Babyccino Milan

The Parco Solari playgrounds

Michela — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 14:45:27 +0000

Parco Solari is a small park in a very young and trendy area of Milan. The “Zona Tortona” used to be an industrial part of the city, but factories and warehouses have now been refurbished and converted into exhibition spaces where fashion and design shows take place. The park is small but it is relatively well kept and it is always full of families with children. There are 4 gated playground areas, broadly designed for different age groups. There are two aimed at toddlers, with swings and small climb-on sets. One of them also has a teddy-bear shaped xylophone and a rail with hanging metal tubes of different lengths for children to play and experience the difference sounds. The third playground has loads of swings for both toddlers and bigger kids, to reduce waiting times. The fourth playground is the favourite of older kids with a climbing set in the shape of a pirate ship. All these playgrounds have benches lining the surrounding fence so if your children require just minimal supervision you can sit and relax in the sun. There is no cafeteria in the park, but during peak hours (after 4 on weekdays and at weekends) there is often an ice-cream truck right in the middle of the park which sells boxed ice-cream and a few other refreshments. If this is not good enough for your hungry kids, don’t worry — the area around the park is well-known for its nice cafés (“Café Savona” in Via Montevideo and “Clivati” Patisserie in Via Coni Zugna) and ice-cream shops. “Garden Solari” in Via Montevideo sells lovely fresh-fruit ice-lollies, the strawberry one is delicious!

Orangorilla

Michela — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 12:36:51 +0000

A couple of weeks ago I discovered the cutest little shop here in Milan. Orangorilla is owned by Marta who will welcome you with a gentle smile and guide you through all the nice things she has in her shop.
Orangorilla sells a variety of products ranging from children’s clothes and shoes, to handmade jewellery, plates and frames. Everything is chosen by Marta either because it’s useful or because it looks good.
My favourite pieces were part of the collection from the the shop’s original brands Orangorilla and Tototti (the nickname of Marta’s 3-year-old daughter). They are mainly simple and classic designs made with Liberty prints (and not the most obvious ones) together with cotton and linen. The quality and the care in the making are great, and on top of it all the pieces are nearly unique as she makes just one per size in all her styles. The Orangorilla brand also offers stylish polo-shirts for little boys, in nice colours or stripes.
She also sells a few other brands like Eddie Pen and the Portuguese Laranijnha, and she stocks very cute and inexpensive canvas sneakers which will be perfect for summer.
The shop is located in the very trendy area of Corso Sempione, near the Sempione Park and close to some cool aperitivo spots (and is facing my very favourite sushi place in Milan). Definitely worth a visit!

-Michela

Il Rosa al Caminetto

Michela — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 20:46:06 +0000

Il Rosa al Caminetto is the restaurant of a 4 star hotel behind the Duomo, in the very centre of Milan. Thanks to Marcello Forti, a young entrepreneur and new dad, the restaurant has taken a turn and become quite family friendly.
First of all, children under 8 eat free on any day, lunch or dinner. Then they have a big amount of crayons, markers and colouring books which they will happily bring to the young customers to keep busy while waiting for their meals…or while waiting for their parents to eat their own (a rare thing to find in Milan!).

We were there on a Sunday lunch when they serve an Italian version of brunch. There was a starter buffet with cheese, cold cuts, salads, quiche and grilled vegetables. This was followed by an entree and a main course, and we finished the lunch with a trip to the dessert trolley!
The Sunday brunch is meant to be a family affair so on these occasions some toys are brought out — there were cars, a doll house and a play kitchen with pots and pans.
The décor is not too modern I’m afraid but the new Louis Ghost chairs by Philippe Starck have made the room look definitely less stuffy, and the location cannot be beaten: totally in the middle of the tourist and shopping attractions of Milan!

