Back in my Uni years (“only” some 15 years ago, gosh!) I had this dream where I would pontificate with my friends about the best translation of T.S. Eliot's The Waste Land or something while enjoying an Americano sitting on a sofa, as seen on the best sit-coms.
A few years later, I get my MA and move on to real life, and there comes a dreamy cafè that is literally in front of to my alma mater and also sells lovely books: I'm talking about Colibrì, the literary coffee shop that might as well be my dream come true.
Colibrì is close to the main branch of the Università Statale di Milano. It's a small and colourful bookshop/bar/bistrot that is comforting enough when your brain hurts from reading too much Hegel, and serves as the coziest post-lecture aperitivo place. Morning to evening, there's always a good excuse to pop in and browse between the books or have a slice of that wonderful cheesecake they serve.
To be honest, I think it's a bit too expensive to have lunch here, especially if you're a student, but if you're strolling around or you've just passed that awfully, afwully hard exam it could be worth the treat, wouldn't it?
Back in my Uni years, in my dreams we also had bunks to sleep in between the lectures. See if they can make that happen in the near future too!
Find your way with 185 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
One of the most interesting in the city, founded in 1576, it has the same structure as some Roman-Greek circular temples, "tholos" in ancient Greek.
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It was built in the V century around a stone, which beneath it had the relics of four Christian martyrs who were brutally tortured and then killed...
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Alda Merini was one of the most interesting people in the city and was always wandering around Navigli, so anybody could go and meet her in that district.
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Villa Invernizzi is an impressive Milan mansion with its own covey of pink flamingos. They spend their quiet lives in the garden, used to the attention.
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Though Pinocchio's statue is easy to overlook, it serves as a reminder of Milan’s deep connection to Italian culture, inviting us to see beyond the surface
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On Saint'Eustorgio square stands the statue of Saint Peter of Verona, the crual Inquisitor of Milan and Como, overseeing trials for witchcraft and sorcery.
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Locals say via Bagnera is haunted, with the wind carrying whispers of a gruesome legacy. Pause and imagine Milan’s hidden history in this quiet corner.
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AOC's charm is not just in the goods but in the story behind them, shared passionately by the founder’s son and his wife, who now run the store.
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These fountains, both historic and functional, are reminders of Milan’s longstanding connection with mineral water—an overlooked aspect of the city’s past.
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Backdoor43 in Milan is life experienced through a whiskey glass. This is the smallest bar in the world. 3 people maximum for each session, booked in advance.
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Casa 770 striking facade was built to bring a piece of Brooklyn’s spirit to Milan, it’s the only one in Europe, and now it serves as a cultural hub.
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"Tenoha Milano" has Nippon minimalism. No fluffy puff, no chichi, no HelloKitty. This place oozes craftsmanship, period. You'll wanna come back asap.
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