OCCUPATION: Fashion and luxury director for W magazine
MY STYLE: Working for the best fashion magazine in the world, it’s easy to wear fashionable clothes. I love Missoni, seventies-inspired looks, and any kind of very high heels! I live in an 18th century home with wood ceilings, and my home is a mix of old, new, and ethnic, with furniture we bought during our trips to Asia.
I LOVE MILAN BECAUSE: It has a bit of everything, but mostly because it’s so close to the beach, the country, and the mountains. We love to go away for the weekends.
Città del Sole
With locations throughout Italy, this toy store draws parents and children with its imaginative environment and unique products. From old-fashioned wooden horses to high-tech gadgets, “you can always find really beautiful, interesting things,” says Elisabetta Ferracini. Città del Sole recognizes that toys play an important role in a child’s development, so it’s the perfect place for products that mix fun and learning. Games can be found in Italian or English.
Gattullo
The Gattullo family has owned and operated this phenomenal pastry and bakeshop since 1961, creating each delicious treat from one of their proprietary recipes. We love sitting outdoors in the cafe’s wicker seats. Be sure to try the bone dry cappuccino, which goes impeccably with sweet panettone and savory panino al prosciutto alike.
Triennale Design Museum
Since 2007, this museum has been chipping away at a longstanding question: What constitutes Italian design? Each exhibition at Triennale Design Museum (TDM) deals with the country’s unique melding of cutting-edge materials, humor, history, nostalgia, and tradition. TDM’s educational space also teaches children, and the community at large, about design, science, and critical thinking.
Germani Sport
This beloved sporting goods store grew from a single-window storefront (circa 1960) to an athletically minded mega store. Germani is still our go-to spot for workout gear and sports accessories from all the top brands (think Firefly bikinis and Energetic boxing gloves, just to name a few).
La Cantina di Manuela
We can appreciate a restaurant with its priorities in order, and in this case, the priority is wine. La Cantina di Manuela is really more of an enoteca that just happens to have as a menu, as opposed to the other way around. Whether you’re stopping in for lunch with friends, or simply looking to supplement a hearty glass of red, the parmigianina di zucchine and cannelloni di patate con tartufo are not to be missed.
Al Coniglio Bianco
This simple, cozy restaurant is right on the banks of the Naviglio Grande canal. Most of the dishes emphasize Milanese tradition with such local products as DOC-certified risotto and heriloom polenta. We also love the zucchini with taleggio, and osso buco. In nice weather, the terrace perfectly overlooks the water.
Trattoria del Pescatore
Specializing in Sardinian seafood, this neighborhood joint is one of the best places to enjoy sea-born food on the mainland. We love the trattoria’s casual atmosphere, which is energized post-dusk with a fun nighttime crowd. Timing aside, you’ve got to try the Catalan lobster, and whole baked fish with pecorino.
Antonia
An extension of her own style and vitality, Antonia Giaenti’s trendy Brera boutique is stocked with a hand-selected assortment of her favorite labels—ranging from Balenciaga and Missoni to Edun and Boy by Band of Outsiders. Wander next door to Antonia Accessories, a veritable temple to footwear, bags, and small leather goods. For those who can’t make it to Via Ponte Vetero, the boutique’s website (which also functions as a well-curated music playlist) is also worth a visit.
Giardini di Via Palestro
Perhaps better known as Giardini di Palestro, this romantic and heavily wooded park is the oldest in town. Within its maze of sculptures and trees, you’ll also find pony rides, trails for walking and biking, and a café for a mid-stroll snack. If that’s not enough, you can continue your walk through the gardens of the Villa Reale and Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna.