Aperitivando a Milano

How does a Spritz sound? A Negroni? Sex on the Beach? A Long Island? Or what about a nice, simple glass of wine? If you go to one of the many bars in Milan, you'll be spoiled for choice.

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But wait, what does "aperitivo" even mean? The wise guys among you will surely think that's just the Italian word for 'aperitif' - an alcoholic drink that you have before eating. You wouldn't be entirely wrong but, in Milan, the aperitivo is something much more spectacular: should you go for an aperitivo in Milan, you'll need neither dinner nor more alcohol (except if you want to steer the evening in a particular direction). At a particular time in the evening (usually around 7-10pm, but could well start earlier or go on longer) bars in Milan offer a combo - a cocktail and unlimited access to a buffet with a great variety of food.

In the city centre and some other good bars away from the centre, you can expect to pay between 8 and 10 Euros and you can eat as much as you like. I know it may seem expensive at first glance but it's really not when you consider that we're talking about Milan! But why is it so great to go for an aperitivo:

1. You can eat as much as you'd like saving yourself the trouble of cooking at home.
2. There's a variety of foods on offer - you have access to pretty much everything you could want.
3. Included in the initial price is a large cocktail. No matter who you are, you're sure to find the one that's right for you on the menu.
4. The cocktails are so large and substantial that you'll not only leave full but also tipsy. Then you'll have the choice to either go to bed with a smile on your face, or to keep going!; )



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Convinced yet? Now I'll introduce you to a few of my personal favourites so that you can convince yourselves. Because I've only ever really lived in the inner-city, I'll mostly stick to the bars within the Circonvallazione because I'm certain that you'll be able to find plenty on the outside!

Navigli

There is nowhere better to go for an aperitivo than Navigli. The Canals in the southern part of the inner-city, that were once important connections to other cities, are now the perfect setting for evening entertainment. You can either follow the Naviglio Grande where there's always a lot of people to see and things to do or, rather, walk along the Naviglio Pavese - it's a little quieter but has just as attractive bars.



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Maya

My favourite bar along the Naviglio Pavese is Maya with its touch of exoticness, just like the name suggests. The buffet has many different rice dishes and a variety of foods based around fish and seafood. The cocktails are good and the atmosphere is relaxed, just like anywhere else in the area. Should this place tickle your fancy, you can also have dinner here - it's a regular restaurant.

Here's a link to Maya's homepage.

La Ringhiera

This bar stands out above all others because it's the very first on the Naviglio Grande, right on the corner of Viale Gorizia. The buffet always has a variety of dishes that are regularly topped up and - for those of you with a sweet tooth - there's even a chocolate fountain. The quality of this bar in itself is not the absolute best: the cocktails are alright but nothing to write home about, the bar is always completely full, which means that, if you're unlucky, you'll have to wait until there's a free table (which is unfortunately the case in most bars on the Naviglio Grande). But still, it's simply one of the Classics of Milan!

Sorry - it doesn't have its own homepage but just take a look at what TripAdvisor had to say about La Ringhiera.

Spritz Navigli

What else can you order in a bar with this name if not a Spritz, an Aperol Spritzer? (In place of Aperol, you can also order it with Campari, Select or Cynar) But don't worry if you'd prefer other cocktails, wine or a beer - Spritz Navigli's got you covered! Yet another example of a really abundant buffet where you can find absolutely everything from salads, pastas, gnocchi, fish or meat to waffles with Nutella and fruit for dessert.

Take a look at their cool homepage.



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Manhattan

Also one of my absolute favourites - perhaps something better suited to a quiet night together. It's particularly cosy outside even in the cooler months thanks to the outside heaters dotted around (I adore whoever it was who invented these things! XD). You certainly can't complain about the buffet here, although it's better if you've already got something earlier as some options are no longer refilled after 9pm.

You can also read a few interesting reviews of the Manhattan bar on TripAdvisor

Colonne

Right in the centre, just a few minutes' walking distance from the Duomo, is the Colonne di San Lorenzo - a charming, otherwise unremarkable place during the day in front of the Basilica di San Lorenzo Maggiore. But as soon as dusk falls; as soon as people are finished with work or study, nightlife in Milan kicks off and where else can you enjoy a more chilled out evening off than in Colonne? This area is ideal if you want to first have an aperitivo, then head to the piazza for a beer, to then head up the steps of the Basilica to enjoy a nice, relaxing evening there. You surely won't be alone because, from around 11pm, the entire square just seems to fill up with people in the blink of an eye. All at once you get the feeling that the whole of Milan has gathered in one spot.

