You’ve probably heard of Brera, the storied Milanese neighborhood that’s the epicenter of the world’s design capital. But Brera isn’t just Milan’s creative calling card during those hectic days of Milan Design Week and Salone del Mobile; it’s a year-round address of style, luxury and art.
Just around the corner from Via Montenapoleone — arguably the world’s most upscale shopping street — and steps north of La Scala, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele and the Duomo, Brera feels like a village tucked inside the city. Its pastel-hued palazzi and cobblestone lanes are part of the friendly rhythm, where everyone seems to know everyone.
Call the area boho-chic or Milan’s beating heart, but whatever you do, make sure to call on this guide whenever you need Brera’s best hotels, restaurants and shopping.
Where to Stay
Casa Brera, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Milan is Brera’s newest address and where you’ll want to call home for a few days. Tucked discreetly behind Teatro alla Scala and steps from Via Brera, the hotel occupies a quietly elegant 1950s Rationalist building by architect Pietro Lingeri, now reimagined with signature flair from designer Patricia Urquiola. You’ll find rich tones, layered textures and unmistakably Milanese interiors in all 116 rooms and suites. And the crown jewel is Etereo, the rooftop terrace, pool bar and acclaimed restaurant with skyline views that stretch to the Duomo.
Shop and Wander
Brera may be tiny, but it packs a big punch. Fashion, food, architecture, design and art are rolled up into the compact neighborhood. Though Via Brera is the main thoroughfare, it’s an easy, walkable road that stretches slightly north toward Via Solferino and brushes up against Porta Nuova. You can walk it all in 15 minutes.
On Via Brera, culture is the main thread with the Pinacoteca di Brera, where Caravaggio, Raphael and Titian hang in a former Jesuit monastery-turned-art-gallery, and the newly opened Palazzo Citterio, which focuses on 20th-century and contemporary works. Just a few steps behind it is a leafy retreat, Orto Botanico, Milan’s 250-year-old botanical garden.
There are also storied boutiques, like Pettinaroli, a stationery store since 1881, known for antique maps, marbled papers and bespoke leather-bound journals. Nearby, Ditta Cesari Crespi has been supplying Milan’s artists and art students with handmade paper and archival supplies for more than a century. Make a point to stop into Cavalli e Nastri for vintage finds, and if you find yourself in the city on the third Sunday of the month, enjoy the open-air Brera antique market.
Side streets, offshoots and crossroads host many of Brera’s central design stores. At vias Brera and Pontaccio, in fact, are two standout design destinations: Manifattura Richard Ginori, a beautiful boutique showcasing the historic Italian porcelain brand’s tableware and decorative objects, and the tiny Parisian Astier de Villatte, which offers quirky, handcrafted ceramics and heavenly scented incense. Over atLargo Claudio Treves, there is a beloved newsstandand gateway to the tony Via Solferino, where agent provocateur Antonio Colombo has his eponymous gallery and tiny Giolina e Angelo sells the most charming gold jewelry.
Eat and Drink
When hunger strikes, take a walk. Coral Sisk of Curious Appetite has curated an expert-level Milan food tour for Brera. Generational alimentari (grocery stores), mom-and-pop gelaterie (ice cream parlors) and neighborhood forni (bakeries) are all on the sightseeing menu
You can also reserve a table at some of Brera’s tastiest addresses: Il Marchese is the chic Milanese outpost of Rome’s beloved restaurant and amaro bar. Like Casa Brera, Il Marchese has upcycled a 1930s building, adding some moody interiors and sculpted leather banquettes. The cocktail list leans heavily into bitters (with one of Italy’s largest amaro selections) while the kitchen serves up what may be the city’s best and unapologetically Roman carbonara.
For something more old-school Milanese, Al Matarel turns out comforting dishes like osso buco (braised veal shanks with wine and broth), cassoeula (a winter stew) and rostin negàa (a roast).
Once dinner is complete, try Bar Brera, across from the Pinacoteca, and the retro Jamaica, which has been open since 1911. Both are known for their laid-back, bohemian-chic vibe. An aperitivi at Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Bvlgari Hotel Milan’s bar, cocktails at Etero and amari back at Il Marchese are wonderful ways to toast to Brera as well.
