Top Milanese Watering Holes – 8 Distinctive Drinking Venues That You'll Wish You'd Discovered Before Crafting Your Picture-Perfect Aperitivo Itinerary
Milan, a city renowned for its cultural heritage and artistic flair, boasts an impressive array of design-focused bars that seamlessly blend the past with the present. These establishments showcase Milan's rich history and artistic excellence, offering unique experiences to visitors and locals alike.
The city's spirited aperitivo tradition can be traced back to the elegant pre-performance social gatherings of the 18th century. These gatherings brought together the city's affluent socialites and foremost geniuses, such as author Alessandro Manzoni, poet Vincenzo Monti, composer Giuseppe Verdi, and conductor Umberto Toscanini. This tradition truly flourished with the emergence of Futurism in 1909, the era-defining art movement that celebrated the beauty and machine-aided dynamism of the modern world.
Fortunato Depero's timeless design of the Campari Soda bottle in 1932 marked a significant turning point in Milan's cocktail culture. Depero's design contributed to the creation of the world's first single-serve aperitif, symbolizing an iconic beverage that continues to lift spirits in contemporary Milan.
Visitors to Milan can now find numerous bars that embody the city's spirit, even when navigating the city at any hour of the day. Some of these establishments are at their most charming during the hours leading up to lunch or dinner, with scenic terraces or stylishly decorated rooms capturing the essence of Milanese elegance.
One such hidden gem is Club Giovanile Milano, situated in a former villa from 1900 in the heart of the Milano Certosa District. The grungy rooms of this establishment have been thoughtfully designed to embrace the building's past while exploiting its contemporary potential. Boasting an uplifting take on industrial interior design, Club Giovanile Milano features exposed, 'lived' cement walls, loft-style ceilings, and distressed tiled flooring, all complemented by bold accents and chrome decor detailing. The venue offers an ever-changing, seasonal menu inspired by the comforting power of food, alongside an array of experimentally assembled, bespoke cocktails and drinks.
Whether visitors prefer innovative recipes or striking interiors, Milan offers a wealth of options to indulge in the joy of aperitivo hour as only the Milanese know how. Other notable establishments on this list include Coke Tales, Onda Listening Bar, and Gesto Milano – each with their unique contribution to Milan's design heritage.
For those curious about Milan's design scene, it's worth noting that several entries on this list double as restaurants. One such example is Lubna, a Porta Venezia gem that offers traditional Italian dishes with an Oriental twist. The interiors of Lubna are boldly eclectic, boasting a diverse range of textures and colors that will captivate visitors. The location's themed rooms, such as the Disco Nostalgia and Almost Famous, further contribute to its appeal, as does the rotating calendar of events that animate Lubna every Thursday to Saturday night.
In conclusion, Milan's design-focused bars are more than just places to grab a drink. They represent the heart of the city's cultural heritage and its creative spirit. Whether you're visiting Milan for business or pleasure, these establishments offer unforgettable experiences that showcase the city's unique charm and artistic flair.
- Club Giovanile Milano, with its industrial interior design, features cement walls, loft-style ceilings, and distressed tiled flooring, reflecting Milan's artistic trend and historical charm.
- The city's bars, like Club Giovanile Milano, offers an ever-changing, seasonal menu inspired by food and drink, embodying the Milanese lifestyle.
- Other establishments, such as Coke Tales, Onda Listening Bar, and Gesto Milano, have unique contributions to Milan's design heritage, adding to the city's artistic texture.
- Some bars in Milan are not just for drinks, as Lubna, a Porta Venezia gem, offers traditional Italian dishes with an Oriental twist, showcasing the city's diverse lifestyle and food-and-drink culture.
- The interiors of Lubna, with its bold eclecticism and themed rooms, are a perfect blend of colors and textures, adding to the city's rich interior design (reminiscent of Alessandro Manzoni, Vincenzo Monti, Giuseppe Verdi, and Umberto Toscanini's pre-performance gatherings).
- These design-focused bars, whether seen during daytime or nighttime travel around Milan, offer a glimpse into the city's artistic flair and entertainment scene.
- The design heritage of Milan's bars extends beyond the alcoholic beverages, as evident in the timeless design of Fortunato Depero's Campari Soda bottle, symbolizing the beauty and machine-aided dynamism of the modern world, and solidifying Milan as a city worth exploring for design enthusiasts.
