The Best Places To Shop In Milan

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

Connecting Piazza della Scala to Piazza del Duomo, Italy's oldest shopping arcade might also be its most elegant. A curving, iron-and-glass beauty that took 12 years to complete in the 19th century, it’s home to the original Prada boutique and the historic Libreria Bocca, as well as more modern flagships for Versace and Louis Vuitton. 

Quadrilatero della Moda

Milan's luxury shopping district is defined by four streets: Via Montenapoleone, Via Manzoni, Via della Spiga and Corso Venezia. The first of those – a home to Loro Piana, Tod’s, Bottega Veneta and Versace – vies with New Bond Street to be the world's most expensive retail destination. The area’s quieter side streets are worth exploring too, as is the new Piazza del Quadrilatero, which hides some ritzy boutiques behind its 16th-century colonnades.

La Rinascente

Standing tall on Piazza del Duomo, this storied department store showcases Italian brands, emerging designers and big international names across eight chic floors. Its crowning glory is the rooftop food hall, with its amber ceiling and panoramic terrace looking onto the Duomo spires.

Visit RINASCENTE.IT 

Serravalle Designer Outlet

Europe's largest designer outlet is around an hour’s journey from Milan. Serravalle features 230 stores offering year-round discounts of up to 70% across Italian and international brands including Gucci, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana and Burberry.

Visit MCARTHURGLEN.COM 

Cavalli e Nastri

A big player in luxury vintage since the 1980s, Cavalli e Nastri has three well-kept stores around Milan: Via Brera 2 and Via Gian Giacomo Mora (numbers 3 and 12). The Brera flagship is filled with fashion from the 1950s to 2000s, while its two Ticinese locations offer haute couture from the 1800s onwards, alongside menswear and furnishings. Big names to look for include Chanel, Pucci and Prada.

Visit CAVALLIENASTRI.COM 

The Cloister

Sitting within a 15th-century palazzo, this concept store offers vintage fashion from high-end luxury brands to unknown fashion houses. The high-ceilinged, industrial-style interior is full of women's and men's collections organised by colour and style, as well as mid-century furniture, contemporary accessories, magazines and design objects.

Visit THECLOISTER.STORE 

Radisa Gallery

Roberto Radisa's gallery in Porta Venezia zooms in on 20th-century design, particularly ceramics and decorative arts. Its collections of classic Scandinavian design pieces and Italian mid-century objects feature major names such as Gio Ponti and Richard Ginori. 

Visit ROBERTORADISA.COM

Mazzolari

Augusto Mazzolari founded his perfumery in 1881. Almost a century and a half later, his name decorates the front of multiple stores around Milan. Mazzolari’s own line is a relatively recent addition to a range that spans scents from top-end brands like By Kilian and Creed, niche local makers and traditional brands.

Visit MAZZOLARI.INFO

Micamera

Micamera is a bookstore focused exclusively on photography. As well as hosting exhibitions, workshops and book signings, it maintains a diverse and comprehensive selection of photobooks featuring American, Japanese and Italian photography. 

Visit MICAMERA.COM