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The bar scene in Milan is characterized by aperitivo (happy hour) tradition; it’s a custom that exists throughout Italy, but Milan takes it far beyond the norm. In neighborhoods like the Brera and the Navigli district, the streets are crammed replete with bars with tables spilling onto the sidewalks, all offering free fare for the price of a beverage. Between the hours of 5pm and 8pm most any day of the week (Mondays are hit and miss), you’ll be offered anything from a small plate to a sumptuous buffet, along with popular concoctions like the omnipresent Aperol Spritz. It’s a not-to-be-missed part of visiting this city, and those who are staying for a few nights (or even just one night) should make a point of enjoying it before they leave. You can even embark on an aperitivo tour to save time and take advantage of a local’s knowledge of where to get the best fare and the tastiest cocktails.
The 10 Best Bars in Milan
1. Deseo • Sempione
Near the impressive piece of historical architecture known as the Arco della Pace (Peach Arch) located on the northwest corner of Sempione Park stands a cluster of bars that might offer the best aperitivo in all of Milan. And the best of the group is the very elegant and sleek Deseo. Open every evening (except some Mondays in winter), the tall room full of cream-colored walls and arched doorways lights up at night with glowing candles and chandeliers that hang above a truly impressive spread. You’ll find trout and other favorites from the nearby Lake District, as well as cured meats, cheeses, vegetables, fruits, pastas, and desserts (including several different fondue stations). The bar offers a huge selection of unconventional cocktails and well-known favorites to pair with the food, along with both indoor and outdoor seating. The establishment also does breakfast and lunch along with a Sunday-only brunch that runs from 12-4pm.
Area • +39 02 315 164
2. Cantine Isola • Chinatown
“While there is truly outstanding wine available in Milan, with numerous of the city’s dining establishments providing bottle after bottle of spectacular Northern Italian favorites like Barbera and Valpolicella, there’s a unexpected lack of bars focused on it, with the bulk leaning in on inexpensive aperitivo beverages instead. Thank heaven, then, for Cantina Isola. Here since 1896, the entire area is lined with wine along every wall and stacked into every nook and cranny. The Sarais family represents the newest in a prolonged line of owners to nurture the bar’s collection and delve into Italy’s renowned viniculture to surface a mix of great and reasonable possibilities for their patrons to enjoy. Whoever is working behind the counter recognizes them all, and will let you try literally anything in the store. All the wine makes for very little seating inside, so after you settle on a glass (or a bottle) head to the covered area just outside the entrance along the main drag of Milan’s Chinatown district and down a plate of aperitivo. If you go on a Tuesday, they frequently have recitals by Milanese poets, written and spoken in an ancient dialect that is exceptional to Milan.
.”Setting • +39 02 3315 249
3. Camparino in Galleria • Duomo
Campari fans: you absolutely must make your way to this bar located just off the huge open square (or plaza) in front of Milan’s famous Duomo. Campari is named after Gaspare Campari, who lived – and also operated a bar and restaurant – in the Vittorio Emauele II Galleria starting in 1867. And while the original Camparino Bar was damaged by Allied bombing in World War II, the Campari family has maintained a presence in the Galleria ever since. This bar shares much of the same original layout as the original Camparino Bar, and as the brand’s flagship store in Milan, it’s a must-see for any fan of the intensely herbal, bright red mixture. The place is standing room only; you’ll often see Italians in suits leaning up against the bar downing a Negroni while escaping the crowds out in the plaza. They do offer small appetizer plates as well (mostly Thursday-Saturday), but it’s mostly all about the Campari.
where it`s located • +39 02 8646 4435
4. Bar Brera • Brera
The Brera district in Milan is a pleasant area to stroll around and near many impressive attractions, such as the Duomo cathedral, the Pinocoteca di Brera art gallery, and Sforza Castle. Bar Brera is directly at the entrance to the district, situated at the corner of Via Brera and the Pinocoteca. It has an informal environment, with straightforward service, reasonably priced drinks, and a relaxed, creative atmosphere. However, watching the people passing through is the best part. A constant flow of art students, tourists grabbing espresso, locals, and others maintaining an enjoyable and unpredictable vibe. While not the top food option in Brera, it is a good place to start the evening with an inexpensive drink and experience Milanese street life. Another benefit: the indoor tables are near outlets for charging a phone.
