To really reach/understand a city you must live there or, at least, acting like you do. Nothing makes you feel more like a Milanese D.O.C. than stopping by Frida's on a Sunday morning to buy some flowers. Located in Brera this tiny shop has an extraordinary colour palette of flowers and plants. After that we just take a walk in the neighbourhood holding our bunch of Brassica Oleracea and our day is made.

First we should say the flaw, Trattoria Arlati is a bit far away from the city centre and not really easy to get to with public transport. Having said that, it’s the most charming restaurant where we’ve ever been. We always go there and always get the same menu, “Risotto al Salto” and “Ossobuco alla Milanese” of course, and it’s always delicious but is not just the food. In the 60’s it was really popular among artists, in the 70’s bands started to play in the basement and now when you get in you immediately feel it. It’s a charismatic place.

Home of the negroni sbagliato. God fun for an aperitivo served in a gigantic glass, especially popular during Salone del Mobile.

Founded in 2011, Paladini 8 is a space of 500 mq which includes a backyard, a bar/bistrot, a vinyl and book shop, an exhibition room, a coworking space and a bunch of private offices with professionals in the creative field. Concerts, exhibitions and events are organised every night. This place represents an active and important landmark in the new cultural and artistic scene of Milan.

The owners were an industrial family of the XX century. We’ve been there a couple of times and we suggest it to every friend who is coming to town. You walk through the villa in the exact way they left it. You can see their personal pictures framed in the living room, their wardrobes and drawers full of stuff, like a pair of silk scarves especially designed by Monsieur Christian Dior for the sisters Gigina and Nedda Necchi, even the big marble’s bathrooms designed, like the entire house, by the architect Piero Portaluppi are inspiring.