Our last stop in Italy before flying back to England was Milan. In the morning we left Bologna by train and arrived in Milan by early afternoon, checking into our hotel shortly after. This gave us half a day to explore the city, and we decided to start with Chinatown which we missed out on whilst visiting last year. Milan’s Chinatown is one of the oldest and largest in Italy, with unique shops, authentic restaurants, and a lively atmosphere that offers a different cultural experience from the rest of the city. Strolling through the bustling streets, we discovered a variety of Asian cuisine, trendy shops, and charming cafés. It was a fascinating blend of cultures, making it a perfect spot to begin our final day in Milan. From there, we planned to explore more of the city’s iconic sights, savouring every moment before our journey back to England.
My older daughter had been eagerly waiting to visit S’LAB ever since we missed the chance last year, making it her one-year-long wish. S’LAB offers an array of beautiful, fresh cakes and buns, including adorable Pikachu cakes, as well as a tempting selection of boba that is almost impossible to choose from because they all look so delicious! She was particularly excited about their Japanese melon pans (melon-shaped buns), which she absolutely loves. She was thrilled to grab the last one, filled with cream and strawberries. Along with her melon pan, she enjoyed a matcha frappe. The rest of us decided to share a cheesecake, as we wanted to try out the food from other shops as well. The café has seating, though it’s quite small (they do have a toilet, which we didn’t use, but it’s always a bonus to know it’s available!). My daughter really enjoyed the drink, she says it was very refreshing – perfect for the hot weather. Since we visited in the late afternoon, the melon pan was unfortunately a bit dry. A word of advice: visit the shop early to enjoy freshly baked buns and cakes at their best!
On Via Paolo Sarpi, in the heart of Chinatown, we discovered a variety of little shops, ranging from Chinese dumpling stalls to Japanese mochi shops. Many of these places offer delicious street food, for a quick bite as you explore the area. Although we’ve visited Chinatowns in London and Manchester, Milan’s one had its own unique character, and we thoroughly enjoyed experiencing the differences. We spent the afternoon wandering along the street, popping into Chinese supermarkets, sipping on bubble tea, and sampling a variety of street food. It was a wonderful way to dive into the local culture and flavours.
After that, we got on a tram and headed to the city centre. Public transport in Milan is incredibly easy and convenient to use – almost like being in London! You simply need to tap your debit or credit card on the machine, and you’re good to go. During our stay in Italy this time, we used the train, bus, and tram. The transport system was efficient and made getting around effortless.
My younger daughter was keen to go to Starbucks Reserve Roastery again this year. The reason she eager to go back was because she wanted to try out a drink she didn’t choose last year. On our previous visit, we went in the morning, and had to queue to enter the shop and queue again to order. However, this year we went in the early evening, so there was no queue to get in, and the shop wasn’t crowded. Despite the time, they still had a good selection of cakes, focaccia, and other food at the counter. Unfortunately, the roaster wasn’t working while we were there, and also, they had sold out of the drink she originally wanted. While we were queuing, we spotted a drink being made that looked delicious, so she decided to order that instead. It was called a Citrus Lavender Sage Spritzer. She said it was delicious and was quite happy, but we agreed we’d have to come back again for a third attempt to get the drink she originally wanted. They have toilets downstairs, so of course, we took the opportunity to use them.
After she was satisfied, we went to see the Duomo to take some pictures before heading back to our hotel. The cathedral was stunning as always. I think it’s beautiful at any time of day, whether it’s morning, afternoon, evening, or night. We also managed to take photos of the Statua di Vittorio Emanuele II, which had been in maintenance when we visited last year.
After our visit to the Duomo, we headed out to have dinner near our hotel. We took the tube but encountered a slight hiccup when we had to change at Zara station. We were informed that our train wouldn’t be coming, so we had to exit and catch a tram instead. While it was a bit of a hassle, but it turned out to be a delightful experience, as we got to ride one of the old-fashioned trams at night (Tram number 1 is the oldest tram in the world).
We decided to have dinner at Pizzeria da Pino, a pizza restaurant near our hotel that I found on Google Maps. There are a few restaurants in the area that offer this style of pizza, but it’s not your typical Italian pizza – it’s deep pan and served in slices. The restaurant had received many positive reviews, so we had high expectations.
It was a regular weekday, and since the pizzeria was a bit far from the city centre, it was quite late by the time we arrived, and there weren’t many people there. The waiter who served us was friendly, kind, and very helpful. I ordered a large pizza and mentioned that my daughter and I would be sharing it, but I didn’t ask for it to be cut in half. When the pizza arrived, it had already been thoughtfully divided for us. Just like when my girls bought their sandwiches in Florence, I’ve found that the staff at cafés and restaurants in Italy were very attentive.
The pizza was delicious – thick yet fluffy, with a crispy base. I couldn’t help but wonder about the history of these Milanese deep pan pizzas, as I had never heard of them before. When I returned home, I researched them but struggled to find many articles. I realised it might have been because I searched for “Milan style pizza”. However, when I used the term “Milanese pizza”, I found more relevant information.
Regardless, they were both tasty and affordable. I’m not sure if I’ll have the opportunity to stay in that area again, but if I do, I’d definitely return to the restaurant!
We only had half a day to explore Milan this time, but I think we did well to visit both Chinatown and the city centre. Still, I feel like we’ve only scratched the surface! We haven’t seen the Last Supper yet, and my husband is keen to tour San Siro Stadium. My older daughter is eager to explore some of the fashion museums and markets, and we haven’t had the chance to take day trips from Milan either – we’re especially keen to visit Lake Como. There are so many places we haven’t been! Unpopular opinion, but we like Milan! There might not be many touristy attractions, but there are so many places to visit. I’m really looking forward to our next Italian adventures.
