Brera/Porta Nuova Milan – All our local tips

It’s not easy to give a strict definition to this place… it’s actually at the same time a trendy cafe, an art library, a fashion shop.

It’s located right in the middle of one of the most trendy areas of Milano, just a few hundred meters from the Garibaldi train and metro station. When you enter the main door you’re in a typical Milanese courtyard with a lot of plants where there are the tables of the cafe. Right in front of you there is the proper cafe (on the right) and the fashion shop (on the left). I never entered the shop and the cafe is good but quite expensive.

The most interesting part is on the left: there are stairs that lead to the upper floor. There you find a very good library specialized in books about design, art, architecture, photography, fashion that really worth a visit! There are also a free art gallery called Galleria Sozzani that hosts exhibitions (often about photography) where you can enter for free. They had The World Press Photo 2009 a few months ago and now there is an exhibition about Floris Neususs (till August 2nd).

If you go there, don’t miss out on the architecture of the courtyard: a very typical one of our city.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
10 Corso Como | Art & culture, Bars | Cocktails € 10.00
Corso Como 10 | Brera/Porta Nuova | +3902654831
Cafe: Mon 18:00 – 00:00, Tue – Sun 11:00 – 00:00

If you are looking for a restaurant with a long Menu, this is not the place for you, since “La Cotoletteria” serves just “cotoletta” and a few more dishes.

It’s a very informal place and it’s perfect for an awesome time with friends. Especially if your friends love eating a lot without spending too much! Furthermore, it is located in a very nice, quiet and trendy street of Milan surrounded by pubs, therefore after dinner it is really easy to find a nice place for a beer or ice-cream.

The recipe of “Cotoletta alla milanese” (literally “chop from Milan” – it is one of the typical dishes of the city) is really simple: a thin slice of veal dropped in whipped raw egg, rolled in bread crumbles and finally deep fried.

There are two versions of “cotoletta”. One is called “elephant ear”: a very thin chop that gets really crispy after frying and that actually looks like an elephant ear. The other one is usually a bit thicker and with bone.

There are 15 “cotolette” listed on the menu: from the plain one (the “Classica”) to the “Margherita”, served with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese as if it was a pizza.  Side dishes are included and you can  choose between salad, grilled vegetables and fries. Just a tip: ask for lemon and squeeze it on the “cotoletta”, it makes the meat tastier.

For a complete menu (cotoletta + ½ lt wine + 1lt water + 1 coffee + liquor) you will spend around € 22.00.

Try also the “Fritto di fiori di zucca”, deep fried zucchini flowers. They are simply amazing!

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La Cotoletteria | Restaurants (Milanese) | Coletta from € 13.00
Corso Garibaldi, 11 | Brera/Porta Nuova | +392874809
Tue – Fri 12:00 – 14:00 & 19:00 – 23:00, Sat 19:00 – 23:00

I just got back from trying another recommended pizzeria in Milan…but I must say I still have to rate Pizzeria Sibilla as my number 1! Yes, I think it’s a bit of an Italian past time…find the best place for pizza!

Sibilla is located in the heart of Brera. It’s a tiny, busy and very basic place with big wooden tables sometimes shared with other guests. Apart from the pizzas (they are lovely and i would recommend the calzone, my favourite!), try the tagliata or any of the other non pizza dishes. Everything is very fresh and the quality is really good.

They don’t accept reservations, so during the weekend you may have to wait a while. Customers tend to be on the younger side as they don’t mind waiting a bit for good, tasty and well priced pizza.

Yes, prices are very low for the quality and location. A perfect place to start off the night and then stroll through the beautiful Brera area or stop at one of the bars open till 02:00.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Pizzeria Sibilla | Restaurants (Pizzeria) | Meal € 20.00
Via Mercato 14 | Brera/Porta Nuova | +390286464567
Tue – Sat 12:00 – 15:00 & 18:00 – 00:00

Princi’s bakeries are great to devour a late light snack or something tasty for lunch. Probably having a fantastic slice of pizza at 05:00 is one of my first most memorable memories of Milan and it was at Princi in Piazza Venticinque Aprile after a night dancing in a club on Corso Como. (April 25 Square).

You will find pastries, pizza slices, focaccia, sandwiches, salad and lunch dishes. Really tasty and good quality for a quick meal.

There are 4 locations around the city:

Via Speronar, 6
Piazza XXV Aprile, 5
Largo La Foppa, 2
Via Ponte Vetero, 10

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Princi bakeries | Snacks | Small roll from € 0.50
Piazza XXV Aprile, 5 | Brera/Porta Nuova
24 hours daily