Copy My Rogue Day In Milan
This article was originally published on plannedvsrogue.com
Around the rest of Italy, the local Italians seem to do a fair bit of bitching about Milan behind it’s stylish back. However, as I’m from Sydney I’m pretty used to the feeling so that didn’t stop me from wanting to go. Although it’s a lot more modern than other Italian cities and features some uninspired CBD infrastructure, there are plenty of places you can go to have some time to yourself in some beautiful surroundings. Unfortunately, I didn’t know any of this and if you’ve watched the Planned vs Rogue Milan episode you’ll see I spent my whole day battling a force of nature; the heat.
Through some above-board local consultancy, I learnt that the Milanese fight the heat by staying indoors and doing as little as possible. It sounds great and there’s no reason you shouldn’t do that with a negroni and plate of cold meats but I was shooting a travel show so this is what I did instead.
Stop 1: The Bridge Cafe, Navigli
Where: Via Emilio Gola, 1, 20143 Milano MI, Italy
What: A classic Italian cafe along the canals of Navigli.
Why: It is a scorching hot day, and they serve a killer creme cafe, a dreamy thick iced coffee that seems to pull your spoon back into the cup like a caffeinated tar pit that makes you wish you were a helpless dinosaur.
Stop 2: 101 Caffe, Navigli
Where: Alzaia Naviglio Grande, 44, 20144 Milano MI, Italy
What: An ice cream and coffee shop in the centre of beautiful Navigli.
Why: It is still a scorching hot day, and you need more caffeine. Enjoy their energising affogato while resisting the urge to jump into the cool canal water.
Stop 3: Na'ranita Graniteria
Where: Via Eugenio Villoresi, 1, 20143 Milano MI, Italy
What: An adorable granita shop serving incredible icy treats.
Why: The scorching hot day is still going, you’ve had enough caffeine, and are ready for an ice-cold fruity hit. Order a strawberry or lemon granita and the staff, who make the granita fresh in-house using old Sicilian traditions, will ask you if you want to add cream. Say yes, or better yet, say “si grazie!” They’ll know what it means.
Stop 4: Trame – Darsena
Where: Via Vigevano, 1, 20144 Milano MI, Italy
What: A chain of sandwich shops around Milan, serving a range of stuffed sandwiches from a hole-in-the wall.
Why: You want a quick and easy feed that can also sell you a crisp local beer, to eat at one of the many scenic spots along the river. This is what we did on my day but for my money I’d much rather a meatball trapizzino from a shop just a few spots down or better yet…
Stop 5: Pan Per Foccacia
Where: Via Tortona, 17, 20144 Milano MI, Italy
What: A small bakery in the Navigli area serving incredible focaccia and arancini.
Why: You love buying from small, local businesses where you’re most likely the only tourist present. Great place to flex your meagre Italian language chops and the focaccia and arancini is seriously some of the best I’ve ever tasted. Cannot wait to go back to this place. Prices are also very good too considering the high quality and neighbourhood.
Stop 6: Our Air BnB, with an inflatable pool
Where: The Navigli district.
What: A very risky idea to beat the heat by putting an inflatable pool on the roof outside your apartment window.
Why: You are so broken by the Italian heatwave and there are no local pools open in your area. Also you need a thumbnail for your video. We do not advise this activity.
Stop 7: Cocktail Cart, Navigli
Where: The Navigli district
What: A mobile cocktail cart set up in a commuter thoroughfare near Navigli metro station.
Why: Cocktails on the go... What else is there to say? The fella here also makes handmaid fans which are just a little more than the mass-produced ones you buy on the street.
Stop 8: DeAmicis Uno
Where: Via Edmondo de Amicis, 1, 20123 Milano MI, Italy
What: A cocktail bar serving classic cocktails and snacks.
Why: The aperitivo is so generous here, that for the price of your drinks, you can basically have dinner for free. Plus they have those misting hoses here which really attract tourists who are waging war with the heat.
Stop 9: Wave Cocktail Bar
Where: Via Edmondo de Amicis, 28, 20123 Milano MI, Italy
What: Basement cocktail bar serving booze-heavy cocktails in dim, intimate lighting.
Why: You want to get as far away from the sun as possible. This subterranean cocktail bar has an extensive menu with a mix of classic and signature cocktails. Like a lot of good places to drink in Milan, they keep you well stocked in the snack department and make a killer negroni.
Ultimately, my day in Milan was not a winning day with Katie taking the win with her excellent planned day (that you can read about here). She had some great tips for beating the heat in Milan but my ultimate advice is to maybe visit in spring or autumn.
