Milan stands out from the rest of the Italian cities with its modernity, internationality, and abundance of exciting opportunities. It’s a city that never sleeps and caters to world-renowned designers, artists, and business professionals alike. Of course, the city’s cosmopolitan vibe and cultural diversity is also reflected in Milan’s nightlife.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the hot spots for nightlife in Milan, the best clubs, and, naturally, the best aperitivo spots in the city!

Milan nightlife areas

Whether you’re a student, professional, or a freelancer, young or old, in Milan, there is something for everyone. You’ll find that this city offers every night entertainment option possible. From an aperitivo in an elegant cocktail bar to a techno rave that goes on until sunrise.

Every neighbourhood of Milan has something unique up its sleeve. Head to Porta Garibaldi, Corso Como, or Brera for a taste of chic and fashionable atmosphere. Go to Navigli and Isola, and you’ll find yourself surrounded by a youthful and hip crowd. Looking for something more queer? Via Lecco in Porta Venezia is your street!

And don’t you worry if it seems that the best nightlife spots in Milan are spread all over the city. Milan has a great public transport system that will take you wherever you need in no time!

Aperitivo in Milan

Have we mentioned that Italian work culture is all about "work hard, play hard"?

As they finish their work, many Italians head to bars and terraces to whet their appetite with a glass of wine or a light cocktail. This is a beloved Italian tradition known as aperitivo.

Most of the bars are open for aperitivo somewhere between 18.00 and 20.00. Along with cocktails, you receive a selection of snacks, which differ from place to place.

And even though an aperitif isn’t meant to substitute your dinner, it actually can. You can have appetizers coming as long as you’re drinking. They’ll often include cheeses, cured meats, quiches, pizzas, and even small portions of pasta.

Aperitivo bars might become your best friend in Milan if you’re on a tight budget. But keep in mind that some places might find it rude to refill your plates without ordering another drink.

Now that you know how it works, let’s see what the best bars in Milan offering aperitivo are.

Best cocktail bars in Milan

Best cocktails in Milan: Rita

Rita is one of the most famous aperitivo bars in Milan located in the Navigli district. Since its opening in 2002, Rita has managed to maintain its reputation as a spot for great bespoke cocktails and a laid-back, unpretentious ambience.

You can choose from more classic offerings like negroni to truly special drinks that earned Rita its fame. Tell the friendly staff your likes and dislikes, and get ready to be surprised by clever flavour combinations and quality ingredients.

When it comes to aperitivo, don’t expect huge portions of food. Rather, Rita will treat you to sophisticated appetizers such as grilled octopus and aubergine.

Best luxurious experience in Milan: Dolce & Gabbana Bar Martini

Dolce & Gabbana Bar Martini is as glamorous as it sounds. This Milanese bar is the result of a collaboration between two brands known for honouring Italian tradition while giving it a modern twist. You might’ve guessed their names; it’s D&G and Martini.

Dolce & Gabbana Bar Martini is located in the heart of Milan, next to the D&G Man boutique in Corso Venezia.

Entering the bar is like stepping into a different world. As you walk through the patio to the garden room, you find yourself in an intimate space characterised by a refined design.

Wherever you look, you’ll see beautiful green plants. They hang down from the ceiling or rise up from large pots, all reflected in mirrors and shiny black surfaces.

Sounds expensive? Because it is. But if you want to treat yourself to a truly special lunch, an aperitivo, or a dinner inspired by the Sicilian tradition, you shouldn’t miss this cool bar in Milan.

Best rooftop bar in Milan: Organics SkyGarden @Cielo

Once again, not the cheapest place in Milan. But the view in Organics SkyGarden @Cielo is worth paying a little extra.

SkyGarden is located on the 13th floor of Hyatt Centric Milan Centrale hotel in the Porta Garibaldi area. It's a perfect place to watch the skyline of Milan and the famous green buildings of the Bosco Verticale. The bar itself is a real urban jungle that attracts its visitors with walls of vegetation, great cocktails, and varied aperitif served directly at the table.

This rooftop bar in Milan is open from May to October. During the weekends, you’ll often hear a live music concert or a DJ playing around sunset.

Best wine bar in Milan: N’Ombra de Vin

N’Ombra de Vin is a French-inspired enoteca located in the former 1500s refectory of the Augustinian convent in Brera.

What looks like a humble bar from outside, turns into a massive underground wine cellar as you enter. More than 2,500 wine bottles are spread across the shelves. Above is a lofty, vaulted stone ceiling. The owners also kept the original stone columns, walls, and floors, preserving the authenticity of the place. No wonder this spot is one of the most talked-about wine bars in Milan!

N’Ombra de Vin is especially loved by the younger fashionable crowd, typical for Brera. Every now and then, they host wine tastings and parties with DJs and live music.

Best laidback bar in Milan: Lacerba

Lacerba is a youthful cocktail bar and a fish restaurant in Porta Romana in Milan. It’s best known for its relaxed atmosphere and friendly staff that makes you feel right at home.