Location • +39 02 877 091
5. Luca e Andrea • Navigli
There is no shortage of bars in the Navigli area of Milan, but it’s difficult to pass Luca e Andrea without being drawn in by its smiling patrons and warm burgundy walls. The staff is unusually friendly (which isn’t always the case in the Navigli bar scene), and the balanced cocktails alongside indoor-outdoor seating combined with food that surpasses the usual snacks fare makes this an approachable and fun place to settle into regardless of season. Bonus: unlike most bars in Milan which tend to only have tables seating four patrons, there are actually stools at the bar here, creating a more social atmosphere if you’re alone.
Venue ‧ +39 02 5810 1142
6. La Chiesetta • Chinatown
During World War II, almost 70% of the buildings in Milan were destroyed in Allied bombing raids, making a historic bar like La Chiesetta a rarity. Situated in a nearly thousand-year-old nun’s convent (though nobody seems to know its exact age), the structure astonishingly survived the raids, and its Gothic arches stand out amid the more updated and rebuilt architecture surrounding them. Inside you will find dimly-lit tables and walls filled with frescoes (a few of which are originals) as well as a circular bar toward the back tended by staff who are happy to teach you all about the building’s history. The service can be rather leisurely in the course of all that storytelling, but it just gives you more time to take in the ambience and enjoy the irony of a dive bar in such an unusual setting. Light snacks are available, but it’s not a great aperitivo destination; consider it more as a post- (or pre-) dinner destination.
Venue • +39 02 8646 4435
7. Nottingham Forest • Monforte
At Nottingham Forest, the compact space (undoubtedly not suitable for massive groups) is literally filled to the rafters with a vaguely exotic assortment of hammocks, leaves, and maritime knickknacks. It`s unclear what connection it has to a woodland, or Robin Hood for that matter, but it surely is an enjoyable place to have a drink. The menu is similarly packed, with pages and pages of fanciful descriptions for the residential cocktails (menus are accessible in both English and Italian). That fancifulness extends to the beverages themselves, which are built for utmost visual impact. The “Long Box,” for instance, is a rye-based mixture that comes served in a humidor-like wooden case, which the waiter ceremoniously opens to expose plumes of aromatic smoke. There`s a lengthy bar with stools on hand, a rarity in Milan, which makes for superb people-watching (or interacting) if you can rip your eyes away from the wild décor. Just be sure and get supper beforehand, as there`s no space for a kitchen, and no (or at least sparse) aperitivo. No WiFi either, so prepare to utilize precious international data – or just put your phone away and enjoy the kitsch.
Map pinpoint Phone +39 041 528 5849
8. Bar STRAF • Duomo
The area around the Duomo is full of overpriced restaurant and bar options that locals and savvy travelers tend to avoid. Not so with the bar at the boutique STRAFhotel. It’s a common spot for locals to meet up for an outing in the city center, particularly around the aperitivo hour. Locals mix with out-of-towners in the outdoor seating area regardless of the weather – umbrellas, comfy couches, and smartly-placed heaters make it enjoyable year-round. Art adorns the indoor space that manages to be both industrial and warm, with large windows that face one of the busy side streets just off the Duomo’s main piazza. While the menu does have a few mains, it leans more heavily into inexpensive quick bites like soups and cheeses; perfect for sightseers taking a quick pit stop. There are musical events hosted here most nights, with a mix of DJs and live acts to entertain patrons while they sip on fancy cocktails, affordable by-the-glass wines, or just a well-executed Aperol Spritz.
Venue • +39 33 9796 9095
9. Champagne Socialist • Porta Venezia
Milan has undergone significant changes recently to welcome more visitors, but it still maintains a gritty ambiance compared to other destinations in Italy. Champagne Socialist proudly wears that grittiness even while serving you an excellent Barbera wine with their above-average appetizer selection. The décor alludes to the war-torn history of the city with an bombed-out basement aesthetic full of peeling paint and scribbled phrases on the walls inspired by graffiti and Russian propaganda. This is a place for locals who love wine, as well as the younger, more fashionable clientele that have migrated to the Porta Venezia neighborhood in recent years. However, nobody comes just to be trendy, and rare tourists are greeted warmly by the friendly staff. Those looking to explore Milan`s more soulful side will be pleased they made the trip.
