A global capital of fashion and design, Milan buzzes with a near-endless array of food, cultural sites, and shopping that perfectly capture the city’s creative spirit.

Milan’s high-end retail offerings are most notably found in the Quadrilatero della Moda district, home to flagship stores of luxury brands like Gucci, Prada, and Versace.

On the iconic Via Montenapoleone, Ferragamo recently unveiled its new women’s boutique, crafted by Antwerp, Belgium-based Vincent Van Duysen Architects and guided by the vision of Salvatore Ferragamo’s creative director, Maximilian Davis.

Located in the 15th-century Palazzo Carcassola Grandi—once home to Emilio Morosini, a patriot of the Italian unification—the outpost is reminiscent of a refined private residence.

Housed in the historic Palazzo Carcassola Grandi, Ferragamo’s women’s boutique is crafted with Venetian stucco walls

“Each room has its own spirit attuned to the collections within and amplifies their message,” says Vincent Van Duysen, founder and creative director of his eponymous firm. Contemporary classicism emerges via Venetian stucco walls, stone floors, and a light color palette. Red mottled marble slabs nod to Ferragamo’s signature color, while soft, rounded furnishings and grand bronze-framed mirrors expand the sense of space. “I like the atmosphere,” Van Duysen adds. “A project is successful when you feel good inside it and align yourself with the energy of the space.”

Around the corner, Banner—part of the Biffi Boutiques group—features a sleek and playful design by late Italian architect Gae Aulenti, with recent updates by designer Tommaso Corà. The store’s modern womenswear collections, envisioned by international artists and designers, span two bright floors that come alive with mirrors, honey-colored resin floors, and a cylindrical red elevator designed by Aulenti. Hosting collaborations, especially during Milan Design Week, Banner is “a constantly evolving project,” says Biffi art director Carla Cereda. “We [want] the boutique’s spaces to convey a sense of freedom, freshness, spontaneity, and creativity to our clients.”

Banner retail boutique is anchored by a distinctive red cylindrical elevator

Milan’s retail scene extends beyond fashion into the realms of design and décor. At Arjumand’s World, for instance, textile designer and muralist Idarica Gazzoni offers a richly immersive experience on Via Santa Marta. The store is brimming with fabrics and wallcoverings inspired by ancient myths and the Mughal princess Arjumand, for whom the Taj Mahal was built. Set against brass and natural wood accents, Gazzoni’s linens, silk tussahs, and cotton velvets bear intricate, slightly faded patterns that evoke a timeless elegance.

More classic Italian craftsmanship can be found at Pettinaroli, a stationery shop that dates back to 1881. Offering items like notebooks, greeting cards, and calligraphy pens alongside custom printing services, the store stands as a portal through time, among the last of its kind in an increasingly digital world. Its gold-lettered, cast-iron sign out front remains unchanged from its inception, as do the balloon lamps and wooden furniture inside. “It’s one of the oldest shops in Milan,” says Francesco Pettinaroli, now the fourth-generation owner, carrying on his great-grandfather’s legacy. “Above all, it has always remained in the same family.”

Over at Officina Antiquaria, visitors can browse through a curated mix of antique and contemporary furniture and lighting. Founded by Luca Vitali over two decades ago, the showroom combines bold blocks of colors with wood, brass, parchment, and leather that accentuate the pieces from various historical periods. “We not only collect proper 20th-century design,” Vitali points out, “but we try to discover timeless furniture and art objects that don’t have to be fashionable nowadays.”

On a larger scale is Nilufar Depot, a gallery founded in a former silverware factory by Nina Yashar in 2015 during Salone del Mobile. The three-level industrial space, designed in collaboration with locally based Locatelli Partners, has hosted an extensive rotation of exhibitions and events over the years.

