A Guide to Fuorisalone — Milan Design Week
By Lorenzo VillaImagine lounging on a Maralunga sofa while sipping a cocktail from a Kartell glass, as Flos lamps play with the light around you. Imagine you are in Milan – from the charming Brera district to the fashion quadrilateral, from the historic Duomo square to the picturesque Navigli, and on to the dynamic Tortona neighbourhood. Every street, square, and courtyard transforms into a stage for one week, drenched in negroni sbagliati. This is the Fuorisalone, Milan’s Design Week – the most important design event in the world.
It all began in the 1980s, when Milan earned the nickname ‘Milano da bere’ (Milano to drink) thanks to the opulence, flamboyance, and prosperity around every corner, during an era marked by contagious optimism. While the trade fair district – home to the Salone del Mobile since 1961, the world’s premier exhibition for furniture companies and designers – was already thriving, the city center sought to reinvent itself and move beyond the troubled Anni di Piombo marked by political violence and social unrest. It was at the end of this time that spontaneous design events began popping up in the heart of Milan. Over the years, these events have evolved into an institution, attracting more people and creative minds than the Salone itself.
This year, from April 8 to 13, the city is once again filled with designer, installations, fashion, music, performances, and aperitivi: the theme for 2025, “Connected Worlds,” celebrates the art of engagement by merging design with the cutting edge of artificial intelligence.
Here’s a selection of spots worth checking out — not just for their unique design pieces, but also to really appreciate the vibe of Design Week and rediscover those hidden parts of the city that are usually off the beaten track. In addition, you’ll find a selection of bars, trattorias, and wine spots to hit up at the end of each day.
PISCINA COZZI
Beneath the historic Piscina Cozzi—Italy’s pioneering indoor pool housed in a 1934 building—lies a hidden gem: the former public baths, abandoned for decades yet preserved by an exquisite marine-themed mosaic at the entrance.
Here, 6:AM presents “Two-Fold Silence”, an exhibition by the studio founded by Edoardo Pandolfo and Francesco Palù. Transforming the space that once served as public showers into an evocative design setting, the show features the latest collections of lighting and design objects from 6:AM.
Viale Tunisia, 35, 20124 Milan
Dinner – Da Martino
Tucked away in the nearby Chinatown, Da Martino has been a local institution since 1950, serving up hearty Milanese meat dishes with a Tuscan twist. Revered for offering what many claim to be the best Milanese breaded cutlet in town, this unpretentious restaurant is a must-visit.
Via Carlo Farini, 8, 20154 Milan
PALAZZO DONIZETTI
In the stunning 19th-century Palazzo Donizetti, Artemest presents the third edition of “L’Appartamento by Artemest”. This exhibition is a homage to the timeless charm of Italian craftsmanship and design, reinterpreted through the eyes of world-renowned designers. Six interior design studios—1508 London, Champalimaud Design, Meyer Davis, Nebras Aljoaib, Romanek Design Studio, and Simone Haag—will transform individual rooms within the palace, showcasing an extraordinary selection of furniture, lighting, art, and decor from the artisans, brands, and artists featured on Artemest.
Via Gaetano Donizetti, 48, 20122 Milan
Aperitivo/Dinner – RØST
A short 10-minute walk places you in the bustling and inclusive Porta Venezia neighborhood, where you’ll find Røst. This charming bistro specializes in Milanese mondeghili (meatballs), sumptuous creamed cod, and an impressive array of vegetarian dishes—with plenty of oil and oven-roasting—to create the perfect evening out in the heart of Milan.
Via Melzo, 3, 20129 Milan
ALCOVA
Instead of the typical city center or suburban settings, this destination takes you to Brianza—the birthplace of Italian design. In 2018, Valentina Ciuffi (Studio Vedèt) and Joseph Grima (Space Caviar) founded Alcova, a creative collective dedicated to reimagining urban and industrial spaces for exhibitions and events. This year, Alcova returns to Varedo, where, along with Villa Borsani and Villa Bagatti Valsecchi, it now occupies two new venues: the former Fabbrica SNIA and the Serre di Pasino. The program features a range of innovative installations. Ranieri unveils “Under The Volcano,” showcasing dramatic towers adorned with lava cladding, while Marcin Rusak’s “Ghost Orchids” contemplates impermanence through the medium of biodegradable art. “Soft Horizons” brings forward sculptural works by Objects of Common Interest, enriching the experience further.
Aperitivo/Dinner – Osteria al Circolino
While options in the quaint town of Varedo may be limited, venture back into the city to the northern Niguarda district, where a charming new venue has revitalized an old club. Osteria al Circolino in Niguarda offers a seasonal and hearty menu—featuring risottos, roasts, and beef cooked in extra virgin olive oil—complemented by an extensive selection of Italian wines.
Via Giovanni Terruggia, 15, 20162 Milan
DROPCITY
Conceived by architect Andrea Caputo in 2018 and hidden within a labyrinth of tunnels behind Milan Central Station, Dropcity presents a bold exploration of carceral spaces. This year’s exhibition, “Prison Times – Spatial Dynamics of Penal Environments,” spans over 1,000 square meters across five tunnels, inviting visitors to critically engage with the realities of the prison system through objects and furnishings designed for detention facilities worldwide. The parallel show “Bruther.fbx” debuts the work of Bruther—a Paris-based architectural and experimental studio.
Via Sammartini 40, 20125 Milan
Aperitivo – Silvano Vini e Cibi al Banco
If you find yourself in the area, a short walk across one of the three underpasses leads you directly into the trendy NoLo (Nord Loreto) district. Here, at Silvano Vini e Cibi in Piazza Morbegno, you’re greeted by a spacious bar boasting an expansive selection of natural wines and authentic traditional Milanese fare—a perfect triad for an evening aperitivo.
Piazza Morbegno 2, 20125 Milan
Lorenzo Villa is a writer and editor based in Milan. He writes about lifestyle for Harper’s Bazaar Italia and collaborates with the literary magazine Galápagos. All photos by Lorenzo Villa. Read more of Lorenzo’s writing on Something Curated here.
Header image courtesy Piscina Cozzi.