Founded in 1936, this pasticceria has become a Milan institution. Aperitivo runs all day, with stuzzichini—small pastries filled with pâté, tuna, and tomatoes—arriving on tiered stands alongside your spritz. The terrace spills onto the street, drawing everyone from tourists popping in to regulars who have occupied the same seats for decades.

This tiny space blends old Italian drogheria charm with Venetian bacaro tradition. Original wooden cabinets display gourmet products at this standing room-only bar— ideal for a quick glass of wine and a few bocconi. It’s part of Milan’s beloved Giacomo empire and is a perfect warm-up before crossing the street to have dinner at one of their other restaurants.

This pink-hued pasticceria has drawn sciure (elegant Milanese women) for midday spritzes since 1990. Founder Sissi stuffs brioches to order at the counter. Try the caffè Senegalese, an espresso blended with chocolate ice cream in summer and hot chocolate in winter.

This is the birthplace of the Negroni Sbagliato, created in 1972 when a bartender accidentally reached for prosecco instead of gin. Pink walls, marble floors, and Sinatra on the stereo set the scene. It becomes an unofficial headquarters during Fashion Week and Salone del Mobile, but a quiet Tuesday is just as rewarding, and when the details come into focus.

In a tower designed by Rem Koolhaas at Fondazione Prada, Ristorante Torre pairs art and aperitivo with ease. Eero Saarinen chairs and Jeff Koons paintings frame floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the Milan skyline. Servers move through the room in head-to-toe Prada. Order the Negroni tasting with four interpretations and pair it with a visit to one of the exhibitions.

Founded in 1964, Bar Quadronno earned its reputation by taking sandwiches seriously, with fillings like tongue and béarnaise, game pâté, and chamois ham. The interior remains unchanged: lacquered wood, bronze lanterns, and a boar’s head still presiding over the room. Only later did fashion figures take notice—staff reserve a table for Miuccia Prada—but its appeal lies in the opposite: It’s loved precisely because it isn’t driven by trends.

This natural wine bar has turned ordering into a conversation. The bottle rotation moves too quickly for menus, and servers speak in flavors rather than jargon. Sit in the walled garden with taralli and a glass of something that’s only available for two weeks each year. Weather permitting, grab a stool and let the afternoon disappear.

This tiny room lined with Tuscan bottles is presided over by an owner who strictly speaks Italian, aided by emphatic hand gestures, of course. There’s no written wine list, just Chianti, Vernaccia, and whatever else he’s excited about that day. Prosciutto and finocchiona are sliced to order. Snagging the only two outdoor seats feels like a small victory.

Since 1863, the Grand Hotel et de Milan has hosted Verdi, Callas, Hemingway, Mastroianni, and more. Its iconic Gerry’s Bar was recently renovated by Dimorestudio, who layered dusty pink, rust, and forest green with original terrazzo floors and a 19th-century fireplace. Milan may not be known for great hotel bars, but Gerry’s is an exception. It’s plush without being showy, discreet without being dull.

Set within a former seminary dating to 1565, this hotel bar is punctuated by 152 colonnaded arches. The absence of music lets conversation carry the room as fashion mavens drift through between appointments, locals walk dogs across the courtyard, and the people-watching easily replaces a book. The house-roasted almonds are exceptional.

This is where to go when 8 p.m. feels like a reasonable start time. A former kindergarten classroom was transformed into this sleek cocktail bar, with walls clad in metal and everything else upholstered in maximalist floral fabrics. Martini service includes mid-drink glass changes to keep your tipple ice-cold. The complimentary spread—especially the vegetarian stuffed fried olives—has been known to derail dinner plans.

Bar Nico is all red lighting, steel, and concrete—a space designed for people with strong opinions about door handles. The wine list leans natural, with a focus on small French and Italian producers and a particular strength in orange wines. There’s no kitchen, so the food requires no cooking: raw salsiccia di Bra, tartares, and fresh vegetables. Grab a seat facing the door for prime people-watching.

This natural wine bar blends Mediterranean and Filipino traditions and has a name that translates to “home” in several Filipino languages. Expect gildas served alongside sesame prawn toast or patatas bravas with mango slaw. Here, aperitivo can easily become dinner.

Davide Campari opened this landmark bar in 1915 as an homage to his father, whose café next door made the Galleria synonymous with aperitivo. Yes, it’s busy, but tourists (and a solid crowd of locals) come for the right reasons. This is where it all began.