Design Week returns to Milan again this year, starting on the 16th of April. Injecting the Italian city with an exciting burst of creativity, both professionals and design enthusiasts will travel from around the world to discover the newest product releases and experience a growing number of immersive installations taking place around the city.
Established in 1961 as a furniture fair called alone del mobile, it has grown to become the largest in the world, with more than 2,300 companies showcased over a space of 210,000sqm.
See below for our picks of the BEST shows of Milan Design Week, where we think you should stay, and the food spots you just cannot miss.
What Not To Miss At Milan Design Week:
INTERNI Cross vision - SunRICE - The recipe for happiness
Where: Brera Botanical Garden, via Brera 28 / via Fiori Oscuri 4
The recipe for happiness installation focuses on food, energy and architecture. Designed by Carlo Ratti Associati and Italo Rota, this project centralises Michelin-starred chef Niko Romito.
Emiliano Ponzi's installation for Glo for art
Where: Gattinoni Hub, via Statuto 2
Emiliano Ponzi stands out as a key figure in Milan Design Week 2024. The illustrator and artist, originally hailing from Reggio Emilia and currently residing in New York, showcases his versatile, poetic, and experimental style in collaboration with Design Group Italia and Accurat for the Salone del Mobile. Titled "Under the Surface", his creation delves into an underwater landscape, prompting contemplation on the repercussions of daily practices on the invaluable resource of water.
Credit: Allessandro Russotti
The pattern of dreams by Porsche
Where: Palazzo Clerici, Via Clerici 5
An awe-inspiring and monumental masterpiece, "Lines of Flight" by Numen/For Use, captivates with its suspended net—a mesh of light metal cells resembling a colony of vibrant wings. Commissioned by Porsche, this installation is part of "The Pattern of Dreams," which marks a new chapter in "The Art of Dreams" series, now in its fifth year. Focused on the themes of pattern, rhythm, and repetition, it invites visitors to ascend and explore it as a "social hammock"—a space of escape, transition, fantasy, and freedom.
Pop by nature by Chiquita
Where: Chiquita House, c/o Cambi Casa d'Aste, via San Marco 22
A crowd of intrigued spectators is guaranteed for this one, as Chiquita welcomes artist Romero Britto to Milan. The NeoPop trailblazer, and Happy Art Movement founder, will infuse vibrant life into the Chiquita banana house with his colourful artwork, promising a delightful and undoubtedly highly shareable experience for the Milan Design Week's audience.
Where To Stay For Milan Design Week:
Nestled within an iconic 19th-century Italian architectural gem, this flagship hotel epitomises excellence in luxury hospitality, with its sophisticated elegance.
Constructed between 1897 and 1901 by Generali, under the design of architect Luca Beltrami, Palazzo Venezia marked a significant renovation period for the area spanning the late 19th century to the early 20th century.
Featuring 84 rooms and suites, the hotel boasts an intimate wellness area complete with an indoor pool, sauna, Turkish bath, experience showers, ice cascade, and a relaxation space.
On the third floor, a Technogym-equipped gymnasium provides panoramic views of Palazzo della Ragione and Piazza Mercanti. Additionally, the interior houses four restaurants and a spa, adding to the allure of this exquisite establishment.
Straf Hotel
STAY IN ART! Tucked away in the city's core, an exclusive hotel unfolds within the confines of an 18th-century palace.
The Straf Hotel's unique ambiance is crafted by Architect Vincenzo De Cotiis, who skillfully employs materials to shape its character. With cement floors, brass bathrooms, split-cut slate, and aged gauze enclosed between glass plates, the design introduces self-lightening elements, fostering a warm atmosphere and a sense of relaxation distinct from industrially sourced materials.
The Wellness boutique, characterized by a play of light and dark tones, presents a modern and minimalist aesthetic, offering a tactile and sensory experience that sets it apart.
Spanning 73 rooms and suites, positioned between the prestigious Corso Venezia boulevard and the city's renowned shopping hub, the central piazza was recently designated a public square by the city's mayor.
The ground floor of the establishment now features an extension of Antonia, the revered Milanese fashion boutique carrying brands like Loewe and Sacai. Also gracing the premises are an outpost of the glamorous Beefbar restaurant chain and the flagship store for SO-LE Studio, the jewelry brand founded by Maria Sole Ferragamo in 2019.
Adding to the allure is the hotel's culinary program, centered around the restaurant 10_11. Spearheaded by the 32-year-old chef Alberto Quadrio, the restaurant offers picturesque views of the hotel's surprisingly expansive gardens, a rare find in central Milan.
Where To Eat In Milan:
Located on the fourth floor of the Palazzo, with direct access by lift from Via Orefici 26, the restaurant welcomes guests in a charming panoramic room with a view of the Duomo spires and the rooftops of Milan, which in turn overlooks a garden terrace with 100 seats.
Accompanying sushi, sashimi, maki, tempura and preparations made using the technique of cooking over fire (robata) are a selection of fine wines, beers, sake and Japanese whisky, umeshu and signature cocktails.
Unprecedented in its opulence, this new Milan venue is a testament to stylistic eclecticism, drawing inspiration from the vintage elegance of the 1960s.
Crafted by Studio Kiki, the 740-square-meter space transforms into a dream adorned with mirrors, colossal colorful chandeliers, and lustrous yellow Siena marble.
Delight in the freshest mozzarellas and burratas sourced directly from the "La Murgia" dairy in Muggiò. Indulge in cured meats from the Bettella Agricultural Company. Revel in homemade pasta, from the almost classic cacio e pepe infused with a blend of four different peppers to truffle tagliolini. The extensive wine and aperitif selection is complemented by a must-try concoction called the "Zerotto," Gloria's unique rendition of the Sbagliato.
Nestled in the sophisticated Brera district, an exciting new rooftop unfolds. Spanning 150 square meters, this space comes alive from 6:00 pm onwards, offering a delightful experience to savor Chef Claudio Sadler's renowned dishes.
Among the culinary delights is the beloved "Riso alla Milanese da passeggio," perfectly complemented by signature cocktails like Claudio Sadler's Mi-To.
This concoction, a reimagining of the Milan-Turin tradition, blends Sadler's Vermuth, Campari, and saffron ice, seamlessly merging elements of both tradition and innovation.
Breakfast In Milan:
A tempting selection inspired by the rich flavours of Sicily. Indulge in the breakfast must-have: the delightful brioche col tuppo, unequivocal stars of the restaurant. The menu extends its appeal to include maritozzi and cornetti (available in a vegan version), alongside almond pastries and pistachio delights. Complementing this delectable array is a well-curated coffee shop, featuring a variety of options such as single origins and diverse extractions, ranging from satisfying espresso to filter coffee, cold brew, and refreshing summer cold variations.
Come to this bright boulangerie for breakfast and you will find croissants, pain au chocolat, madeleines, éclairs, flan and of course demi sel butter to spread on baguettes.
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