Milan
Fabulous banquette and window seating make Radetzky one of the most popular aperitivo places on this stylish, pedestrianised strip. In keeping with the…
Must-see nightlife in The Italian Lakes
Lake Garda
Perched high above Lake Garda on the Strada del Ponale, the Belvedere lures in large consortiums of walkers and cyclists either because they’re too…
Bergamo
They could serve mud-water in this cafe on Bergamo’s main square, so delightful is the setting. Notwithstanding, the drinks still taste just as good as…
Milan
The brainchild of Michelin-starred chef Andrea Berton, Dry brings together everyone’s favourites: cocktails and gourmet pizza. The inventive cocktail list…
Porta Garibaldi & Isola
With its ominous-sounding name (literally ‘Temple of the Lost Future’) and abandoned industrial locale, you can’t help but imagine this will be the place…
Lake Garda
There's no proper sign advertising this stone tavern affiliated with the Locanda San Vigilio, but, trust us, this is the only bona fide bar hereabouts and…
Milan
Milan’s second Botanical Club takes its airy contemporary cue from the Chipperfield-designed MUDEC museum opposite. Its fern- and palm-filled interior,…
Milan
Milan’s cocktail craze may be taking the town by storm, but Filippo Garavaglia’s neighbourhood beer shop-cum-brewery pulls in punters with a well-priced…
Milan
Set in the atmospheric surrounds of a one-time Augustine refectory, this enoteca (wine bar) gets packed with an older upmarket kind of crowd, especially…
Porta Garibaldi & Isola
RED stands for Read, Eat, Dream and is the savvy idea of Italian publisher Feltrinelli. Aimed at attracting younger, iPad-toting customers, it is a…
Milan
Owned by fashion guru Claudio Antonioli, this is possibly Milan's most beautiful club. Set against a sleek all-black interior, it attracts an affluent…
Corso Magenta & Sant'Ambrogio
Selling liquor and wine since 1933, this bottiglieria (liquor store) is the real deal when it comes to aperitivo time. Here it's strictly crostini, olives…
Milan
Take a load off your feet at the Hotel Baglioni’s darkly sumptuous cafe. With its plush teal-coloured armchairs, glossy black tables and art deco touches,…
Bergamo
A small pub with English-style decor and a trio of seasonal craft beers on tap, Papageno resides just off the main square in the Città Alta. Granted, it…
Milan
Named after the rail tracks that drove modernity through the heart of Milan, this Liberty-style cafe reflects the glamour of the railway age. Plump red…
Milan
Courting an alternative, gay-friendly scene, Rocket is a local favourite that delivers a great DJ line-up, great cocktails and a load of unpretentious fun…
Corso Magenta & Sant'Ambrogio
Silky cappuccinos, a breakfast brioche or kipfel (crescent-shaped pastries) kick off the day at this cafe just off fancy Via Vincenzo Monti. Mid-morning,…
Milan
Cocktails are the order of the day at Pinch, a cozy bar with Prohibition-era decor where inventive concoctions come with names such as Stagione di Bici!! …
Porta Garibaldi & Isola
Enjoy the sleek interior of the Fondazione Feltrinelli at this bookshop bar/cafe, offering top-notch cocktails designed by award-winning bartender Mattia…
Milan
This iconic Milanese bar is not only said to have invented the aperitivo concept, but also the ever-popular negroni sbagliato (made with prosecco not gin)…
Lake Como
The tiny terrace of Bar Il Molo is Varenna's most sought-after aperitivi spot, although the cocktails sometimes morph into huge pitchers of beer. It's…
Milan
Originally a bakery, Pandenus was named after the walnut bread that used to emerge from its (still active) oven. Now the focaccia, pizzetta and bruschetta…
Porta Garibaldi & Isola
Since 1946 this historic locale has been attracting devotees for its coffee beans, still roasted out the back on the original machine. Choose from by-the…
Milan
Whether experienced inside beneath the giant botanical sculptures at the earth-toned bar or outside on the terrace overlooking the brilliantly green…
Milan
At the forefront of Milan’s nascent third-wave coffee scene, Brent Jopson’s passion for single origin roasts is encouraging the Milanese to slow down…
Duomo & San Babila
Step into this cool cafe and you could be forgiven for thinking you’d landed in Brooklyn. Exposed brick walls and vintage movie posters give it a laid…
Verbania
Sample mountain cheeses with a glass of Dolcetto in the pretty piazza at Intra Verbania. If you do you’ll be upholding a proud tradition, started in 1905…
Corso Magenta & Sant'Ambrogio
This neighbourhood bar fills a critical gap by supplying some good grown-up cocktails to the thirsty punters on Corso Vercelli. Although it serves…
Corso Magenta & Sant'Ambrogio
Proud keepers of a traditional panetùn (panettone) sweet bread recipe that once pleased Pope Pius X, Biffi has changed little since its 1847 opening. With…
Milan
La Vineria strips away all the aperitivo hoopla and serves up glasses, carafes and bottles of wine (and olive oil) straight from the barrel. A glass of…
Duomo & San Babila
On a mission to educate drinkers in the diversity of Italian wines, SignorVino is a wine store, bar and restaurant rolled into one. There are more than…
Milan
Milan’s celebrated vodka bar is a tiny temple dedicated to that potent potato juice. With more than 100 different types of vodka to choose from and owner…
Porta Garibaldi & Isola
The novelty of drinking in a former 8th-century church never quite gets old. In this dimly lit, shoebox-sized bar, peeling frescoes and pointed arches…
Corso Magenta & Sant'Ambrogio
Tucked down a quiet street with its grand villas is this retro '70s bar with its friendly proprietor, Antonio. Drop by for a chat and a cappuccino in the…
Milan
This eccentric tiki bar, home to Milan's unexpected surfer scene, is located in the midst of a sports centre. The upside is an outdoor garden, a barbecue…
Milan
This belle époque bar with its glittering Murano chandelier and counter full of sugary confectionary is something of an institution in the Quad. It is…
Milan
This craft-beer bar has won a slew of awards for its unusual celebration of wild fermented beers, imported Belgian brands and interesting Italian sour…
Milan
A landmark of Milan's alternative scene, Tunnel takes its moniker as top underground club seriously and is literally housed in a tunnel beneath the rail…
Lake Maggiore
You can't get much closer to the lake than Il Molo, the liveliest eating and drinking spot in Ranco. Grab an open-air table and join locals and day…
Milan
Calling all comic connoisseurs and geeks, Vinile serves a limited-production wine list, Italian craft beers, and artisanal cold cuts and crostini in the…
