New places in Milan for a little break from the 2026 Winter Olympics

Italy is ready for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Everything you need to know about the opening awaits at this link, and judging by the volume of articles we have been publishing, the level of excitement is pretty high. We have explored new hotels in Cortina that are reshaping the face of the Dolomites, revisited the Sarajevo Olympics, and as if that treasury of uniforms from the past were not already enough of a hit, another exciting piece of news arrived: who will carry the torch at this year’s Olympic Games. In the meantime, we also discovered the meaning behind the Winter Olympics medals.

From 6 to 22 February, Italy will live and breathe winter sports and thoroughly enjoy them, there is no doubt about that. But what if we feel like stepping away for a moment, heading down to Milan, in case you are following the programme taking place in Cortina, and relaxing at one of the city’s new and exciting addresses? We got you covered. Below you will find a list of new places that have opened in Milan over the past year. They are still fresh, they bring new energy to the city, and they deserve a spot on your list of places to visit in Milan. Even after the Games are over.

Courtesy of Lubna Bar Milano

Listening bars in Milan

The global fascination with Japanese jazz kissa bars is strong. Venues devoted to quality music, vinyl, and atmosphere, combined with good cocktails and small bites, are truly shining. While KISSA10 in Belgrade is celebrating its first anniversary, Milan has seen several such openings recently. We are adding them to the list.

Lubna Restaurant Listening Bar

Address: Via Vezza d’Oglio 14 / @lubnamilano

Don’t hold it against me, but I am starting with Lubna Restaurant & Bar, which actually opened at the end of 2024 and has, in just over a year, become one of the city’s hottest spots. Conceived as a dynamic cultural and gastro hub alongside the Scaramouche gallery and the Magma event space, the central concept of the venue is fire, which connects the kitchen, the bar, and the overall atmosphere. The kitchen is led by Michelin-starred chef Enrico Croatti, while the bar programme is curated by Giovanni Allario.

Club Giovanile Milano

Address: Via Antonio Raimondi 15 / @clubgiovanilemilano

Opened a year ago, this venue brings together cocktails, a listening bar, and a music club into a single experience. It is located in a historic early 20th-century building in the Certosa district, which has lived several lives before becoming a club. The story of the venue unfolds across multiple levels, from aperitivo and dinner to late-night DJ sets. Music sits at the heart of its identity, with a programme that includes listening sessions, live performances, and dance nights.

MOGO

Address: Via Bernina, 1C / @mogo.hifi

MOGO is a hi-fi bar and restaurant in Milan’s Isola district, opened in April 2025, where music, cocktails, and food come together as a top-tier experience. The space is designed as a 360-degree bar surrounded by vinyl and DJ sets, with a finely tuned audio system that puts sound front and centre. Considered one of the most exciting new nightlife spots in Milan, this is also a place where you stay on to dance after cocktails, so be spontaneous.

Dexter Soundbites

Address: Via Carmagnola 15 / @dextersoundbites

Another listening bar and restaurant in the Isola neighbourhood, it opened at the beginning of 2025. The venue combines carefully curated vinyl music with international cuisine and a more intimate atmosphere. The DDSarchitettura studio envisioned the space more as a music library than a classic bar, with wood-clad walls and shelves full of vinyl records that sit at the visual and acoustic heart of the concept.

New designer hotels

Milan is no stranger to designer hotels, and here is a list of several new ones that are drawing increasing attention among travellers and make for an excellent choice for a city break with good food or a pool.

Milu Milano

Address: Piazza Guglielmo Oberdan, 12 / @hotel_milu_milano

The design-focused boutique hotel Milu opened in July 2025 in the Porta Venezia district, housed in a renovated 19th-century building. Architect Alex Meitlis blended historic architecture with a contemporary interior. The hotel stands out for its gallery-like approach, with art installations in the lobby and rooms, as well as an all-day lounge that invites socialising and relaxation.

The Carlton Milan by Rocco Forte

Address: between Via Senato 5 and Via della Spiga 8 / @thecarltonmilan

The new Carlton opened after a five-year renovation of the former Baglioni hotel and is set across two connected buildings, including a private residence from the late 1800s and the original Carlton from the 1960s. The interiors were designed by Philip Vergeylen and Paolo Moschino in collaboration with Olga Polizzi, together creating a subtly luxurious oasis in Milan’s renowned fashion district. The hotel offers the flagship Spiga restaurant, Cafe Floretta, Carlton Bar, a luxury spa by Irene Forte, wellness and fitness facilities, as well as interconnected rooms suitable for families.

Casa Brera

Address: Piazzetta M. Bossi 2 / @casabrerahotel

Opened in autumn 2024 and announced as a brand update throughout 2025, this hotel is today a comfortable, fresh, and luxurious address in the heart of Brera. It is located in a historic 1950s building just steps from Teatro alla Scala and the Duomo. Designed by Patricia Urquiola, it blends the existing architecture with contemporary design, while the hotel’s offerings delight every hedonistic traveller. A rooftop pool and bar with panoramic views are joined by several gastronomic and lounge spaces featuring Italian and international cuisine.

Hotel Calimala Milan

Address: Via Melzo 7 / @hotel_calimala_milano

Opened last year as a new edition of the renowned brand with a Total Design concept in Porta Venezia, Calimala is an urban oasis for recharging, a harmonious and elegant retreat designed by Alex Meitlis, who masterfully mixed black marble, warm wood, and vibrant colours. The star of the hotel is its two-level restaurant at the very top of the building, complete with a bar offering panoramic views and, not to mention, a rooftop pool. Even if you are not staying at the hotel, you can enjoy an excellent espresso at the ground-floor bar.

