In a side street of Corso Magenta, not far from the San Lorenzo columns, there’s a restored 19th-century pastry shop, the Marchesi, that gives you a glimpse at old Milan. In fact, that pastry shop has a long history, starting in 1824 and continuing to this day, and the building is still the same (nowadays there are three shops in the center of Milan, but this one is the oldest one).

Even inside the shop, the feeling is that time has stopped two centuries ago and that you are a part of another epoque, like in that Woody Allen’s film, “Midnight in Paris”, but in this case you’re in Milan. You can get a coffée or a cappuccino, and you will be served by shop assistants who wear 19th-century clothes. If you want to try something sweet, you can get one of the pastries choosen from the great variety available in the showcase and try some handmade Italian specialities, like panettone or pasticcini.

I would suggest even trying their pistachio croissant, which I think is one of the best in the city. So, if you want to go back in time and find yourself enjoying the best pastries of Milan, visiting Marchesi is a must.