The bar has a lovely rustic interior with low tables, table lamps, fun wallpaper designs, and a vaulted ceiling with exposed beams. Lacerba is one of the to-go places for the hip crowd of Milan. It tends to get pretty busy on weekends, making the vibe all the more intimate and social.

This Milanese bar will treat you with outstanding cocktails, classic or vintage, as well as some original creations of their barman. While drinking, you can snack on a variety of classic Italian nibbles, such as frittatas, bruschettas, or focaccia.

Milan nightclubs

Best underground club in Milan: Tempio del Futuro Perduto

Tempio del Futuro Perduto is one of the most exciting club music venues in Milan. However, it’s so much more than just a nightclub.

Similar to the recently closed MACAO, Tempio del Futuro Perduto is a squat community built on passion, inclusivity, and creativity. They opened in 2018, after spending their Christmas cleaning and organizing what used to be a transport maintenance depot.

The complex is located just opposite the Monumental Cemetery in the Bullona district of Milan. Inside its labyrinth-like structure, you’ll find an on-site library, largely composed of books donated by the club’s visitors. Another room is filled with clothes to be given to charity.

During the day, the cultural centre functions as a vinyl store and a school for dancing, African drumming, and self-defence. The garden invites people for an occasional BBQ with DJs or live music in summer.

At night, the venue turns into a sweaty rave, welcoming people from any walk of life to enjoy the crisp Funktion One sound system. The music played in this underground Milanese club is as diverse as its visitors. In Tempio del Futuro Perduto you’ll hear everything from harder strains of techno to experimental A/V shows.

To be more specific, some of the artists that played at Tempio del Futuro Perduto include VTSS, Etapp Kyle, DJ Stingray, and HDMIRROR.

Best daytime parties in Milan: Masada

Masada is a cultural hub housed in an abandoned typography in the Garegnano district in Milan. It’s a free space for expression, where people meet, learn something new and participate in projects related to art, culture, and well-being.

The main space is a cosy living room filled with comfy couches, random home furniture and two walls-wide bookshelves right behind the DJ decks, which became the signature of Masada. It fills up with a beautiful crowd of like-minded individuals during recurring workshops, lectures, movie nights, theatrical performances, concerts, and parties. The space never stands still. It constantly evolves, seeking new ways to provide value for its community.

Masada is especially known for its daytime parties that start early in the Saturday afternoon. With these events, promoters Acquario and Closer have been bringing many exciting names to Milan, such as CJ Bolland, Pieter van Hoesen, and SPFDJ, to name a few.

Keep in mind that to attend an event in Masada, you have to apply for a membership at least 48 hours before the event. After you’ve been accepted by the board of directors you’ll need to pay a yearly fee of €12.

But trust us, all the hassle is worth it. You’re guaranteed to have a lovely experience in this safe and inclusive space.

Best LGBTQI+ club in Milan: Q Club

Are you looking for something more colourful? Then Q Club might be just the place.

Q Club is an LGBTQI+ club on Via Padova 21 in Milan. Since 1999, the place has been a safe heaven for people of all genders to celebrate music together.

And while the club has lived many lives, the spirit of joy and togetherness remained unchanged.

You’ll hear all sorts of music bouncing off the walls of the 2 rooms in Q club.

They host queer nights called Rebel, where you’ll dance to pop and R&B, and see live performances, vogue, and lip-syncing. Then you have q | LAB, hosted by the club’s owner Carlo Mognaschi. And once a week Q Club invites other promoters to throw dance nights. Some of those club nights saw Herrensauna’s MCMLXXXV and PC music’s Namasenda.

If you’re planning to visit this gay club in Milan, make sure to bring a positive attitude and an open mind. Any kind of discrimination is not tolerated.

Best VIP club in Milan: Amnesia

Amnesia is one of the most popular nightclubs in Milan. The venue is located in the post-industrial Forlanini district. Besides throwing parties with some of the biggest names in the electronic music scene, the space also hosts fashion shows and themed parties.

The decor of the club is minimalistic and modern. LED tubes are scattered around the high ceiling, adding a hi-tech feel as they come to life at night. But what’s the real deal-breaker is the sound system. It’s for a reason that it’s often called one of the best ones in Milan.

This Milanese nightclub is a common destination for international celebrities, tourists, students and locals alike. So, if you’re planning a visit, we advise you to buy tickets in advance. Or, even better, book a VIP table so you could skip the line altogether and enjoy the real Amnesia experience.

Music festival in Milan: Terraforma

Terraforma is a sustainable 3-day festival located in Villa Arconati on the outskirts of Milan. Since its first edition in 2014, the festival has managed to build a community around its core values connecting nature, people, and art.

Installations scattered around the woods, gatherings, and workshops give plenty of opportunities to explore, meditate and meet new people. The beautiful stage and light designs complete the magical experience.

The festival usually hosts three stages, however, only one performance takes place at any given time. The daytime schedule ranges from ambient to classical to dub and reggae, gradually morphing into a party soundtracked by first-rate techno and experimental music.

When you live in Milan there’s always plenty of exciting options to choose from on your Saturday night. So go ahead with planning your move to this gorgeous Italian city!

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