New restaurants

Italy’s gastro empire continues to expand, and these are the new city addresses worth visiting if you are looking for a place for lunch or dinner.

Langosteria Montenapoleone

Address: Corso Giacomo Matteotti 9 / @langosteria

Milan’s new gastro star opened its doors in 2025 inside the prestigious Palazzo Fendi, in the heart of the Quadrilatero della Moda. The restaurant spans three levels, featuring a main dining room, Ally’s Bar with a panoramic terrace, and the planned PEPE – Barra Italiana. Interiors by the Fendi Architecture Department combine wood, travertine, and Murano glass into a chic, modern setting with city views. The kitchen impresses with seafood specialities and modern classics, including Astice Blue Nature and Rombo di Galizia “alla milanese”, alongside a wine list you will not want to stop ordering from.

FUMO

Address: Via S. Giovanni sul Muro 13 / @_fumomilanorestaurant_

FUMO Italian Restaurant, located in central Milan near the Duomo and Castello Sforzesco, opened last year and quickly became a favourite among lovers of Italian cuisine. The restaurant blends authentic Italian recipes with a modern twist, focusing on seafood specialities and creative meat dishes. Dishes such as tuna tartare, ossobuco, and paccheri with lobster are among the regulars’ favourites.

A Iosa

Address: Via Michelangelo Buonarroti 11 / @a_iosa

In the mood for something very relaxed? Then make a note of this new cool bistro, opened at the end of last year and, they say, the first of its kind in Milan dedicated to Apulian cuisine. This small but very welcoming gastro address focuses on traditional Italian dishes. The menu features local specialities such as homemade puccia, orecchiette with sauces, bombette, and panzerotti, alongside sweet classics like pasticciotto, all at accessible prices. A fairly undiscovered gem, for now.

DaV by Da Vittorio Louis Vuitton

Address: Via Bagutta 1

It was spring 2025 when DaV by Da Vittorio Louis Vuitton opened in the heart of Milan’s fashion district, the result of a collaboration between the legendary Da Vittorio restaurant and the fashion giant. It brings together the culinary brilliance of the Cerea family with the luxury of Louis Vuitton, highlighting modern Italian cuisine with an invitation to convivial dining, something we need more of. The elegant interior, with a main dining room and an intimate mezzanine, fits perfectly into the district’s sophisticated atmosphere, while each dish feels like a small work of art. An ideal spot for those who want to combine fine dining, design, and Milanese elegance.

Courtesy of Louis Vuitton

New coffee bars

Having an espresso in Italy is one of those experiences that instantly puts you in a relaxed state of mind. Here are the new Milan addresses for exactly that.

Ditta Artigianale Corso Magenta

Address: Corso Magenta 31 / @dittaartigianale

A specialised specialty coffee bar focused on top-quality espresso and filter coffee, it has become a new hub for Italians’ morning rituals and DJ brunch events since opening in April 2025. The brand was founded in Florence more than ten years ago.

Arket Café

Address: Via Tommaso Grossi 9

The minimalist Nordic café inside the Arket store opened alongside the flagship location and offers organic coffee, pastries, and light dishes. The menus are created by head chef Martin Berg, one of the early advocates of the New Nordic cuisine movement, and are vegetarian. The place quickly became popular after opening in Milan last year, and the Arket family gained another gastro member, as their coffee bistros can be found all over the world.

Bugan Coffee Lab

Address: Via Vigevano 15 / @bugancoffeelab

The well-known Italian specialty coffee lab and micro roastery, as they describe themselves, opened a new location last year in Milan’s popular Navigli area. Here, they combine top-tier espresso and filter coffee with an educational approach to specialty coffee, paying particular attention to sustainability and innovation. They compete and win awards, so you will be served a champion’s cup of coffee here.

New aperitivo bars

I will wrap up the list very concretely, with the best places for a classy aperitivo, one of Italy’s favourite rituals. Opened last year, they quickly became social hubs where, in the late afternoon, you can see how Milan truly enjoys itself. When in Milan.

Bar Sandøy

Address: Via Melzo 3 / @bar_sandoy

A newer gastro-bar address offering the atmosphere of Iberian pintxos paired with wine and liqueurs. It is not strictly an “aperitivo bar” in the classic spritz sense, but it has quickly become popular on the after-work scene and among Italians who continue on after work.

LabSolue Bar

Address: Via Vincenzo Forcella 6 / @labsolue

A new Milan spot that very quickly secured its place among the most popular and distinctive venues among locals. LabSolue Bar opened last year as a fragrance bar where, alongside cocktails, they also serve olfactory experiences, and yes, it has become an address for aperitivo, a scented aperitivo. The unmissable 201 ULIVO is an olfactory cocktail inspired by the LabSolue perfume of the same name. Extending from the fragrance laboratory, the Roof Terrace is the place to order one more cocktail in summer.

Onda Listening Bar

Address: Via Bonvesin de la Riva 3 / @onda_milano

This gem could easily have appeared at the very beginning of the list, as it is primarily a listening bar, but since opening in January last year it has also become a favourite afternoon aperitivo hotspot. Those afternoon gatherings often flow seamlessly into a night out, because that is simply the atmosphere here. As a sweet note to end on, this minimalist listening and cocktail bar focuses on music, vinyl, and carefully crafted cocktails in an intimate setting. You’re welcome.