxury brand’s impeccable style and sophistication. No expense has been spared in 58 beautifully-appointed room and suites which enjoy views over the 4,000 square meter private garden which once belonged to a 16th-century monastery. Don’t miss a swim in the hotel’s gilded indoor swimming pool, followed by a spa treatment at the sleek Bulgari Spa. Evenings at the Bulgari Hotel begin with al fresco cocktails at Il Bar, followed by dinner in the glamorous Il Ristorante. You'll also be situated in the heart of the city, in Milan's Golden Triangle luxury shopping district. €€€

Via Privata Fratelli Gabba 7B, 20121 Milan
bulgarihotels.com  |  +39 02 805 8051

A family-run boutique hotel on the banks of the Naviglio Grande Canal ...

A gorgeous vintage hideaway with an irresistible sense of style, The Yard Hotel combines contemporary luxury with retro flair. The individually-decorated rooms are full of quirky treasures, such as hat boxes, vintage luggage, gleaming walnut antique desks and romantic desk lamps. The Doping Club lounge bar draws a hip crowd with its creative cocktails and sultry ambiance. €€

Piazza XXIV Maggio 8, 20123 Milano
theyardmilano.com  |  +39 289 415 901

Contemporary luxury on the doorstep of Il Duomo and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II ...

The 5-star Park Hyatt Milano brings the trademark elegance and service of the Hyatt brand to the heart of Milan. Situated within an 18th-century palace, the Park Hyatt Milan was redesigned by American architect, Edward Tuttle, fusing modern and traditional Baroque influences. The 106 contemporary rooms feature stylish interiors accented by hand-laid Venetian stucco and Italian marble soaking tubs, and feature either city or courtyard views. For added indulgence, the Spa at Park Hyatt Milan is also one of the city’s finest, featuring a whirlpool that glitters with 24-carat gold leaf. €€€

Via Tommaso Grossi 1, 20121 Milan
milan.park.hyatt.com  |  +39 02 8821 1234

One of the city’s best value budget-chic hotels ...

Set within an early 20th-century building, the moderately sized UNA Maison Milano hotel offers 27 comfortable guest rooms at affordable prices. What sets this hotel apart is UNA Maison Milano’s personalised service: with so few rooms, each guest is assigned a personal assistant to ensure that they are well taken care of during their stay. The ‘Pillow Wow’ menu will ensure that you have a sound night’s sleep, while a superb location in the heart of the city will place you close to iconic landmarks such as the il Duomo cathedral. €

Via Giuseppe Mazzini, 4 20123 Milan
unahotels.it  |  +39 02 85605

Quintessential Italian sophistication by Giorgio Armani ...

Top Italian designer Giorgio Armani’s ever-expanding empire includes this 95-room luxury hotel in the heart of Milan’s fashion district. Set within a 1930s rationalist palazzo topped with a three-story glass atrium, the hotel reflects the designer’s sleek, minimalist aesthetic. The spacious rooms are fitted with Armani Casa furnishings and feature Japanese-inspired dark lacquered woods. Upon arrival, guests are assigned a ‘lifestyle manager’ who will tend to your every need. The top-floor spa boasts an infinity pool overlooking the city’s red-tile rooftops and the Duomo. €€€

31 Via Manzoni, 20121 Milan
milan.armanihotels.com  |  +39 02 8883 8888

A theatrical design hotel in the heart of Milan's upscale shopping district ...

Housed in an elegant Art Nouveau mansion, Chateau Monfort is distinguished for its fairytale-inspired bedrooms and eye-popping colour palette. Elegant four-poster beds, curvaceous couches, wire birdcages and vintage trunks feature throughout the fantasy-like rooms. At Rubacuori by Venissa restaurant, enjoy Italian fare in a dining room filled with mirrors, accompanied by a pre- or post-dinner glass of wine in the brick-vaulted wine cellar. Make sure to relax and rejuvenate in the hotel's in-house Turkish Bath and pool. €€

Corso Concordia 1, 20129 Milano
hotelchateaumonfort.com  |  +39 02 776761

Enjoy your own luxury boutique suite with an eye on sustainable hospitality. ...

