5 things to do in Milan this weekend To save yourself from the fashion week crowd

Milan during Fashion Week is a strange city: on one hand, it becomes incredibly lively, with a special vibe in the air that makes sightings of celebrities and movie stars possible at every corner; on the other, the chaos, traffic, and black vans roaming the city make you want to step away from the frenzy and seek something even more chic. That’s why it’s worth stepping away, not escaping, from the mad crowd to find truly authentic places: far from the emptiness of advertising, in search of something real and absolutely modern.

Here are 5 things to do in Milan this weekend.

To Eat – Sali Milano

Sali is a refined Izakaya restaurant and cocktail bar on the seventh floor of the Radisson Collection Hotel Santa Sofia in Milan, immersed in a cosmopolitan atmosphere inspired by Japan. Led by young chef Chiara Di Salvo, a protégé of Gordon Ramsay, it offers innovative sharing-style dishes like Wagyu yakitori, gourmet sando, and chirashi crispy rice, perfect for a sensory journey. With breathtaking views of the city’s rooftops and sophisticated oriental drinks, Sali invites you to an experience blending luxury, creativity, and late-night vibes.

Corso Italia 29

To Shop – Riccardo Ferrario / Drop 2

A tiny, hyper-local brand (all the clothes are made in the city, in a small workshop), Riccardo Ferrario has a unique approach, preferring temporary stores to marketing events: the presentation, which takes place in a charming sitting room in a classic Milanese courtyard in Porta Romana, is also the store, where visitors can meet the designer in person. An intimate but chic atmosphere that has already seduced several customers during the first drop a few months ago, while recently, a couple of his tops appeared at the latest Vogue Italia party. If you are tired of commercial fashion and want something more authentic, you know where to go.

Via Lazzaro Papi 18

To Discover – Biblioteca Ostinata

Biblioteca Ostinata is a cozy neighborhood library in the heart of Milan, located at Via Osti 6, near the Università Statale and in the shadow of Torre Velasca, born in 2022 from a generous gesture. Founded by former Autogrill CEO Paolo Prota Giurleo, who donated 4,000 volumes from his private collection—classics, rarities, comics, and children’s books—to promote the joy of reading in an era hostile to books. Designed with flexible aesthetics by architect Michele De Lucchi, it offers spaces for study, events, and monthly book clubs, open for free Monday to Friday from 10 AM to 6 PM, as an act of “stubborn and contrary” passion.

Via Osti 6

To Chill - Romanengo 1780

Romanengo 1780 is Italy’s oldest confectionery, founded in Genoa in 1780 and arriving in Milan in 2022 at Via Caminadella 23, with a shop evoking an ancient world of artisanal delights. It celebrates sweet traditions with candied fruits, sugared almonds, chocolates, fondants, and petits fours, handmade with precious ingredients, perfect for reliving childhood flavors. La Corte, the tearoom in a hidden courtyard, offers a cozy vintage salon for breakfasts and sweet breaks, with teal walls and meticulous service.

Via Caminadella 23

To Party – Solomun @ Ex-Macello

Solomun, the stage name of Mladen Solomun, is a renowned Bosnian-German DJ and producer, born in Bosnia in 1975 and later moving to Germany, an icon of house and techno electronic music with epic sets blending deep grooves and immersive atmospheres. Next Saturday, he will perform an exclusive set at Milan’s Ex-Macello for the new chapter of Vision Open Air during Fashion Week, a daytime party from 5 PM to midnight amidst concrete and dancing bodies, ready to captivate all with his musical authority.

Tickets on sale here