When Christmas approaches, the city is transformed. Everything becomes more beautiful, brighter, more cheerful and festive. Luminaries, twinkling trees, decorations and lights on every street. Everything twinkles and helps to make even more evocative an atmosphere that is already quite enthralling in itself. How can you not get excited at Christmas? Especially in Milan dotted with trees everywhere and so many things to do and discover? A bit like this panoramic terrace in Milan that turns into an atmospheric winter forest.
It feels like stepping inside a mountain lodge. One of those Trentino chalets with wooden logs, chairs with covers, lighted trees and lit lanterns. The only difference is that instead of having the snow-capped mountains around you are surrounded by the Milanese skyline with its skyscrapers and buildings.
The winter forest in the panoramic terrace in downtown Milan
We are in the charming Terrazza Palestro, on the 4th floor of the Swiss Center. Renowned location, exclusive and elegant overlooking the Indro Montanelli Gardens, known for its excellent food&drink proposals so much so that it has become a reference point in the Milanese food and wine scene.
This very rooftop terrace is transformed for the winter period (until February 2025) into a magical winter forest combining urban charm with the magic of nature, for a charming atmosphere in the heart of the city where to spend a pleasant evening. Snow-covered trees, logs, pine cones, branches, and wraparound lights give the beautiful dehors an enchanted touch with a focus on sustainability. The beautiful spruce trees in sod from the nursery will later be donated to the WWF Bosco di Vanzago Nature Reserve to help reforest and protect biodiversity.. Soft fur coats and warm blankets are available for guests to protect themselves from the merciless cold of Milan.
Ideal location where to sip a good glass of wine or one of the original themed proposals created by bartender Andrea Frontera such as Elisir del bosco prepared with whiskey infused with Shiitake mushrooms, clove syrup, Disaronno, lemon and Angostura or the Forest Negroni with mountain pine gin, vermouth, elderberry bitters and rosehip syrup. In addition to the culinary offerings of Chef Stefano Mocellin, who brings the flavors of Italian tradition with a creative twist, and whose winter menu features first courses such as porcini-stuffed tortelli with pumpkin in two textures, porcini powder and lemon thyme or simple and tasty main courses such as hazelnut-scented braised beef and whipped potato cream.
Where: Palestro Street, 2. Through February 2025