Fora x Milk & Uni Guide to Milan Fashion Week 2024

Image courtesy of Four Seasons Hotel Milano

Milan Fashion Week is just around the corner. To prepare, we partnered with Milk & Uni — a travel-lifestyle community dedicated to curating hotels, restaurants and things to do in each city — to get their top Milan recommendations. Like Fora, Milk & Uni believes that travel has always been about striking the perfect balance between the casual and the upscale, the classics and the new hot spots.

If you need an excuse to travel to Milan, Fashion Week is a good one. But whether you’re in Milan for MFW 2024 or otherwise, these are the spots you must hit up, as told by Milk & Uni.

Where to stay

When it comes to finding the perfect place to stay in Milan, the city offers an array of luxurious hotels and modern boutiques. Here are our top picks for a memorable stay.

Image courtesy of Portrait Milano

• Vico Milano: A more affordable boutique hotel with beautiful interiors and a wonderful staff. Fora Perks include €20 hotel credit, a welcome amenity, an upgrade and late check-out whenever possible.

• Bvlgari Hotel: Very minimal and sleek. A hot spot with a garden always filled with stylish locals during aperitivo hour (and they have an incredible spa). Fora Perks include $100 hotel credit, breakfast daily, an upgrade and extended check-in/out whenever possible. 

• Portrait Milano: A mid-century modern boutique hotel owned by the Ferragamo family in the heart of Milan. Fora Reserve perks include $100 food / beverage credit, breakfast daily, an upgrade and extended check-in/out whenever possible. 

• Four Seasons Hotel Milano: In the center of all the high-end shopping, Four Seasons has a beautiful patio for breakfast or aperitivo. When you book with Fora, you’ll enjoy exclusive Four Seasons Preferred Partner amenities. Your advisor will be pleased to offer more details. 

• Mandarin Oriental, Milan: Beautiful hotel in Brera; their spa and gym are top-notch. Fora’s Mandarin Oriental Fan Club partner perks include $100 food / beverage or spa credit, a welcome amenity, breakfast daily and an upgrade whenever possible. 

• Galleria Vik: Incredible design and art located inside the famous Galleria Vittorio. Every room has a different look. Fora’s SLH withIN partner perks include $50 hotel credit, breakfast daily, an upgrade and extended check-in/out whenever possible. 

• Grand Hotel et de Milan: An old Milanese mansion full of history and charm. It feels very old-school grand. Fora’s Leading Hotels of the World partner perks include breakfast daily and extended check-in/out whenever possible.
  
  

Where to shop

Milan has an incredible selection of boutiques that house local designers and vintage stores. Below you will find a selection of some of our favorites.

Image courtesy of @sousvintageshop

• The Cloister: A beautifully curated vintage store with great home goods.

• Sous Vintage Shop: Vintage finds and collections by young creatives who create new designs from upcycled material.

• Urzi Vintage Selection: A vintage shop with a focus on high and small Italian fashion.

• Antonia: A concept store with a mix of Italian and global designers.

• Da Orient: A concept store that marries vintage with a 70’s and 80’s appeal.
  
  

Where to see art

Milan’s art scene is a dynamic blend of Renaissance masterpieces and cutting-edge contemporary works, reflecting the city's enduring influence on the global art world. Here’s a selection of our favorite places to visit.  

Image courtesy of @peresprojects

• Peres Project: A contemporary art gallery promoting international artists to a global audience.

• Hangar Bicocca: Once an industrial plant, now an institution for producing and promoting contemporary art.

• Gio Marconi: A contemporary art gallery and experimental space for young artists and curators.

• Villa Panza: 50 minutes outside the city, an 18th-century villa surrounded by an amazing garden, hosting world-famous exhibitions.

• ICA: A nonprofit, private foundation dedicated to contemporary arts and culture, research and experimentation.

• VistaMare: A gallery with a global art collection displayed in nine rooms decorated with frescoes.
  

Aperitivo

Every afternoon in Milan, locals gather for aperitivo, savoring a glass of wine alongside an array of delicious bites. Here are our top picks, ranging from classic favorites to more inventive twists.

Images courtesy of @cactusjoes and @minerale_milano

• Norah was Drunk: A hip cocktail spot with a unique aperitivo selection, known for its oysters and absinthe.

• Bar Nico: Former pasta factory turned wine bar founded by a young Milanese couple from the fashion world. It has a very cool vibe.

• Cactus Joe: Intimate and welcoming — come for their delicious agave-based cocktails, stay for the tacos.

• Bar Paradiso: A friendly, chic and local wine bar with great energy and a sense of humor.

• Minerale: An effortlessly cool haunt with natural wine, mixology and delicious bites.

• Carico: Go here for a cutting-edge yet laid-back approach to both food and drink.

• Ultramarino: A friendly wine bar with tapas inspired by Spain, Portugal and Italy.
  
  

Where to eat

Images courtesy of @a_marini for Antica Trattoria della Pesa and @silvano_viniecibi for Silvano Vini e Cibi

The Classics

A list of the classic Italian spots you must try, along with our favorite dishes on the menu.

• Langosteria: The best seafood in Milan. Order the lobster pasta.

• Trattoria del Pescatore: A classic seafood spot. Order the catalana. 

• Il Consolare: One of our favorite places for lunch. Order the spaghetti alle vongole with bottarga and ask for the table outside.

• Antica Trattoria della Pesa: Truly traditional Milanese cuisine executed perfectly from start to finish. Order the osso bucco

• Trippa: An upscale trattoria with a rotating daily menu.
  
  

What’s trending

A list of restaurants that are currently trending in Milan, where you’ll find a great vibe.

• Ricetta Bistrot: Incredible Italian fare in a simple and comfortable setting.

• Azabu 10: A hidden gem a bit outside the city center, but worth the ride.

• Confine: One of the best pizzas in town. Order the tasting menu.

• Affinatore: A beautifully dimly lit dining room serving excellent meat.

• Silvano Vini e Cibi: This place is an absolute must. The menu is authentic, welcoming and inventive.