Housed within a former perfume factory, the Hotel Magna Pars is an all-suite retreat surrounded by Milan’s fashion and design district. The hotel's post-industrial, light-filled living spaces gleam in glass, steel and immaculate white, while the suites enjoy palatial dimensions, Lombardy leather furnishings, oak floors and well-stocked bookshelves. Behind a copper door, the Magna Pars’ secret cocktail bar is the ideal place to enjoy an aperitif, then move on to Da Noi In restaurant which serves Italian fare in a sophisticated dining room overlooking a garden scented by jasmine and roses. €€

Via Forcella 6, 20144 Milan
magnapars-suitesmilano.it  |  +39 02 8338371

This three-suite hotel will captivate design aficionados ...

In 1990, former fashion editor and celebrated publisher Carla Sozzani opened 10 Corso Como, a gallery and bookshop nestled within a beautiful Milanese building on one of the city’s trendiest streets. Over 25 years since, 10 Corso Como has grown into a multifaceted emporium of fashion and design, home to a chic café-restaurant, an art-filled rooftop terrace and the exclusive Hotel 3Rooms. The hotel’s three lavish suites showcase the best of mid-20th and 21st-century design. Each spacious suite occupies an entire floor of the 10 Corso Como building, where design lovers will be surrounded by pieces from Ray and Charles Eames, Arne Jacobsen, Eero Saarinen and Gio Ponti. Enjoy luxe toiletries from Hermès, cutting-edge sound systems and luxurious walk-in wardrobes. Head downstairs for a meal and drinks at 10 Corso Como’s plant-filled café-restaurant, where evenings can be spent lingering in the candlelit courtyard over a digestivo. €€€

Corso Como, 10, 20154 Milan
3rooms-10corsocomo.com  |  +39 02 626 163

Whether you're looking for a fabulous foodie dining spot, the city's best food market, or an authentic local trattoria, here is our pick of the best places to eat in Milan right now.

Savour two Michelin Star Italian fine dining at the luxurious Mandarin Oriental Milan ...

Winning its first Michelin Star only four months after opening, Seta is the glamorous Milanese restaurant run by acclaimed chef Antonio Guida, whose contemporary approach to traditional Italian cuisine has made this one of the most celebrated restaurants in Milan. Enjoy exquisitely-presented dishes such as fig-fed chicken breast with cannellini beans, seaweed cream, fregola and whelks; followed by the chocolate soufflé with cucumber sorbet, rosemary and mango. Seta’s expertly-curated wine list also features over 500 labels. €€€

Via Andegari, 9 20121 Milan
mandarinoriental.com  |  +39 02 8731 8897

A family-run contemporary restaurant inspired by Italian tradition ...

Nestled in a quiet neighbourhood just outside of Milan's city centre is 2-Michelin-starred Il Luogo di Aimo e Nadia, one of the city's best fine dining restaurants. Opened in 1962 by husband and wife team, Aimo and Nadia Moroni, Il Luogo di Aimo e Nadia offers some of the most refined, inventive and exquisitely flavoursome contemporary Italian cuisine in the country. The restaurant's tasting and a la carte menus are inspired by regional Italian cuisine and draw upon only the finest seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. Highlights of the menu include Aimo’s exquisite signature cipollotto e peperoncino – spaghettoni made with Senatore Cappelli durum wheat and a heavenly sauce made with slow-cooked green onions and pepper. €€€

Via Privata Raimondo Montecuccoli, 6  20147 Milan
aimoenadia.com  |  +39 02 416886

One of Milan’s foodie favourite dining spots in the hip Navigli district ...

Nestled along a canal dating back to 1179in Milan's Navigli district , Al Pont de Ferr is a rustic Italian osteria which has been serving delicious Italian food for over 30 years. Chef Vittorio Fusari has crafted a variety of Italian culinary offerings to suit your mood, including an à la carte menu and two tasting menus – one more traditional, the other more modern. Savour creative dishes such as jasmine-marinated Iseo lake “Coregone” fish with almond milk and toasted almonds; Brodetto ravioli with shellfish, rock fish, consommé with scampi and cardamom; and the superb tiramisu with olives “taggiasche”, coffee mousse and chocolate. Enjoy this warm, rustic and unpretentious dining experience. €€

Ripa di Porta Ticinese, 55, 20143 Milan
pontdeferr.it  |  +39 02 8940 6277

A favourite of Milan’s fashion and creative crowd ...

