I did a week-long Eurotrip the week prior and while my sister departed for the United States after our last stop in Athens, Greece, I thought I should take a pit stop in the fashion capital before heading home. Besides, Milan has been on my list for some time, however, I could never justify flying alllllllll the way from New York just for this city. Post 36 hours, I believe I made the right choice adding it to my European adventure week because 36 hours is the perfect time to get the full gist of Milan. Should after reading you decide to add Milan to your travel hopefuls – which you totally should- make sure it is part of a longer trip to other Italian cities or other European destinations to get the full bang for your buck.
Food
I arrived in the evening so the first thing on my mind was not fashion or culture, it was food! Milan gets an automatic bump up in the food category just by nature of being in Italy. What surprised me though was the amount of meat (i.e veal and pork) based meals they had in all of the restaurants visited. After chatting with some of the locals, I realized this is very common to Milan. In fact, some of their signature meals are cassoeula (pork and green veggies based dish) and risotto alla Milansese (risotto with bone marrow).
Proudly being the more basic traveler type, all I wanted was pasta and pizza. There is one restaurant that literally CAME ALL THE WAY THROUGH in satisfying my cravings. My friend Chi recommended going to Restaurante da Oscar upon my arrival and I’m so glad she did. Upon the first 5 minutes of them opening for dinner, they were turning people away for the rest of the night, so I would definitely recommend getting here early or call in advance for reservations.
I was lucky enough to get a seat across from this man (read, fineee man from the Italian countryside) as I waited for my order. The atmosphere felt so familial, with Oscar, the man for whom the restaurant is named coming over to chat in Italian (and pinch my cheeks lol) before he gave a speech to the entire restaurant which subsequently erupted in laughter and applause. I ordered both the carbonara and the salmon tagliatelle. The portion size is big, so no need to order two unless you’re like me and tend to order with their stomach and not your head (or wallet) when hungry.
Another food place to note is Bar Luce, a quaint coffee and treat shop designed by Wes Anderson, director of films including Isle of Dogs and The Grand Budapest Hotel. The interior of Bar Luce is something reminiscent to 1950s Italian films and thus provides a great backdrop as you drink a cup of expresso or take those insta-worthy shots we all want on vacation!
Some other food options I did not get to but were recommended along the way included IL Massimo del gelato Milano for a sweet treat and La risacca 6 for a full meal.
Culture
There is truly much more to this city besides fashion and I was determined to explore it. You simply cannot visit Milan without stopping to see the Duomo di Milano. The Duomo is Milan’s famous cathedral that took over 400 years to build. Post a visit to the Duomo, I stopped by the nearby L.O.V.E sculpture, commonly referred to as the middle finger sculpture because it is, in fact, a sculpture of the middle finger. It is speculated to signify an “F you” to Italian bankers and a reminder of the 2008 economic crisis that affected Italy. It draws a wayyyy smaller crowd than the visit to the Duomo, but can provide a great opportunity for both reflection and even funny pictures and videos.
As we all know, Milan doesn’t boast the same number of cultural attractions as let’s say Rome, but two neighborhoods that are must sees are Brera and Navigli. Brea, which is very close to the touristy Duomo provides a ton of cafes, bars, and shops ready to be explored. While I had not visited, there is a famous art gallery, Pinacoteca di Brera, that may be worth you checking out. Navigli is a neighborhood with tons of canals matching the overall bohemian vibe of the area and is the ideal spot for nightlife in Milan.
Fashion
Of course, I had to use a ton of my limited time to explore fashion while in Milan. The list literally goes on and on but a few to note include the Gucci flagship store which at times hosts events for the public (there was an event for children happening in an area on the first floor when I visited) and The Armani Solos, a fashion museum dedicated to the style of Giorgio Armani.
Good news. There are tons of Milan-centric shopping experiences besides the high-end designers. I mean, let’s be honest, I didn’t actually buy anything from those luxury shops. I left with nothing in my hands besides glasses of champagne. However, if you still want to get the Milan fashion experience outside of luxury brands, consider checking out clothing and concept store 10 corso como in Brera or Milanese designer Marta Ferri’s store named after her.
And viola! In just 36 hours, you would have seen and experienced all the highlights of Milan. If you end up trying any of the places I noted, be sure to let me know!
