Photo Credit: Radetzky.

Written by: Roger Wong

The Expo Milano 2015 starts on May 1^st and will last through the end of October. This city which hosts its famous fashion shows and Design Week will now be the focus of international culinary attention during the Expo. Foodies will be treated to explorations of new and old cuisine from around the world. While the locals have mixed feelings about their city coming under such close scrutiny and some worry about the possibilities of #milanFAIL, there are plenty of treats this city has to offer even if the Expo turns out to be half baked. Regardless, you can rely on these places to shop, eat, drink and stay all year through.

Shop here:

Paris has Colette, Milan Corso Como 10. Part art gallery, part coffee shop, part fashion store, the space, founded by former Italian Vogue’s editor-in-chief, Carla Sozzani, should be on everyone’s must see – or should I say must shop – list.

Eat here:

Carlo e Camilla
Carlo Cracco, the Michelin-starred chef teamed up with the art director Tanja Solci to create something you’d expect to find in Berlin rather than Milan. In a stark and industrial hall that was formerly a sawmill, they’ve created a visual set piece every bit as imaginative as the menu.

Osteria La Risacca Blu
In contrast to the stark industrial beauty of Carlo e Camilla, La Risacca Blu is your typical Italian family restaurant. However, don’t let the homey surroundings fool you. The seafood is fresh and the preparations refined. On a Monday night, the restaurant was packed with local Italian businessmen as well as tattooed designers sharing great food and company.

Fioraio Bianchi Caffe
What was once a flourishing flower shop is now a café, bistro and bar. While the pastoral flower arrangements lends credibility to its namesake, the menu and décor is more French than Italian. This is a local’s kind of place where the maître d’ knows your name and will keep your activities discreet.

Drink here:

Café Cova
One of the storied bars of Milan, Café Cova has been serving its fashionable clientele since 1817. Now with franchises in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore, and Shanghai, it’s refreshing to visit the original with all its pomp and glory in the heart of Milan’s fashion district.

Photo Credit: The Beauty Post.

Ceresio 7
The top floor of the DSquared office is home to their restaurant and bar. This roof top restaurant offers a rare treat in Milan, a pool and a 360 view of the skyline. Think West Hollywood meets Milan.

H Club
Located on the main floor of the Diana Majestic hotel, this is where everyone in the Milan goes. Picture the opening scene of La Grande Bellezza and you’ll get a glimpse of what happens here.

Photo Credit: Menual.

Dry
“Cocktails & Pizza” may not seem to advertise high-end mixology, but it doesn’t take Dry long to persuade you of its serious intent once you have a look at its drink menu. The cocktail recipes are new takes on old favorites while the drinks are served in beautiful vintage Italian stemware. The Neapolitan pizzas from its brick-fired ovens are a perfect compliment to the expertly shaken or stirred drinks.

Café Raditsky
If Milan had an alter to day drinking, Café Raditsky would be it. Located at the corner of the pedestrian mall Corso Garibaldi, it’s the perfect place to sip on an Aperol spritz and watch the beauty of youth as they stroll by. Be sure to get there early to grab the couches out front.

Stay Here:

The Yard Hotel
If you didn’t know better, you would swear this must be the Ace Hotel transplanted to Milan. With meticulously art directed details that hold stories of their own, a stay here feels like an evening at the experiential play Sleep No More without all the commotion.

Photo Credit: Airbnb art loft listing.

Airbnb
If you want a truly Milanese experience, try some of the offering on Airbnb. Here are two apartments that showcase great design as well as value. Just check out this industrial chic art loft for 137 USD/night.

Mandarin Oriental
Brand spankin’ new Mandarin Oriental is the lux place to stay while in Milan. Book for a high end option during Expo 2015.

For more Milan fashion, check out Michaela’s Milan Italy: Money can buy Access from her private shopping experience with Melanie Payge, personal stylist extraordinaire and former Managing Editor of GQ Italia.