Offering traditional Italian cuisine, warmly attentive service and a classically elegant dining space, Da Giacomo is a fashionable local institution in Milan which showcases highly embellished, gilded interiors by acclaimed designer, Renzo Mongiardino. Don’t be surprised if you happen to see a few famous faces while you're dining here, such as top Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani enjoying a low-key dinner with friends. The menu is inspired by the Giacomo family’s generations-old ties to the Tuscan region, where you can enjoy dishes such as the bistecca alla fiorentina (grilled steak seasoned with black pepper, salt and olive oil), and homemade linguini with scampi and zucchini flowers. €€

6 Via Pascale Sottocorno, 20129 Milan
giacomoristorante.com  |  +39 02 76023313

An ultra-trendy hangout with a fetish for fashion ...

With a presence in Seoul, Tokyo and Shanghai, 10 Corso Como concept store is an international force to be reckoned with. Created by Carla Sozzani, this multi-functional arts complex features a cafe, bar, boutique hotel, gallery, concept store and fashion boutique – Madonna once brought 10 Corso Como to a standstill when shopping here, and Giorgio Armani is an avid fan. Settle in at the terrace cafe beneath a forest of trees filled with sparkling lights and enjoy dishes such as yellowfin tuna tartare with avocado or Milanese veal cutlet. €€

Corso Como, 10  20154 Milan
10corsocomo.com  |  +39 02 29013581

Mingle with Milan’s stylish crowd at this designer address ...

With an illustrious location just next door to the Teatro alla Scala, Cafe Trussardi brings a sense of sophisticated charm to this elegant address in central Milan. A haven of sleek, contemporary design, floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the trendy Vespa-lined street and a plasma TV screen showcases video art to the Bellini-sipping clientele. Perfect for a pre-dinner cocktail, post-show nightcap or elegant bistro dining, expect a curated menu of re-imagined Italian fare - think tails of prawn fried in tempura with crispy vegetables and Risotto with saffron and veal ragu. €€

Piazza della Scala, 5  20121 Milan
cafetrussardi.com  |  +39 02 80688201

This family-run institution has been synonymous with Milanese gastronomy for sixty years ...

Having first opened its doors in 1957, Il Salumaio di Montenapoleone is renowned for its simple and irresistible Italian cuisine, and has been run by the Travaini family for three generations. Set within the stately Palazzo Bagatti Valsecchi - a showpiece of neo-Renaissance architecture - Il Salumaio di Montenapoleone offers three eateries underneath the one roof: a renowned gourmet delicatessen, a chic café-bistro where breakfast pastries and early-morning coffees are served beneath 18th-century ceilings, and an elegant restaurant with a dramatic courtyard which is home to some of the most coveted tables in Milan. Once you're settled amidst the lofty columns and elegant porticos of the courtyard, order a crisp glass of Italian wine from the list of over 400 labels and peruse the classic Italian menu of creamy burrata with cherry tomatoes, Milanese veal cutlet and soul-satisfying fresh pasta dishes. €€

via S. Spirito, 10 / via Gesù, 5 - 20121 Milan
ilsalumaiodimontenapoleone.it  |  +39 02 76001123

Savour seasonal regional Italian cuisine in a converted former train station in Milan ...

Chef Cesare Battisti’s contemporary seasonal menu at Ratanà is inspired by his passion for regional Italian cuisine. Start with Ratanà’s aperitivo – small plates inspired by the current menu and served with specially selected beers and wines – then move on to heartier dishes such as the reimagined Fish and Chips, or oven baked chicken with peppers and olives. With its chalkboard menus, jazz soundtrack and charcoal palette, Ratanà attracts discerning foodies and offers a fun and highly enjoyable dining experience in Milan. $$

Via Gaetano de Castillia, 28  Milan, Province of Milan, Italy
ratana.it  |  +39 02 8712 885

Explore the vast flagship store of Eataly, an Italian culinary wonderland ...

