1. Attimi by Heinz Beck
Heinz Beck is the only chef in Rome whose restaurant has three Michelin stars – an honour he has held for more than 10 years at the helm of La Pergola inside the Rome Cavalieri Waldorf Astoria resort. Last year, he opened his first restaurant in Milan. Attimi is a pit stop for those on the go, albeit one that does not compromise on quality, taste or presentation. Choose from two sets that can be completed in either 30 or 60 minutes, or enjoy à la carte items such as cacio e pepe (pasta with cheese and pepper) with pea mousse, smoked potatoes and a dash of lime, or a tender fillet of veal served with mushrooms and vegetables. Time-strapped? The moreish cakes in the dessert display are a great way to replenish energy levels before the next round of sightseeing.
2. Torre at Fondazione Prada
The last section of Fondazione Prada to open, Torre was designed by starchitect Rem Koolhaas and OMA. Made out of exposed white concrete and glass, this 60m-high beauty has changed the skyline of Milan with its irregular, angular geometry. Interestingly, half the floors have a rectangular plan, while the remaining feature has a trapezoidal one that juts out from the building. The ceiling heights also increase with each level, creating intriguing possibilities for spatial usage. Of its nine storeys, six are dedicated to exhibition spaces, including one for a permanent show, “Atlas”, developed by Miuccia Prada and artistic and scientific superintendent Germano Celant. Round off the visit with a meal at the restaurant on level six, or a drink at the bar on the rooftop terrace.
3. Four Seasons Hotel Milan Chocolate Room
One tonne. That is the total amount of Valrhona chocolate needed to create the latest edition of the Chocolate Room at the Four Seasons Hotel Milan. An integral part of its seasonal Sunday brunch, it is conceptualised by pastry chef Daniele Bonzi. This time around, he has presented it as an art exhibition, in a nod to the city’s renowned reputation as a design capital – think geometric shapes, as well as pop culture and tape art elements. The highlight is a replica of the Needle, Thread and Knot sculpture by artists Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen that can be found on Piazzale Cadorna.
4. RED Feltrinelli
Culture and food are the order of the day at La Feltrinelli’s latest RED (an acronym for “read, eat, dream”) store – a concept that marries a bookstore with a bistro. Housed in a historical 20th-century building in the Brera district, it is designed in a contemporary style with 350m² of space spread across two floors. On the shelves are 11,000 books on culture – a number of which are in foreign languages – which are hidden away in an inner courtyard. Even the eatery is on-theme: each item on the menu has a quote or reference to the novel that inspired it.
5. Jacob Cohën
Luxury denim label Jacob Cohën has returned to its roots and opened a 200m² flagship store at 31 Via della Spiga. This is the first time the Italian brand has founded a standalone boutique in Milan and it has adopted a contemporary luxury and lifestyle approach. In addition to the regular collections for men and women, it also carries a capsule range for children, and has a section carved out for made-to-measure jeans. Unmissable are its store windows that have been curated by JoAnn Tan, who is also behind those of luxury brands such as Hermès.
Singapore Airlines flies to Milan daily. To book a flight, visit singaporeair.com
SEE ALSO: Best free things to do in Milan
This article was originally published in the January 2019 issue of SilverKris magazine
