Italy (Winter 2023) - Milan (Day 1)
I did not realize when I booked the flight that there are 2 airports for Milan: Bergamo - further out from the city, and Linate, closer to the city. I booked a flight to Bergamo since that was the cheaper Ryanair flight destination but I’m sure it would have been a much shorter ride into the city from Linate.
At least the bus into the city is pretty inexpensive and there is a counter of bus companies at the airport lined up to take you to Milan so they run constantly and are all the same price.
We stayed at a hotel by the central train station and it wound up being very convenient as that is where the buses drop you off and you are right there for the subway lines. The prices by here were also a bit more affordable so I would definitely stay in this area again.
Metropolis
By the time we got to the hotel the sun had set so we set out for some aperitivos. Aperitivo is basically their happy hour where you get snacks along with your drinks. The type and size of the snacks depends on the place you go to. Sometimes it’s just some chips or olives, sometimes it’s this place.
The first place we went to was chosen because it was the most convenient from the hotel but it also wound up being the best spread of food.
For getting the 2 moderately priced cocktails, they bring you this huge plate of food along with olives and a bag of bread on the side.
It was no wonder that it was also popular with locals here as this is a pretty affordable night out. The snacks were also very tasty as well.
I didn’t see the self serve style aperitivo anywhere in Milan that I saw in Rome many years ago when I visited. This might have been a change since COVID where they bring the food to you instead.
Vinyl Pub
After loading up with the aperitivo snacks, we headed over Isola which is the hipster neighborhood. Stopped for drinks at the Vinyl Pub. Had a negroni and they give you some chips there with the drink. Most of the people were sitting outside since it seems like hipsters smoke here in Italy.
Solchi
Another bar in Isola we found was Solchi. It was very lively inside and apparently some local guy was doing a DJ gig and all his friends showed up. It was crowded enough that I didn’t explore the place beyond the front bar area since we had some seats. Very much had the feel of a hipster bar that evening.
Nice cocktail bar with inventive offerings done very well. Got snacks again - they keep feeding you in this city every time you have drink.
This was a fun place to end the night.