One of Milan’s most eagerly anticipated openings, the Eataly food emporium is home to 5,000 square metres dedicated to Italian cuisine, produce and fresh ingredients – including pasta, wine, cheese, fresh meats and chocolate. You'll also find over 15 cafés and restaurants, including the Michelin-starred Alice restaurant, along with an in-house stage which showcases an exciting program of free events and music concerts. A must-visit for lovers of Italian cuisine.

Piazza XXV Aprile, 10, 20121 Milano  
eataly.net  |  +39 02 49497301

Savour authentic Italian cuisine at these charming Milanese trattorias.  ...

Over 90 years ago, Beatrice Ruggeri (Bice) and her husband Gino decided to open a classic Milanese trattoria in 1926. Today, Il Ristorante da Gino e Bice delivers the warm hospitality and Italian soul food which inspired Gino and Bice’s first ristorante to over 15 international outposts. Enjoy a Tuscan-inspired feast of homemade pasta, creamy risottos and fresh seafood. A culinary gem hidden just off the luxury shopping hub of via Montenapoleone, Il Bacaro del Sambuco is a favourite of Milanese locals due to its menu of simple and traditional Italian fare. Inside Il Bacaro del Sambuco's airy dining room, you'll find only a handful of marble tables, while outside, a picturesque ivy-clad courtyard offers the perfect setting for elegant alfresco dining. Feast upon fresh paccheri pasta served with pachino tomatoes and basil. The original Langosteria restaurant in Milan is a staple of the city’s seafood scene, and we also love its sister-restaurant, Langosteria Bistro, for its sumptuous Parisian bistro aesthetic. Enjoy fresh oysters, lobster linguine with cherry tomatoes, and spaghetti calamari e bottarga (spaghetti with squid and mullet). You’ll find Langosteria Bistro nestled amongst the canals of Milan’s Navigli district.

Il Ristorante da Gino e Bice:   Montenapoleone Area Via Borgospesso, 12 20121 Milan; +39 02 76002572; bicegroup.com
Il Bacaro del Sambuco:   Via Montenapoleone 13 Milan; +39 02 76394832; ilsambuco.it
Langosteria Bistro:   Via Privata Bobbio 2 20144 Milan; +39 02 58107802; langosteria.com

Whether you're looking for the perfect cocktail, the city's best wine bar, or a late-night club, here is our pick of the best places to drink and party in Milan right now.

This Miami-style rooftop bar is a playground for Milan’s glamorous crow ...

When twin brothers Dan and Dean Caten opened a restaurant and lounge bar on the rooftop of Milan’s historic Enel Building – the headquarters of their fashion brand, Dsquared2 – they set a new standard for nightlife in Milan. Home to two rooftop pools, two lounge bars and a stylish restaurant, Ceresio 7 flaunts panoramic views from every corner, offering the perfect setting to sip cocktails with Milan’s fashion crowd as they lounge on poolside cabanas. In the restaurant by chef Elio Sironi, dine in the intimate booths beneath Art Deco-style chandeliers and enjoy contemporary Italian dishes such as ravioli with black truffle, lobster linguine and lamb with artichokes, spring onion and rhubarb. €€

Via Ceresio, 7, 20154, Milan, Italy
ceresio7.com  |  +39 02 31039221

This clandestine speakeasy might be Milan’s most closely-guarded secret ...

1930 comes straight from the imaginations of Flavio Angiolillo and Marco Russo, the award-winning cocktal duo behind Milan’s trendy MAG Café. As 1930 is an invitation-only drinking den, you’ll need to charm the staff at MAG Café to secure a coveted reservation – if you’re lucky, your dedication will be rewarded with directions to Milan’s only hidden, speakeasy-style cocktail bar. Step within the dark and sultry world of 1930 Cocktail Bar, where quirky curiosities include plush antique chairs, beautiful gramophones, vintage sewing machines and china teapots. Behind the bar, 1930’s dapper mixologists are masters of their craft, shaking inventive cocktails to the sultry sounds of Edith Piaf and Ella Fitzgerald.

The stylish bar and private nightclub of Italian fashion designer, Giorgio Armani ...

