Image by Alessandra Gesuelli

I’m a big fan of the movie Rocky Horror Picture Show. One night a friend invited me to a special show in a cinema called Mexico. It is located in via Savona, now one of the most stylish area in the city. Mexico is very popular in Milan because it hosts a special show of my cult movie since the 80s.

Live Actors and dancers all dressed up like the movie characters play some parts of the movie while viewed on the screen. I was invited, together with the rest of the audience, to sing all the songs, dance and take part of some of the movie scenes. It was really awesome and I had a lot of fun ! I know that this kind of cinema shows come from a London tradition: groups of fan used to meet to celebrate the movie!

My friend, who was there for the tenth time, told me what to bring: a newspaper, some rice, a pair of rubber gloves and a little trumpet. But if you forget you can buy a complete kit in the cinema. I didn’t know what were those objects for but I discovered soon! They were part of the show and I had to use them to participate. Booking is essential because it’s a really popular show and it’s always busy. My friend booked by email and got the ticket one hour before the show from the cinema ticket booth.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Rocky Horror in Milan | Cinemas, Music | Ticket € 6.00
Via Savona 57 | Ticinese/Genova | +390248951802
Check the website for the show

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Milan

Image by Audrey Smith

Don’t get confused by the name, Nidaba theatre is not a theatre but a live music pub. Just right in Navigli area you can find one of the few easy going live music pubs in town.

The place is small and cosy and you’ll be surprised by how many musicians they can stuff onto the extremely tiny stage!

The main advantage of this pub is that you have music 7 nights a week, you don’t have to pay any entrance and a beer is 6 euros, the normal standard in the area.

The atmosphere is hot and dark, sweaty i would say, as i imagine jazz clubs should be in New Orleans. But it is not just about jazz, one of the good points of this place is that every day you can have different kinds of music and you can have fun like I did with a fantastic Irish music group or an amazing 50′s American rock and roll band (it seemed like they were from the tv series “Happy Days”!).

A nice place if you want to do something different and escape from the often poshy Milan atmosphere… check out the website for what’s coming up!

Music usually kicks of around 22:00 – 23:00.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Nidaba Theatre | Bars, Music | Beer € 6.00
Via E. Gola 12 | Ticinese/Genova | +390289408657
21:30 – 02:00 daily | Closed in August | Music 22:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Milan

Image by Audrey Smith

This bar is just a few minutes away from Piazza Duomo but as it is tucked away in a small street you may not find it. Although, I must say I’m always surprised by how many do!

A good place for a post shopping or Scala drink without the exorbitant prices you can find around the Duomo. It’s not a place that gets really busy later during week days so it’s a great place to enjoy a quiet drink and chat with friends. Although it can get full with the banking crowd from 19:00 – 21:00.

On the weekends it can get a little more interesting with a DJ playing Top 40 music and very strong cocktails. These strong cocktails have seen some people getting a little excited and getting up and dancing on the bar! It generally kicks on till 02:00 – 03:00 depending on the owner’s mood!

It’s a great place if you want to organize a big group get together such as a birthday.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Victoria Cafè | Bars, Music | Drink € 6.00
Via Clerici 1 | Centro | +39028053598
18:00 – late daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Milan

Image by Audrey Smith

Whilst some may mourn the loss of Le Trottoir from the original Brera zone, this bar is alive and kicking in another part of town in a very historic building next to the new Porta Ticinese (one of the city doors).

It’s really centered perfectly in the heart of Milan’s nightlife. It is a historical meeting point for the artistic scene but on the weekends it is more of a live music venue with energetic, live music usually of the funk and soul genre. Lately on Saturday nights there has been a great ska influenced band.

On the second floor, a DJ plays dance/top 40 whilst the outdoor seating area can be great for a little peace and quiet. It can get a little crowded on the weekends but it’s a good place to pick up the pace a little after a quieter drink in the nearby Navigli area. You will find people from all walks of life here! At the moment Saturday night’s are featuring a rock band who play lots of 90′s rock and The Beatles.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Le Trottoir | Bars, Music | Entry from 22:00 € 10.00
Piazza XXIV Maggio 1 | Ticinese/Genova | +39028378166
11:00 – 02:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Milan

Image by Arianna Malacrida

Put the father of the optical art, Victor Vasarely, in a vintage sauce and you’ll have the walls of Mono, a very cute bar. The first time I entered here I was really mesmerized by the wallpapers of this place, Scandinavian in the colours and geometric in the patterns.

This is the typical kind of bar you hardly find in a small village, very stylish, a little pretentious but really nice. The furniture reminds me of the American advertising images from the 50′s as long as the objects, like old radios, ashtrays or lamps. The soundtrack of the place is truly refined, not commercial, with an electro edge.

Open at night, it’s perfect for a drink: a beer, a glass of wine, a cocktail, everything is nice. People who hang out at Mono are usually very urban, fashion oriented and with a sophisticated taste in music, looking for a place where you can forget for a while which city you’re in.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Mono | Bars, Music | Cocktail € 7.00
via Lecco 6 | Centro | +393394810264
Sun – Tue 18:30 – 01:00, Wed – Thu 18:30 – 01:30, Sat 18:30 – 02:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Milan

Image by Arianna Malacrida

Cuore is the Italian word for heart and this place will certainly make yours beat. If you feel like having a good drink and listening to some refined tunes I would certainly suggest you to go to Cuore.

This bar is located in a tiny street very close to Colonne di San Lorenzo, the area where a lot of cafes, bars and restaurants are. It’s open in the evening and offers a cosy atmosphere where the music is not too loud to have a chat and the rhythm is frisky enough to shake your body. You never know whether you’ll find a crowd of people dancing or just some visitors sitting on the old sofas and colourful chairs sipping their drinks.

The style is a little retro, the lights are soft and there are some arty objects hanging on the walls. If you usually care about elaborated details you will like the place. You can find a nice mood created by the soul and funk beat matching with the vintage furniture and the articulated architecture of the space. Besides, it’s good that the entrance is free and cocktails are not too pricy. Cheers!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Bar Cuore | Bars, Music | Cocktail € 7.00
Via Gian Giacomo Mora 3 | Ticinese/Genova | +390258105126
23:00 – 02:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Milan

Image by Goganga website

One thing I’ll never get about Milano is what sort of mix brings a bar to popularity. Sometimes you see really cute places in very crowded spots totally empty. Some other times you are lucky to find hidden places packed with people and full of life. Goganga belongs to this second group.

This disco bar is placed at the end of a dark dead end street. The area is not spooky or seedy but the first time I got there I couldn’t help but wonder how it got so popular despite its location.

I’ll try to tell you some reasons here: the entrance is free, cocktails are good, music is nice, people are friendly. The space is not big like a real club but it’s not small like a simple bar. The industrial space is furnished with retro design pieces, which remind me of Pedro Almodovar’s movies from the seventies.

If you feel like dancing but you’re not in the mood for a pricey and posh club, Goganga is the place for you. Just be prepared to dance cheek to cheek with everybody, cause it’s always full of people.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Goganga | Bars, Music | Cocktail € 8.00
Via Cadolini 39 | Porta Romana | +390236508503
Fri – Sat 22:00 – 03:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Milan