Yguana

Just behind the Colonne, in the Piazza Vetra, (the one with the small park) you can find a pleasant, somewhat unusual, bar. The music here always creates a party atmosphere, Birthdays and stag dos are often celebrated at the Yguana bar. The buffet is okay but the best thing about this place is the cocktails. The selection of drinks here is huge and many of the drinks here are not served in other bars. So if you're looking for a bit of exotic refreshment, then look no further!



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20 Twenty

This place is the exact opposite of Yguana: the cocktails are pretty much average (so you'd be best choosing the regulars) but the buffet is incredibly good. The selection is massive - there's always at least three different types of pasta, a lot of baked and fried stuff like chicken nuggets, cheese or fish fingers and its very own salad bar. Last but not least perhaps the biggest selection of desserts that I've ever seen in Milan: cakes, fruit salads and even gummy sweets and marshmallows. Fortunately Twenty is pretty much next door to Yguana (on the Via San Vito, at the end of Via Torino) so you can decide for yourselves what's more important: buffet or cocktails.

Brera

Everyone who goes to Milan visits the romantic and chic Brera Quarter at least once. This part of the city is famous for its artistic ambiance given to it by the Accademia delle Belle Arti and the artists who were around during the 20th Century. I'd recommend - before you go eagerly out to dinner - to plan in an extra 1-2 hours for a visit to this unique museum because it houses 5th Century Italian artworks, something you shouldn't pass up.

Sans Egal

This trendy, French-style bar is the perfect place to round off a walk through the Brera quarter. If you're lucky, there'll be something free outside, giving you the opportunity to enjoy the atmosphere of the narrow yet quaint side streets. Perhaps one of the fortune tellers might convince you to let them read your palm. The cocktails are very refreshing and not too strong. The buffet is good. Particularly the Panzerotti - don't let that one slip you by. They go like hot cakes so be sure to keep an eye on them! There's a certain kind of trick to it.; )

Here's the link to their homepage. You can also just go for dinner here or book special events.

Almost forgot - a tip for all you football fans: important games (like the Champions League, World Cup, etc. ) are often put up on a big screen so be sure to come a little early to secure a good spot.



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Moscova

Not far from Brera (either a 10 minute walk or a single stop by train), is the Via della Moscova. Although it's not all that near to the Duomo, that doesn't make it any less fancy. I personally like this area 1000 times more than Corso Como, which I won't mention any further because I really don't like the bars there.

Cafè Etniko

If you head 300 metres away from Via della Moscova, in the direction of Parco Sempione, you'll reach this interesting, somewhat alternative bar. I promise you, the aperitivo you'll have here is a game changer. The cocktails are made with 100% fresh fruit and served in glasses that can't be lifted one-handed. The regular version costs around 10 Euros but, for an extra 2, you'll get your drink served in hollowed out fruit (like a pineapple or a coconut). The buffet is also a little different than in your more classic aperitivo bars. There are tonnes of veggies and salads but also incredible gnocchi and pasta, and meat and fish dishes.

Take a look at the unusual drinks on TripAdvisor.



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Arco della Pace

Even if you don't feel like an aperitivo, you have to take a detour to see this place during your stay. The Arco della Pace is a stunning triumphal arch (not entirely different to the famous Arc de Triomphe in Paris) that sits on the outer edge of the Parco Sempione. From there, you can get a fantastic view of the Castello Sforzesco, including the park in the foreground. In my opinion, that's one of the most beautiful corners of the entire city seeing as it's relatively central but still somehow quieter than other areas. This may be because there is no train station here - you can only get there using the typical vintage yellow trams (numbers 1 and 19).

BhangraBar

As the name suggests, this bar has a slight Indian twist - it's clear from the design as much as the buffet. The establishment is really cool, very exotic but unfortunately demand is enormous and it's always completely full. While you can sit outside, you would miss out on the remarkable atmosphere inside. But you'll be able to marvel at the Arco della Pace while you dine - it's lit up on an evening. For all you holidaymakers: don't worry - the buffet does of course have typical Asian dishes but still has a few Italian classics on offer!

Check out their homepage. Incidentally, you can have brunch here on a Sunday as well.



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And so, that's the end of that! Of course, you're sure to find many more bars dotted around Milan where you can enjoy an aperitivo, especially in places like Porta Romana or Porta Venezia - this article just lists my favourites.

So - what're you waiting for!? Cin cin!

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