Table Of Contents
Milan is a mosaic of unique neighborhoods, each with its own style and charm. From the historic charm of the Centro, to the residential and multicultural areas of the more suburban districts, strolling through Milan’s neighborhoods means traveling between art, fashion and innovation, passing through environments that change radically within a few subway stops. Whether you’re in search of history, the latest fashionable clubs or corners of authentic Milanese life, each area of Milan will surprise and engage you. This guide is an invitation to explore every corner of the city and discover its goodies.
Historic Center
Let’s start from the Centro Storico, a neighborhood where most of Milan’s historical monuments are concentrated. The Duomo, in all its majesty, stands on the square of the same name, which is right next to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Here, you can find all the biggest luxury stores, from Gucci to Prada, and also the Marchesi 1892 pastry shop, one of the oldest and most renowned in the city, where you can’t fail to stop and taste a slice of their Aurora cake. In the central part of the gallery stop at the mosaic of the bull, point the heel of your right foot and make three turns-it is said to bring good luck!
Going straight ahead, you will arrive at Teatro alla Scala, the famous home of Italian and international opera. If you’re hungry, you’ll find Luini’s famous panzerotti in the Galleria area, which for a few euros will satiate you until aperitivo time, which you can have at Terrazza Aperol or at Duomo 21 for a great view of the cathedral. A ten-minute walk from the cathedral or by taking the M1 to Cairoli, you’ll find Castello Sforzesco and Sempione Park, where in summer there is often music and outdoor cinema. Finally, a hidden and not-so-touristy gem in the area is the Cardinal Ildefonso Schuster House, where there are often classical concerts and exhibitions.
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Transportation convenience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – a real treat? Take the line 19 streetcar that runs past the cathedral!
Brera
One of Milan’s richest areas, where among flower-filled balconies, art galleries and small boutiques there is a bohemian atmosphere. Art dominates in this neighborhood. The Pinacoteca di Brera is in fact located around here, a real gem for lovers of ancient and modern art. Inside is also the fine Caffè Fernanda, with views of the inner courtyard and Canova‘s majestic statue of Napoleon Bonaparte. Artists and art enthusiasts often roam this neighborhood, where the prestigious Academy of Fine Arts is also located.
On the gastronomic side, Brera is known for historic cafes and sophisticated eateries, including Clotilde, located in Piazza San Marco, and certainly one cannot fail to mention Jamaica, also known as the artists’ café, through which Ungaretti and Quasimodo also passed. One of the latest openings in the area is Gloria Osteria, a fine Italian restaurant ideal for a special evening in the heart of Brera.
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Navigli
A young neighborhood full of history and clubs, the Navigli area perfectly combines culture and nightlife. To get there you can take the M2, which will take you directly to Porta Genova, the heart of the Navigli. From there you can walk along the Naviglio Grande and stop at one of the many clubs in the Darsena area. We recommend La Prosciutteria, or if you want to move a bit Frizzi e Lazzi and Una Cosa Bistrot by Ofelé. More rhythmic and moved toward Barona is Arca, where there are often fantastic DJ sets.
Right from the Darsena you will see the huge and historic Arco di Piazzale XXIV Maggio, through which the streetcar line 3 passes that will take you to the Duomo, passing by the Colonne di San Lorenzo. If you are a vintage and vinyl lover, this is the area for you! Every Sunday from about 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., on the banks of the Naviglio Grande stretches the Porta Genova vintage market, where you can find real treasures.
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Sant’Ambrogio and Ticinese
In the immediate vicinity of the Navigli we find the Sant’Ambrogio and Ticinese areas. In the former, there is the Basilica of the same name, a masterpiece of Romanesque art, built between 379 and 386 at the behest of Bishop Ambrose, the city’s patron saint. The Ticinese district is famous for its lively atmosphere, similar to that of the Navigli, although more historic and underground venues can be found here. For a sweet treat, stop by the historic Pasticceria Cucchi, a family-run establishment that has been in the area since 1936. If, on the other hand, you’re in the mood for wine and good music, then stop by Gesto.
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Island
A neighborhood where historic buildings meet huge skyscrapers and urban forests.Isola is a particular neighborhood, where you can find clubs with innovative concepts but also classic bars immersed in crazy locations. A young area, connected by the modern M5 and Porta Garibaldi station, where startups and multinationals have taken root in the nearby Piazza Gae Aulenti.
This neighborhood is also home to Bosco Verticale, two modern residential towers covered in vegetation. If you’re in the neighborhood, stop by and have a drink at Frida, a somewhat hidden eatery consisting of a minimalist structure and plants climbing among iron beams, at the center of which hangs a chandelier resembling a full moon.
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Porta Venezia
A central, multicultural neighborhood whose subway stop features rainbow walls. Porta Venezia is ideal for those who love shopping, possible in nearby Corso Buenos Aires, and a bit of nightlife but do not want to give up a green space in the city center. In fact, the Indro Montanelli Gardens extend into this neighborhood , inside which is the Planetarium of Milan, right next to the Museum of Natural History.
