Milan
In operation for 200 years, the Quadrilatero's most historic bar was bought by LVMH and got a subsequent subtle nip-and-tuck eschewing any showy…
Must-see nightlife in The Italian Lakes
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Milan
Milan’s creative crowd loves to hang at this multifunctional space incorporating a handsome vintage-style bar with club chairs and chesterfields; a 30…
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Milan
If Michelin awarded stars for bars, Nottingham Forest would have one. This eclectically decorated Asian/African tiki bar is the outpost of molecular…
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Milan
At the end of super-chic Via Solferino you’ll find this lovely gastropub where Piedmontese brewer Teo Musso serves his line of Baladin craft beers…
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Lake Iseo
A short stroll from the riverfront, this buzzing and jovial wine bar serves up phenomenal Italian vintages by the glass or bottle. Local varieties like…
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Milan
This small, spare bar at the quieter end of the Navigli Grande harbours a generous and unusual selection of natural and biodynamic wines. Servers are…
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Milan
In a city full of designer drinking dens, the Bamboo Bar literally raises the bar with its double-height windows offering up incredible city views. Expert…
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Lake Garda
Welcome to wine country. You can get straight off the boat and into vino-tasting mode at this no-nonsense bar in the centre of town that looks and feels…
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Bellagio
A contender for Bellagio's most charming address, this cosy wine bar occupies a candlelit, stonewalled space tucked down a lane near the waterfront. The…
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Como
The charm factor is high in this hip little cafe and drinking den. Stop by in the morning for fresh pastries (including vegan-friendly options) and…
Milan
Don’t get distracted by the cosy eclectic decor, complete with wingback armchairs, marble-topped tables, a patchwork of Persian rugs and huge lampshades…
Milan
In the former Ansaldo factory complex you’ll find a cultural centre brimming with workshops, markets, film nights and open-air parties (especially over…
Milan
One of Milan’s best secrets: a hidden space the size of a walk-in wardrobe that can be rented out as your private bar for 90-minute intervals. With just…
Milan
Hard-to-find Fonderie Milanesi, a former metal foundry, is tucked down the bottom of an industrial yard off Via Giovenale. Locals love it for its stripped…
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Bergamo
Challenging the hegemony of Lavazza and Illy, Bugan was Italy’s first coffee ‘laboratory’ when it opened in 2014. Headquartered in this Città Bassa…
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Milan
From the metal-studded door with its mysterious porthole to the sleek, sweeping wooden bar and canary-yellow bar stools, The Spirit is a serious and…
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Como
Flickering candles, walls covered with bric-a-brac, and a jazzy (often live) soundtrack make a fine setting for an evening drink and/or snack (burgers are…
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Milan
Decked out in baby pink, gold and peppermint green, Marchesi’s Quad cafe is as easy on the eye as its pastries are on the taste buds. Inside you’ll find a…
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Milan
This is Milan’s most historic club – its original location was frequented by the likes of Andy Warhol and Keith Haring (you can still see the door Haring…
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Milan
This sleek American-style cocktail bar serves seriously creative cocktails and classics with a twist. Try the signature 'old-style' negroni with gin,…
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Milan
In the basement of the Armani superstore, this club has a Japanese–modernist aesthetic, the calm of which you’ll need after the hysteria of getting in and…
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Milan
Secreted behind a vast leather curtain at the back of the Sheraton, aperitivo at HClub Diana is one of Milan's most varied. Grab a freshly crushed peach…
Milan
There’s a new micro-roastery cafe on the block and it’s bringing third-wave coffee culture to Milan in a big way. Forget your classic Italian espresso …
Milan
Jazz, cigars and elaborate cocktails are all part of the allure of this exclusive speakeasy with a secret location. Behind a fake shopfront of waving cats…
Milan
A homage to Futurism, Milan’s most infamous art movement, Lacerba has dishes from Futurist Marinetti’s kooky culinary manifesto (death to pasta!), as well…
Milan
Littered with old cars, motorcycles and vintage signs, Officine is a huge, dimly lit retro workshop-cum-bar unlike anything else in the city. Fancy…
Milan
It’s an old-man bar with oodles of charm: think ’70s interior, vintage prints and a whole lot of laminate. During the day, you'd never believe this is one…
Milan
Hipster home Ugo has a retro vibe that will appeal to latter-day Gatsbys who find themselves in need of a rum or whisky-based cocktail such as Whip &…
Milan
Bicycles are the theme of this cosy art bar and bistro, and they hang stylishly from the walls alongside works by emerging artists. Still popular with…
Milan
Fabulous banquette and window seating make Radetzky one of the most popular aperitivo places on this stylish, pedestrianised strip. In keeping with the…
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Lake Garda
Perched high above Lake Garda on the Strada del Ponale, the Belvedere lures in large consortiums of walkers and cyclists either because they’re too…
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Bergamo
They could serve mud-water in this cafe on Bergamo’s main square, so delightful is the setting. Notwithstanding, the drinks still taste just as good as…
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Milan
The brainchild of Michelin-starred chef Andrea Berton, Dry brings together everyone’s favourites: cocktails and gourmet pizza. The inventive cocktail list…
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Lake Garda
There's no proper sign advertising this stone tavern affiliated with the Locanda San Vigilio, but, trust us, this is the only bona fide bar hereabouts and…
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Milan
Milan’s second Botanical Club takes its airy contemporary cue from the Chipperfield-designed MUDEC museum opposite. Its fern- and palm-filled interior,…
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Milan
Milan’s cocktail craze may be taking the town by storm, but Filippo Garavaglia’s neighbourhood beer shop-cum-brewery pulls in punters with a well-priced…
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Milan
Set in the atmospheric surrounds of a one-time Augustine refectory, this enoteca (wine bar) gets packed with an older upmarket kind of crowd, especially…
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Milan
Owned by fashion guru Claudio Antonioli, this is possibly Milan's most beautiful club. Set against a sleek all-black interior, it attracts an affluent…
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Milan
Take a load off your feet at the Hotel Baglioni’s darkly sumptuous cafe. With its plush teal-coloured armchairs, glossy black tables and art deco touches,…
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Bergamo
A small pub with English-style decor and a trio of seasonal craft beers on tap, Papageno resides just off the main square in the Città Alta. Granted, it…
