MILANO MIA

2. July 2018

“Milan inspires me so much that I have named my company after the most beautiful part of the city”, Matteo Ghedini, Managing Director of Brera GmbH and guest author of Bleisure Traveller

When I am at home in Milan, the Brera district is my favourite nightlife area. This environment inspires me so much that I have even named my company after it – Brera Serviced Apartments. My idea was to bring Italian design and its atmosphere and charm into our homes. The pedestrian zone in Brera, especially between Mercato and Via Borgonuovo reflects the Milanese atmosphere: good food, great drinks, art, architecture and design. I love to visit the Pinacoteca with its old library, stroll through the Botanical Garden and enjoy an aperitivo or a drink after dinner at the Ombra de Vin.

Another district that fascinates me is Navigli. The pedestrian area next to the canal (Alzaia Naviglio Grande) is fantastically beautiful and a symbol of Milan’s rebirth. The canals have only recently been revived, after a long period of stagnation. There are great bars nearby, such as Morgan’s or Il Tasca Milano near Porta Ticinese. Here you can enjoy – standing in the streets along with many interesting people – the extensive aperitivo. But there are also great restaurants in this area, like the Langosteria in Via Savona or the Carlo e Camilla in Via Giuseppe Meda. Not too long ago Carlo Cracco turned an old sawmill into a cool restaurant here. You eat at long tables and enjoy a drink at the bar in a beautiful courtyard.

Lots of fashion, even more restaurants …

Milan is famous for shopping, and there are good reasons for that! It is enough to stroll through the “Quadrilatero” (between Via della Spiga, Via Montenapoleone, Corso Venezia and Via Manzoni) to get an impression of the fashion metropolis and steal a few “fashion ideas”. But for all the fashion magic in the city, in the end I always end up in the part of Milan with its great gastronomy. Especially in Milan there are for example the Paninis. In no other city in the world have I been able to enjoy them so much. The bar Tommasi or De Santis offer paninis that are prepared with the finest ingredients and just as much love. You have to try them! Just like the Crostata, the famous cakes of Panrello. I always try to have some in the house! And I can immediately think of other restaurant recommendations: the Ratanà and the Giacomo Bistrot for traditional Milanese cuisine with Pepp or the Yio as the best sushi restaurant in town.

If I’m looking for some peace and quiet from the city, I usually go out to the lakes. Especially to the Lago Maggiore or Lago di Como. Recently I found a new place, the Parco del Ticino. During a walk through the cities of Morimondo and Robecco sul Navigio or during a bicycle tour along the river Ticino I can fully recharge my batteries.

Matteo Ghedini …

is an Italian entrepreneur who founded Brera GmbH in Munich in 2012 and operates serviced apartment buildings. He lived in Munich for a while, but his longing for Milan brought him back again.