the armchair traveller

Nasomatto PR officer and Milanese resident Julia Ahtijainen shares her insider secrets of Milan

Where should we stay?
Senato Hotel Milano  

Where’s the best place to get a cocktail or two?
Historical Bar Basso, trendy Dry or one of the newcomers, like KANPAI in Porta Venezia  

How about the buzziest restaurant table?  
My latest favourite is Altatto, but Da Giacomo never fails, Carlo e Camillo is always pretty, and for the best casual treat Pastamadre in Porta Romana  

Where to go for Milan’s best Osso Buco?
I’m not a fan, so wouldn’t know how to judge  

What’s the one shop you couldn’t be without?
One of the many interior design shops. Milan offers the best inspiration with its design milieu, be it Flos, Nilufar or BDDW

Where can we find the coolest local artists work?
Go North, towards Centrale  

Is a hip label on the streets right now?  
For me its whatever label carries decent hoodies and sweatpants in cashmere

Your perfect Milan day?
Take a coffee at Marla in Porta Romana, taking in the architecture, a stroll towards Villa Necchi. Do some shopping in Quadrilatero della Moda and then its pasta and a glass of wine for lunch. Browse some galleries like Massimo De Carlo or pay a visit to Fondazione Prada. An early aperitivo, with like-minded culture vultures, at Bar Basso. This will inevitably flow into an improvised dinner, which could end up being a private gallery opening after-party on someone’s rooftop or balcony

How does Milan influence your work?
It sets a certain bar of aesthetics, design, quality and demand towards oneself to deliver perfection. Even if you surpass the deadline, the final result is what matters and speaks

Best trip out of town?
The closest would be a hike at Como/Lecco or towards Valtellina on the Swiss border

Don’t leave without seeing?
Villa Necchi, where “I am love” with Tilda Swinton was filmed

Something we must take home?
A stolen foulard from that house party / gallery opening that still smells like Milan, cigarettes, negroni and perfume