In this area, trendy clubs alternate with splendid bars and restaurants, including the famous LùBar. The bar is located inside the Galleria d’Arte Moderna and is characterized by its large eighteenth-century windows, marble colonnades and numerous plants that decorate it. Equally beautiful and famous, there is also the historic Bar Basso in Porta Venezia, where Milan’s aperitif culture was born.
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CityLife
A futuristic neighborhood where internationally renowned architects Isozaki, Hadid and Libeskind changed Milan’s skyline with the Three Towers. CityLife was born in the area of the former Fiera Campionaria and today is the symbol of the most modern Milan, among green parks, luxury residences and a shopping center that blends perfectly with pedestrian plazas and public art installations.
There is a futuristic atmosphere here, where, however, there is no lack of a large green space, the CityLife public park, within which ArtLine Milano, an open-air contemporary art itinerary with permanent installations by Italian and international artists, including Pascale Marthine Tayou’s Coloris, is developed.
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Porta Romana
A purely university and residential neighborhood, Porta Romana is located in a very well-connected, where there is certainly no shortage of clubs. Here, you will find Bocconi University, which extends its campus and residences right in the heart of the neighborhood, making it a very popular area for students.
For this reason, here you can find some of the best places for aperitifs, such as Officina or Fonderie Milanesi, the iconic Giodocet where all the “bocconians” stop for a coffee and of course Bao Bing, for a delicious oriental lunch break. If you are looking for a relaxing and atmospheric place, this area is home to the Bagni Misteriosi, which in summer is open as a swimming pool and solarium, while in winter it turns into a beautiful skating rink.
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NoLo (North of Loreto)
NoLo, which stands for “North of Loreto,” is a neighborhood located in the northeastern part of Milan, characterized by a vibrant, multicultural and creative atmosphere. Originally a suburban area, NoLo has gone through a profound urban transformation, becoming today a reference point for artists, musicians and young creative people. The neighborhood stretches between Via Padova and Viale Monza and is home to a wonderful street art scene, numerous trendy clubs, colorful spaces com piazza Spoleto, also known as “Rainbow Square.”
One place to stop by if you are in the neighborhood is definitely Mosso, an inclusive space located between Trotter Park and Via Padova, born from the redevelopment of a former boarding school. It is a true social ecosystem that combines restaurant, pizzeria, bar and cultural spaces.
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Moscova
Located between Brera, Porta Garibaldi and the Monumental Cemetery, Moscova is one of Milan’s liveliest neighborhoods, perfect for those seeking a mix of elegance, nightlife and design. Its streets are bustling with historic clubs, discos, fashion boutiques and numerous gourmet restaurants. The area revolves around Corso Garibaldi and Via della Moscova, with easy access to the M2 subway that quickly connects the entire city.
Also in the area is Milan’s Chinatown, developed along Via Paolo Sarpi. This multiethnic neighborhood, among the largest Chinese settlements in Italy, offers traditional stores, authentic street food and a myriad of Asian restaurants. Its proximity to Sempione Park, the Brera Art Galleries and the nightclubs of Corso Como makes Moscova ideal for anyone who enjoys a dynamic neighborhood life.
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San Siro
A neighborhood with a sporty and popular soul, San Siro is famous for the majestic Meazza stadium that attracts fans from all over the world, but it offers much more. In fact, the district is also famous for hosting concerts by international startups, such as Dua Lipa, Metallica and Travis Scott, in the space of the La Maura Hippodrome.
Perfect for those who love outdoor sports, this area is home to large green spaces such as the Montagnetta di San Siro, which during the day is ideal for family walks or jogs, while at sunset it transforms into a magnificent vantage point. There is no shortage of renowned restaurants such as Ribot, known particularly for its wide and fine selection of meats and wines, but there are also more down-to-earth places such as Trattoria della Pesa 1902, where you can enjoy true Milanese cuisine.
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Lambrate
Lambrate is a historic district of Milan located in the northeastern part of the city, with origins dating back to Roman times. Until the late 1900s, this area was an important industrial center that housed factories of big names such as Lambretta. Today, thanks to urban regeneration processes and its proximity to the Milan Polytechnic, Lambrate is known as a creative district, the heart of Fuorisalone, and a space full of art and design workshops, making it one of the city’s most transforming neighborhoods. Where to grab a bite to eat in the area? Obviously at the Forno di Lambrate!
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Calvairate/Porta Molise
Of all perhaps the least known, this neighborhood in the southeastern part of Milan deserves special mention. Here, in fact, is the Ex Slaughterhouse, an industrial complex established in the 1920s that for decades was the heart of the city’s slaughtering industry. Closed in 2001, today the Ex Macello is an event space where some of the most famous DJs such as Marco Carola and Alex Wann have played, and is at the center of a major urban regeneration project called ARIA, which aims to transform the area into a model of social and environmental sustainability.
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