Curated objects are showcased throughout Nilufar Depot

Inspired by Milan’s historic opera house Teatro alla Scala, the gallery’s layout centers around a grand atrium, which, Yashar notes, “allows us to display objects on multiple levels much like a performance, where every piece commands attention.” The interiors lean into the building’s bones with concrete, metal, and glass, with warmth added through deep red, earthy brown, and jewel tones. “The design of the gallery is a natural extension of my curatorial vision,” Yashar says. “It’s rewarding to bring together designers, artists, and collectors and see how their interactions with the space and objects lead to new ideas and inspiration. Nilufar is not just a gallery—it’s a cultural destination where design meets art and architecture.”

Milan’s culinary scene is as vibrant as its retail. In the Brera district, Jamaica is a bar that has been frequented by artists since its debut in 1911, its cozy atmosphere grounded by a classic wooden bar. Another neighborhood favorite is Bar Quadronno, known for its paninis since 1964. Here, wood paneling envelops the interior, creating a warm ambiance reminiscent of being inside a wine barrel.

Andrea Aprea’s restaurant in the Fondazione Luigi Rovati museum features bucchero-tiled walls and a custom Murano glass chandelier

In addition to these local haunts, Milan’s high-end dining shines as well, including Andrea Aprea Ristorante, located within the Fondazione Luigi Rovati art museum. Housed in the 19th-century Bocconi-Rizzoli-Carraro Palace, the venue showcases more than 250 works, from pieces from the Etruscan age to the world of modern art. The museum’s design by Mario Cucinella Architects echoes the Hypogeum, a Neolithic subterranean burial complex found in Malta. Additional spaces were constructed beneath the palace and extend under a garden, including three domed rooms wrapped in 30,000 stone segments that form a captivating, elliptical experience.

Designed by local firm Flaviano Capriotti Architetti, the two Michelin-starred restaurant crown’s the museum’s top floor, divided into an entrance hall, private dining room, cellar, open kitchen, and main dining room. The walls are clad in custom bucchero tiles—a characteristic black ceramic that Etruscans used to make their vases. A stunning circular chandelier of Murano glass and gold leaf, designed by Capriotti, gleams overhead. “The project is conceived as a theatrical scene for the cooking action,” notes Flaviano Capriotti, founder of his namesake firm. “The kitchen brigade of a gourmet, Michelin-starred restaurant is like an established orchestra—everyone plays his note, everyone has a high-skilled experience and is driven by incredible passion. I wanted to create a place for this play.”

Frosted 3D glass panels emit an ambient glow at Rumore bar

A short stroll down the elegant Corso Venezia is the Portrait Milano hotel, part of the Ferragamo family’s Lungarno Collection. Housed in a former archiepiscopal seminary boasting more than 450 years of history, the property was restored by architect Michele De Lucchi and his local studio AMDL Circle, with interiors by Michele Bönan in collaboration with the Lungarno Collection. In the seminary’s chapel, Beefbar Milano, designed by Humbert & Poyet, unfolds beneath dramatic original vaulted ceilings. (The design firm recently debuted the sumptuous Rumore cocktail bar not far from the Beefbar outpost.)

“The founder of Beefbar, Riccardo Giraudi, wanted to create something exceptional for the first Italian address of the brand in his home country, so this setting steeped in history and culture provided the perfect location,” shares the Monaco, France-based firm’s cofounder Christophe Poyet.

Chandeliers suspend from the original vaulted ceilings at Beefbar Milan

A terrazzo floor in shades of green, black, white, and burgundy features wave-like patterns inspired by the late architect Luigi Caccia Dominioni, creating a visual connection from the entrance to the bar, open kitchen, and dining areas. Half-height dark walnut paneling, punctuated by triptych sconces, recalls the warmth of Milanese cafés.

“We wanted to create a flow that feels as intentional as it is effortless, inviting people to move naturally through the space while taking in its rich details,” cofounder Emil Humbert notes, while Poyet adds that the balance of the design “respects the memory of the past while embodying the forward-thinking elegance of Milan.”

 

This article originally appeared in HD’s November 2024 issue.