Nestled in the heart of Milan, the Radisson Collection Palazzo Touring Club is more than a luxurious stay; it’s a vibrant nod to Italy’s history of exploration and design. From its rich architectural past to the culinary delights of Brera, Milan unravels like a nostalgic tale. Surely, in a city that performs rather than simply exists, I was about to experience something deeper and far more enchanting than I could have anticipated.
There’s something impossibly poetic about waking up in a building steeped in history, where every corner whispers stories of exploration and innovation. Welcome to the ‘Radisson Collection Palazzo Touring Club Milan’, a hotel that doesn’t just house travellers, it celebrates them. Stepping through the noble doors of this restored gem, located just a breezy five, minute stroll from ‘Piazza Duomo’, feels more like stepping into the pages of a living atlas than into mere accommodation. It’s Milan at its most magnetic, perched amid iconic destinations like the ‘Teatro alla Scala’, the chic ‘Fashion Quadrilateral,’ and the artsy ‘Brera district’. Once the headquarters of the Touring Club Italiano, a cycling enthusiast’s answer to the coming-of-age journey, the hotel remains infused with a spirit of discovery. Founded in 1894, the Touring Club transformed bikes into time machines, propelling Italians through cobblestone alleys and into the folds of their own vibrant history. Today, that legacy hums softly beneath the polished marble and velvet furnishings of the Radisson’s carefully curated interior.
The ‘Punto Touring’, a revitalized travel agency-meetsbookstore tucked inside the lobby, beckons like an oldworld treasure map. You can thumb through vintage travel guides or chart your own escapade over an espresso (because, Milan). But let’s talk room, 89 of them, each more sumptuous than the last. They’re equal parts sanctuary and statement, balancing modern indulgence with timeless Italian elegance that’s neither gaudy nor overly restrained. Business trip, romantic getaway, or just a Milanese moment to yourself, Radisson Collection Palazzo Touring Club Milan doesn’t pigeonhole. It embraces your purpose, much like the city it calls home. It turns a stay into an invitation, explore, connect, be enveloped in history. And as your suitcase wheels marmalade-smooth across these storied floors, you’ll realize, this isn’t just a stopover. It’s Milan’s warm handshake.
BRERA’S CULINARY GEM
Fresh off my check in at the Radisson, I wandered into Brera with a rumbling stomach and a mild case of jet lag, only to stumble upon Veramente, a restaurant that felt like Milan itself had set the table for me. Tucked into Brera’s cobblestone maze, a neighbourhood where Milan’s soul feels almost palpable, ‘Veramente’ is the kind of place where you half-expect to see Nonna herself rolling out the pasta. Red brick arches frame the space, wooden finishes add warmth, and brass chandeliers offer a bit of old-school glamour. It’s stylish without trying too hard, like a Milanese local on a Vespa. The soundtrack? Classic Italian tunes from the ’60s through the ’80s.
Cue the nostalgia. At Veramente, the warmth feels as authentic as the food. Founded by four friends with roots dug deep in the restaurant world, this spot is a love letter to Italian home cooking. The menu travels from Tuscany to the Mediterranean, with dishes that straddle tradition and modern flair. My standout? The ‘Pici with Ragù’, handrolled, wonderfully toothsome, and smothered in a meat sauce that’s comfort in a bowl. Or the gently charred ‘Octopus with Potatoes’, where every bite somehow tastes like the sea hugged a lemon grove. And then there’s the gelato. Forget the usual cones and cups, they let you play mixologist here, customizing flavours to your whim. It’s playful, indulgent, and quintessentially Italian, a perfect end to a meal that feels less like lunch and more like being welcomed into someone’s family.
SIMPLICITY ELEVATED TO ART
After an evening meandering through Milan’s architectural jewels, I found myself here—Andrea Berton’s glass-wrapped culinary haven in the futuristic Porta Nuova district. The setting, all sleek lines and sunlight pouring through floor-toceiling glass windows, feels like dining inside a modern crystal terrarium. And that transparency extends far beyond the architecture; here, you see it all, the open kitchen, the delicate choreography of Berton’s team, each movement precise, deliberate, even poetic. It wasn’t just dinner; it felt like witnessing edible art, where the star performer was, of all things, broth.
Yes, broth, a dish so unassuming, it might go unnoticed at first glance, but under Berton’s hand, it transforms into something almost sacred. Each bowl is a distillation of pure essence, as if he’s boiled down the soul of an ingredient and whispered it into existence. It’s the kind of dish that makes you pause mid-spoonful and wonder: ‘How is something so simple, so profound?’ The menu shifts with the seasons, like the changing colours outside those glass walls, but his philosophy is steadfast, let ingredients shine, handle them gently, and don’t overthink perfection. Dining here feels like a quiet rebellion against culinary overkill, a love letter to restraint written in bold, unpretentious strokes. Berton isn’t just honouring Italian tradition; he’s reinventing it, respectfully, audaciously, unmistakably.
LUXURY MEETS LOMBARD CHARM
On my last day in Milan, after a whirlwind tour of the city’s glittering fashion boutiques, I stepped into the newly-restored Palazzo Taverna, home to Louis Vuitton’s jaw-dropping Via Montenapoleone flagship. But I wasn’t here to shop (well, not entirely), I was here for Da Vittorio Café. The palms, tall and regal, the ferns, cheekily unruly. Together, they script a green love letter courtesy of Marco Bay’s green-thumb sorcery. But let’s talk food; after all, Chicco and Bobo Cerea aren’t just Michelin royalty, they’re whisperers of indulgence. Take the signature toast: it’s not mere bread, it’s haute couture, crispy edges cradling confit tomatoes, mozzarella, and pesto with the precision of a Paris runway.
Even humble eggs are given centre stage, starring in a decadent ensemble with potato foam and caviar cameos. And desserts? A sugar-driven opera. The desserts here don’t just satisfy; they seduce, think vanilla triptychs, hazelnut entremets, and tonka-laced fruit charlottes. Even the herbal teas feel like they’ve stepped off a Paris runway. And DaV by Da Vittorio Louis Vuitton? Equal parts high-fashion and haute cuisine. Tuscan wunderkind Edoardo Tizzanini plates Michelin-worthy creations under the watchful eye of Chicco and Bobo Cerea, while Luigi Valentini’s team delivers service as polished as patent leather. Dining here isn’t a meal; it’s edible artistry with a designer label. Between bites of Michelinworthy fare, I couldn’t help but marvel at how Louis Vuitton turned luxury retail into something more, a place where art, fashion, and Italian heritage converge. Sometimes in Milan, you don’t just shop, you savour.
Akanksha Dean is an independent food & travel columnist, a chef and a catalyst and is a specialist with Chefs TV.