Setting • +39 02 2047 295
10. Mag Cafe • Navigli
Dark and filled with strange clutter – in addition to a significant amount of premium liquor – the Mag Café used to be a pharmacy, and the extensive menu of cocktail possibilities seems like it may have been devised by a mad researcher. Dozens of house specials can be found here, generally with esoteric descriptions that make it difficult to know precisely what you may end up with (although the main spirits involved are usually made clear). No matter; whatever you opt for, it’s very likely it will be expertly crafted by the skilled bar staff, who manage an always-crowded room with panache and good humor. Be prepared to wait a bit for your drink however, as the type of elaborate mixology practiced here takes time to prepare. Happily, there is plenty to entertain you as you enjoy one of the most convivial bars in all of Milan. Wander around and check out the curios stacked in every corner, or just sit back in a cushy antique chair and take in the clandestine-style ambience. The place also does a popular weekend breakfast and of course, this being Milan, daily aperitifs.
Venue • +39 02 8050 8715
More Great Milan Bars
11. B Cafe • Duomo & San Babila
The bare brick walls and eclectic decor provide this place with a hip feel, but the staff is welcoming and cocktails are reasonably priced. Live jazz is often showcased both here and at sister venue B Restaurant nearby Area – +39 02 8909 3317
12. Bodega del Tasca • Navigli & San Lorenzo
Local hangout serving Spanish small plates perfect for grabbing a bite alongside area residents during the pre-dinner hours.
Area • +39 02 8378 721
13. El Tombon de San Marc • Brera
Completely refurbished classic bar with lavish cocktails and a straightforward menu of Milanese classics and salads.
Area • +39 02 6599 507
14. N’Ombra de Vin • Brera
Historic wine cellar that has served notable figures from Mozart to Napoleon over the years; one of Milan’s favorite hangouts, specializing in rare wines and cured meats.
Area • +39 02 6599 650
15. Bar Magenta • Zona Magenta
A building constructed during the art nouveau period that is now an iconic landmark and busy restaurant/bar in Milan, open very early until late at night. Good menu options and inexpensive drinks available.
Area • +39 02 8053 808
16. Armani Bamboo Bar • Quadrilatero d’Oro
Where preferable to imbibe while shopping in Milan than at the Armani Hotel? Its Bamboo Bar exudes class, coolness, and spaciousness, with perspectives over the Quad towards the Duomo.
Area – +39 02 8883 8702
17. Darsena Craft Beer • Navigli
Fantastic canal-side brewery where you can order from various draft beer selections available by the liter. Fun food options too.
Area – +39 339 595 4666
18. UGO Cocktail Bar • Navigli
This quirky bar located just off the popular Naviglio Grande on Via Casale has an interior design reminiscent of an English manor along with creative, circus-themed cocktail selections. Reservations are recommended, especially if wanting a table, as the place becomes quite busy. It is closed on Mondays.
Area – +39 02 3981 1557
19. Tutti Fritti • San Lorenzo
Craft beer and fried cuisine in an eccentric, gritty-camp bar with plenty of strange objects to gaze at and rock music on the playlist.
LOCATION • +390289052541
20. The Spirit • Porta Romana
Refined, artistic cocktails skillfully mixed by stylishly dressed craftspeople in an elegantly designed subterranean bar adopting aspects of a concealed speakeasy.
Area – +39 02 8457 0612
21. El Brellin • Navigli
Great atmosphere inside or out at this picturesque canalside bar-restaurant, right alongside the old fork in the canal where washers used to do laundry; excellent cocktails and good food, too.
Area – +39 02 5810 1351
22. The Doping Bar • Navigli
Anticipate hip locals dressed to impress as mixologists dressed as dandies create innovative and refined cocktails (a strict “no Mojitos, Long Island Iced Teas, or energy drinks” policy is maintained). Open evenings and for Sunday brunch with live jazz (reservations needed).
Area – +39 02 8941 5901
23. Bottega del Vino La Coloniale • San Vittore
This authentic bodega operates as a wine shop and deli during the day and a bar at night. Very traditionally styled, but constantly busy with locals due to the great atmosphere.
Spot • Phone number +39 02 5810 2346
