Milan is widely known as the city of fashion. As the frenetic metropolis hosts the most anticipated week of the year, Milan Fashion Week Women’s Collection Fall-Winter 2023/24 from February 21st to 27th, the packed calendar features 165 activities, 70 presentations, 7 presentations by appointment and 29 events.
Between the fashion shows, one must take a break to enjoy the city’s world-famous museums and elegant restaurants. Combine art with fabulous dining to make for an unforgettable evening.
Here are 5 pairs of beautiful sites and delicious restaurants for your night in Milan:
Museo del Novecento and Giacomo all’Arengario Restaurant
The Museo del Novecento reflects Milan’s feverish cultural dynamism. Located inside the Palazzo dell’Arengario in front of the Duomo Cathedral, it hosts a collection of over four thousand pieces of work reflecting the development of 20th-century Italian art. Founded in 2010, this collection offers insights about the modern heritage of the city of Milan.
Housed inside of the Museo del Novecento is the famous Giacomo All’Arengario restaurant with a breathtaking view of Piazza del Duomo, a very popular choice of Milanese folks. Here you can taste the best of Milan's traditional cuisine, drink fabulous wine and enjoy what may be the best picture-perfect, postcard view of the city.
Museo Poldi Pezzoli and Trussardi alla Scala Restaurant
The Poldi Pezzoli Museum is housed in a stunning Milanese aristocratic residence of the late 19th-century and exhibits the private art collection of the nobleman Gian Giacomo Poldi Pezzoli d’Albertone. His passion for ancient weapons and armor led him, between 1846 and 1848, to buy several hundred objects, becoming the most important collector in Italy by the end of 1800. The art collection is among the richest in Europe. You can admire “La Dama” (Portrait of a Young Woman) painted in 1470 by Piero del Pollaiolo, considered one of the greatest masterpieces of Florentine portraiture of the Renaissance and the enchanting “Madonna del Libro” (Madonna of the Book) by Sandro Botticelli from 1480.
Complete your unforgettable visit with a stroll to Piazza della Scala, where you can enjoy lunch at the famous Trussardi alla Scala Restaurant. The establishment belongs to the fashion designer’s family and the menu is created by Giacomo Perbellini, a 2 Michelin star chef.
ADI Design Museum and Living Liqueurs and Delights
If you are passionate about fashion and all-things design, this new contemporary museum will be love at first sight. Here you will find everything that combines style, beauty and functionality of the 20th and 21st centuries with the aim of raising awareness and promoting design culture at both the national and international level. Since the museum opened in 2021, the permanent exhibit celebrates winners of the Compasso D’Oro, Italy’s highest award for industrial design. A delight for the eyes and spirit.
After visiting the museum, make your way to Living Liqueurs and Delights, a trendy spot next to the Arco della Pace. You’ll find something to please every taste from brunch to aperitivo to after dinner drinks.
Museo Nazionale Scienza e Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci and Officina del Riso Naviglio
This unique museum offers the largest permanent exhibition in the world dedicated to the genius of Leonardo da Vinci. Sprawling across 14,000 square feet are exhibits of art, antique volumes and installations that bring da Vinci’s work to life. Explore the brilliance behind da Vinci by seeing his work as an engineer and as well as the meaning of science, art, technology and Renaissance thought. Among the several fascinating objects, you’ll find one of the most incredible naval collections in all of Italy. Enjoy a visit inside the submarine, Enrico Toti, from the Cold War era and the AC72 catamaran, Luna Rossa, from the 2013 America’s Cup.
Take a break and drop into Officina del Riso Naviglio, a cosmopolitan venue featuring Mediterranean ingredients presented in Japanese sushi-style bites.
Pinacoteca di Brera and Pizzeria da Zero
Milan’s Brera neighborhood is the sophisticated heart of the city’s art, culture and dining scene. An essential outing in this area is a visit to the Pinacoteca di Brera, the most prominent art gallery in Milan. The gallery was officially established in 1809, although a first collection alongside the Accademia di Belle Arti and the Braidense National Library already existed since 1776, commissioned by Empress Maria Therese of Austria (Marie Antoinette’s mother). Under Napoleone Bonaparte, the museum became a beloved public art collection. Works by Raffaello, Piero della Francesca, Caravaggio, Tintoretto, Boccioni and many others make the Brera Gallery one of the most prominent art institutions in the world.
When it’s time to rest your feet, relax with a pizza and drink at the nearby Pizzeria da Zero. Named for its policy of zero flour, the crust is made from local grains and fresh ingredients made from 0-kilometer sources. This is one of the finest pizzeria’s in the city.
Barbara Benzoni
Barbara Benzoni was born in Milan and lives between Rome and Tuscany. She is devoted to USA, the land of courage and innovation. She’s Peter's super-lucky mum and Ale's wife. Cinema, art, good food and only beautiful things are the themes of her existence. With a degree in Italian literature and a Masters in Sports Management she can both enjoys books and basketball matches. In 25 years she has been organizing sport events all over the world and she’s been lucky enough to meet the greatest champs ever. Curiosity in everyday life and people are her drivers. Her personal icon is Mohammed Ali : "It's not bragging if you can back it up".