1 Day in Milan- including vegan/vegetarian eats
During our unintentional babymoon, Rob and I spent an impromptu day and night in Milan. In one day, we covered a lot of ground and soaked up as much of Milan as possible despite the pouring rain.
Where to stay:
We stayed at the Excelsior Hotel Gallia in Milan, which was perfect. It was a treat to have one night in a luxury hotel. We took advantage of the pool, the gym, the buffet breakfast, and room service. The hotel was conveniently located next to the rental car drop off and across the street from the train station. The service was phenomenal and the hotel is part of Marriott International, which is eliminating single-use shower toiletries bottles from all their hotels!
Where to eat:
I succeeded on my mission to find the best vegan spots and health food stores in Milan. I always like to see how other cultures approach plant-based food and Milan didn’t disappoint. Here are our recommendations:
- Cibo Natura: We had the most delicious, veggie filled lunch at Cibo. It was a fast-casual restaurant with many options from make your own bowls to veggie burgers and other entrees. We loaded up our plates with many of the options- roasted sweet potato, steamed greens, green brown rice, curried cauliflower, tofu scramble and hummus. They even had a compost to dispose of leftover food!
- Centro Botanico: I spent a good 20 minutes wandering the aisles of this health food store. We were able to get delicious kombucha and healthy snacks for our travels to Nice. There was a café in the back and the menu looked outstanding. It was 100% plant based.
- L’Orto di Brera: We passed by this cute café/market and it looked amazing. First, there was a bulk section with nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and granola. I didn’t need anything, but it’s good to know that there are bulk options in other cities in case you need some snacks. They also sold fresh produce (no packaging!). Second, the food looked amazing; while there were takeout options in single-use packaging, you could order food to stay. Next time we’re in Milan, I want to eat here.
- Gallia Restaurant: Rob and I enjoyed every second of the buffet breakfast at our hotel. There was a full oatmeal bar with lots of toppings (nuts, seeds, dried fruit, etc.), freshly made juices and smoothies, delicious coffee/cappuccinos, along with all the other breakfast buffet staples (eggs, yogurt, pastries, etc.). The service and atmosphere were great. If you’re looking for a big breakfast with lots of options, I suggest checking it out.
- Flower Burger: We didn’t get a chance to check out Flower Burger, but it looked amazing. The menu includes many different veggie burgers and French fries!
- Joia Kitchen: This is another restaurant that we didn’t get to try, but looks great for higher end vegetarian/vegan dining. Definitely check it out when you go!
What to do:
Rob and I spent the entire morning and afternoon walking around Milan. We set the Duomo di Milano as our destination and then took in all the sights along the way. Here are some recommendations:
- Duomo di Milano: This cathedral is breathtaking and the surrounding area is just as gorgeous. It’s worth seeing in person. It’s a few steps away from the Grand Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, which is an elaborately designed luxury shopping mall with high-end stores and lots of places to eat.
- Brera District: This bohemian section of Milan has the cutest shops and cafés. We walked up and down the streets for hours. The Palazzo Brera houses the art academy, a botanical garden, the astronomical observatory, and the Pinocoteca fine art gallery.
- Da Vinci’s Last Supper: Milan is home to this famous Da Vinci painting. It’s advised to get tickets in advance to see it because availability of tickets is very limited.
Milan was a gorgeous city filled with history, stunning architecture and art. I highly recommend walking around the different sections for as long as you can! Ciao!