Alevì Journal | Milan in Autumn: A Guide to the Coolest Spots
From Sant Ambroeus to the Negroni Sbagliato, five addresses where the city comes to be seen
In Milan, autumn is not a season in between: it is when the city truly comes back to life. Fashion Week has just ended, diaries fill up and life moves indoors, to historic pastry shops, legendary trattorias and the bars where the fashion world really gathers.
This is the Milan that comes to be seen. The Milan of a cappuccino at the counter under the porticoes, of lunch in a trattoria that makes no exceptions for anyone, of afternoons between contemporary art and pastel-coloured cafés, of aperitivo with a legendary sandwich and of nights that always end in the same bar.
And here, style is not a detail: it is the ticket in. Impeccably cut coats, soft knitwear, a bold lipstick and a shoe that stands out without needing to try. Just like an Alevì Milano shoe: an elegance born in this city, built on craftsmanship and attention to detail.
Sant Ambroeus, Corso Matteotti
Breakfast like a Milanese
Under the porticoes of Corso Matteotti, a few steps from La Scala, Sant Ambroeus has been Milan's "sweet salon" since 1936. In the 1980s the name crossed the ocean and became an icon in New York; today the historic Milanese café has been restored to its former glory, with a redesign by interior designer Fabrizio Casiraghi.
Dark wood panelling, a marble counter and Murano chandeliers: this is the place for a cappuccino and a cornetto at the bar, while the city starts to rush.
Sant Ambroeus, Corso Matteotti
The look? A grey cashmere turtleneck, cotton poplin trousers, and the KAREN 95 by Aleví Milano on her feet.
La Latteria di Via San Marco, Brera
The legendary lunch
A handful of tables, blue and white tiles, walls covered in painted roses: the Latteria di Via San Marco is one of Milan's most beloved places. For over half a century Arturo and Maria Maggi ran it by their own rules, so much so that they turned away both Madonna and Donald Trump, because at the Latteria no one gets special treatment.
After closing at the end of 2023, it was reopened by the Loro Piana family with one clear idea: change nothing. The kitchen still serves traditional Milanese dishes and the famous spaghetti al limone, the reason so many keep coming back.
The look? A leather trench coat, dark sunglasses, and the STELLA 95 sandal by Aleví Milano, perfect for an after-lunch stroll through Brera.
Bar Quadronno
The insiders' aperitivo
On Via Quadronno, Bar Quadronno has been open since 1964 and has become a legend for its sandwiches, taken more seriously here than almost anywhere else in the city. Born as a late-night meeting point, today it is also one of the fashion world's favourite aperitivo spots: it is said to be Miuccia Prada's favourite place for a drink and a sandwich.
No rooftop, no stage set: here, luxury means discretion. A glass at the bar, a warm sandwich, and all around you stylists, designers and industry insiders meeting away from the spotlight.
Bar Quadronno, Via Quadronno 34
The look? The mood is pure insider: a knitted mini dress, a structured vest with shoulder pads, and the RILEY 20 loafer by Aleví Milano.
Bar Basso
Milanese nights
On Via Plinio, Bar Basso is an institution. This is where the Negroni Sbagliato was born, served in its oversized glasses, and every year during the Salone del Mobile it becomes the meeting point for designers, architects and creatives from all over the world.
Wood-panelled walls, a marble bar and a deliberately timeless atmosphere: this is where the best evenings end.
Bar Basso, Via Plinio 39
The perfect detail? A red patent leather shoe.
Milan, a Way of Living Autumn
In Milan, autumn is lived from one address to the next, each with its own crowd, its own rhythm and its own dress code. From a cappuccino at the counter to a historic bar, the city changes face in just a few hours.
Because Milanese style is never contrived: it lies in the ease of moving from breakfast at Sant Ambroeus to a Negroni Sbagliato, with the right shoes on your feet.
FAQ
What are the coolest places in Milan?
Among the most fashionable addresses are the historic Sant Ambroeus pastry shop on Corso Matteotti, the Latteria di Via San Marco in Brera, Bar Luce at Fondazione Prada, Bar Quadronno, a favourite of the fashion world, and Bar Basso, birthplace of the Negroni Sbagliato.
Where to have breakfast in central Milan?
One of the most elegant historic pastry shops is Sant Ambroeus, at Corso Matteotti 7, opened in 1936 a few steps from La Scala. Other classic addresses include Marchesi 1824, now part of the Prada Group, and Cova, founded in 1817.
Where to have lunch in Brera?
One of the most iconic addresses is the Latteria di Via San Marco 24, a historic Milanese trattoria with just a few tables and traditional cooking, famous for its spaghetti al limone. Closed at the end of 2023, it was reopened in 2024 by the Loro Piana family, keeping its original spirit intact.
Where do fashion people go for aperitivo in Milan?
Among the insiders' favourites are Bar Quadronno, open since 1964 and famous for its sandwiches, Bar Basso on Via Plinio and, for a more glamorous setting, the bar at the Bulgari Hotel with its private garden.
Where was the Negroni Sbagliato invented?
The Negroni Sbagliato was born at Bar Basso in Milan, on Via Plinio. According to the bar's story, it came from a mistake: sparkling wine was used instead of gin. Today it is served in the bar's famous giant glasses.
Immagini: Pinterest.