Though no longer as exclusive as when it first opened in 2003, Armani Privé is Milan’s velvet-roped, late-night playground attracts international models, oligarchs and a suitably stylish crowd. Expect minimalist, sleek interiors, and an impressive roster of international DJs to keep the party happening late into the night. For the ultimate indulgence, reserve a private table with bottle service to guarantee entry, or dine beforehand at the club’s sister restaurant, Armani/Nobu, located upstairs. Dress to impress as Armani Privé’s door staff are notoriously selective. €€€

B/F Via Manzoni, 31, Milan
+ 39 02 6231 2655

The chic nightlife temple of flamboyant fashion designer, Roberto Cavalli ...

One of the city’s most stylish lounge bars, Just Cavalli Cafe showcases the signature style of Italian fashion designer, Roberto Cavalli. Cavalli partnered with acclaimed Israeli designer, Ron Arad in the design of the eye-catching central bar, built within a modern glass-box in Milan’s Parco Sempione. You'll find a myriad of indoor and outdoor spaces to lounge, drink and play in, where you can sip cocktails in the spacious outdoor garden illuminated by candelabras and torches, or head inside to groove on the dance floor. €€

Via Luigi Camoens c/o Torre Branca, 20121 Milan
milano.cavalliclub.com  |  +39 02 311 817

A picturesque alfresco garden bar perfect for for cocktails and prosecco ...

The H club>diana, otherwise known as the “Diana Garden bar”, is a Milan nightlife institution situated within the Sheraton Diana Majestic Hotel. Hosting over 800 people at any one time within the confines of its lush, verdant private garden, H club>diana is where Milan’s see-and-be-seen crowd can be found sipping champagne bellinis during the afternoons and refreshing Negronis during the evenings. The bar features a grand semi-circular Art Deco conservatory, where you can sink into cosy leather lounges with a well-crafted cocktail or a glass of Italian wine. €€€

Viale Piave, 42, 20129 Milan
hclub-diana.com  |  +39 02 20582081

The Bulgari Hotel’s elegant lounge bar surrounded by a lush garden ...

Surrounded by the private garden of a 16th-century monastery, Il Bar's imposing black resin oval bar is the centrepiece of this dramatic space, set against the backdrop of the hotel’s lush, verdant private garden which can be seen through a dramatic glass wall. Il Bar offers well-crafted classic and inventive cocktails, where the highlight is the signature Bulgari Cocktail, while guests can also dine from the menu of the hotel’s superb upscale restaurant, Il Ristorante, while sitting in the bar area. €€€

la Rinascente (7th floor) Via Santa Radegonda, 1 Milano
ilbarmilano.it  |  +39 02 805 8051

Dress to impress at this after-hours hotspot ...

One of Milan’s most fashionable venues, Byblos Milano has hosted famous party goers such as Paris Hilton, Boy George and One Direction. The central dance floor is a design feature in its own right, where you can dance the night away on a clear glass platform suspended over water. Surrounded by a lush garden, the club is known for its barely-lit spaces, futuristic light displays, hip-hop and house DJ sets. For easier entry, book a table at the restaurant before joining the after party. €€€€

Via Messina, 38 20154 Milano
byblosmilano.com  |  +39 338 8098326

Iconic Landmarks ...

Climb the towers of Milan’s iconic Il Duomo cathedral and admire the incredible sculpture work accompanied by panoramic views of Milan. Another quintessential landmark is Leonardo Da Vinci’s masterpiece, the Last Supper, situated next to the Santa Maria delle Grazie church. Italy’s premier opera house, the Teatro Alla Scala opened in 1778 and invites visitors into an opulent world of red velvet, glittering chandeliers and box seats. The Torre Velasca is a unique 1950’s skyscraper which towers 100 metres above the city, while the Pirelli Tower soars 127 meters high and offers beautiful panoramic views at sunset. For a fun and efficient way to explore the city, choose a guided bus tour with City Sightseeing Milan, during which you can leisurely hop-on/ hop-off as you like. 

The Best Gelato ...

One of the best cities in Italy to savour homemade gelato, Milan is home to a wealth of excellent gelaterias. One of the most popular is CioccolatItaliani, a stylish wonderland of Italian ice cream. The award-winning Grom is the vanguard of the new generation of gelaterias, offering a superb range of natural, colourless gelati made with ethically-sourced ingredients such as Venezuelan cocoa beans and Syrian pistachios. A more traditional gelateria is Gelateria Marghera, a favourite of local gelato aficionados.