Swide Magazine by Dolce&Gabbana

Each year I spend a long weekend in December with my girlfriends in Milan, Italy's (if not Europe’s) fashion capital, for Christmas shopping, fine dining and fun, fun, fun.

 

While there are many pretty Christmas markets around Europe, no European city beats Milan for shopping and nightlife in my view. We always stay somewhere fabulous and trendy, and I particularly love the Bulgari Hotel (with an amazing spa!) and Maison Moschino (recently opened, this place is a little fashion OTT but great fun and so stylish it hurts.) Anytime I’m in Milan, I meet up with my amica Francesca, a local Milanesa who is also a shopping guide who knows everything about emerging/ trend setting designers, classic fashion houses, vintage jewelry, etc. Last year she helped me find the best Christmas gifts: hand made shoes by Silvano Lattanzi for hubbie, a Fendi bag for my mom, and for pretty much all of my friends I got goodies from Peck, Milan’s best gourmet shop.

They have a super premium line of gastro products on offer from posh olive oils, hand dried pasta, artisan cheeses, loose teas, coffee, Italian chocolate, food condiments from Pistachio cream to “mostarda”, it is a veritable foodie paradise. Don’t leave Milan without bringing back at least one Panettone (created here during the Sforza époque). I love the ones at Biffi, Peck of course, Marchesi on Via Santa Maria alla Porta and Pasticceria Lorini.
After a day of shopping in Milan, I love to go back to the hotel and change into my finest and head for an aperitif before dinner. For people watching, try the Dolce & Gabbana Martini Bar or Marino alla Scala. The Negroni Sbagliato cocktail is “the” drink to order, invented by the owner of Bar Basso. For an elegant dinner I personally love Il Ristorante Trussardi Alla Scala, it’s  a real must for a special occasion evening like meeting up with old girlfriends. The Milanese risotto by talented chef Andrea Berton is simply to die for!! For something less formal and mega trendy, try Gold, where you can also sip an after dinner cocktail in their lounge room. Forget about the calories (work it off tomorrow walking around town) and order their "Gold Box", a luscious chocolate dessert.
While in Milan, especially if your first time, don’t miss the city’s cultural offerings like Da Vinci’s Last Supper, the Sforzesco castle, the bustling Brera quarter (full of boutiques), the striking Duomo (festive at this time of year with their enormous Christmas tree and ornaments in the piazza and in the Galleria arcade). Hire a local city guide if you have limited time as apart from the main sites they will know the secret corners and will be versed in anecdotes about Milan’s legends, colorful stories about scallywags and aristocrats, etc. To pamper your soul, go to La Scala theatre (you can also visit the museum with beautiful costumes from past operas) and as a fun lunchtime activity, why not enjoy a cooking class at Nicola Cavallaro or Teatro 7?
If you are looking for a destination for a Christmas shopping/ ladies weekend this year, I highly recommend Milan!

 

Text by Genevieve McCarthy, Managing Director at Cellar Tours

 

Sources; Peck, Biffi, Bulgari Hotel, Dolce&Gabbana.

TAGS: cellar tours bulgari hotel maison moschino panettone peck biffi marchesi pasticceria lorini nicola cavallero teatro 7 il ristorante trussardi alla scala martini bar dolce&gabbana dolce&gabbana martini bar gold gold box duomo da vinci's last supper sforzesco castle brera christmas xmas 2010