-Michela

Natural History Museum

Michela — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 20:43:49 +0000

Last Sunday we spent the perfect winter day visiting the Natural History Museum. We met there quite late in the morning, with another family with two children.
We first toured the ground floor where the main attractions for children are the skeletons and reproduction of dinosaurs; there is a life-size triceratops that is really impressive.
Then we headed to the cafeteria, which is on the top floor with a gorgeous view over the roofs and trees of this very central neighbourhood of the city. While, as usual in Milan, the cafeteria does not cater especially to children, the staff there are really patient and will help you compose a plate for the little ones. I was not sure what my little daughter was going to like, so they let me pick and mix among the various foods available. The quality is good and the price quite reasonable.
Then we headed to the first floor so that the children could burn off some of the energy accumulated while sitting at the table. They roamed enthusiastically through the corridors, looking at wild animals set in nicely restored dioramas that really help them envision where lions, polar bears, elephants and the like live in reality.
Overall, this museum does not compare in grandeur and content to the one in London, but I think the size is perfect for little children whom cannot read and so do not appreciate the full amount of knowledge available over there. Surprisingly, it was not very crowded, so even my daughter could crawl and cruise while pointing at deer and penguins without running the risk of getting lost or run over!
We ended our trip with a nice walk in the park surrounding the museum. Everyone was dirty and tired when we headed home, but we were so pleased to have managed to spend such a family-friendly day in our city (as you know by now, it’s not that easy!).

-Michela

Pane e acqua

Michela — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:41:52 +0000

A couple of weeks ago my husband and I did something we had not done in a while; we went out for dinner on a Wednesday night. We picked a relatively new restaurant in our neighbourhood on the basis of a couple of reviews we had read (and their website) and we were so pleased with our choice!
Pane e Acqua is a very small restaurant opened by chef Francesco Passalacqua when he decided that the experience he had accumulated over the years working in the best Milanese restaurants was enough to start playing solo. The cuisine is delicious — a modern and elaborate take on traditional Piedmont recipes. The people who work with Francesco are all young and friendly; you can tell they enjoy what they do.
What also helped me fall in love with this place is the décor. It’s so not Milanese I’m afraid… it’s so young, understated and cool, not flashy but vibrant and colourful. It is a clever mixture of old, new, rich and poor!
I keep recommending it to everyone I talk to, and I can’t wait to go back!

-Michela

p.s. photo by studio Calatroni

Panpepato

Michela — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 20:39:37 +0000

Panpepato is a lovely little shop that faces Parco Solari, a small but very child-friendly park in Milan. This tiny space overflows with trendy clothes, cool jewelery, scarves, hats, bags — anything but shoes! It is the creation of Martina and Giulia who, after a degree and a few years behind a desk, decided to make their lifetime dream come true and open a shop. This shop is not ordinary in that it sells the products of over 50 artisans, making everything you buy original and often unique. They also stock clothes from small young producers like skunkfunk and Lo Spaventapasseri.
Next to the women’s collection of clothes and accessories they also sell baby and children’s clothes. They are all handmade by Monica and Roberta (both WAHMs) in a simple timeless style with nice colourful fabrics and often decorated with big matching fabric-covered buttons. They do not normally have a huge selection in stock, but if you see a style you like you can pick the size and the fabric and they will have it done for you at no extra cost.
The shop is not easy to spot, so look out for a pink wooden bench — it’s their sitting room and on sunny days many friends and locals alike stop by for chat. There is a good chance you’ll find me there with one or two of my children. Why? Because Martina is my sister!

-Michela

Moebimbi

Michela — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:50:21 +0000

Last year my newborn daughter wore this super-cute cashmere hat for the whole winter and part of spring; I never got tired of it! She really looked adorable with that knot on top of her head. These very soft hats are one of the signature products of Moebimbi, a relatively young brand founded by Monica Spezia, a former photographer.
The whole spirit of her collection is to offer simple styles, yet not too classic, sometimes in unusual colours but always using the finest materials: cashmere, linen, wool and organic cotton.
Luckily for me her shop is right around the corner from where I live and each time I go I spend an incredible amount of time trying to decide what not to get. I honestly would buy the whole collection if I could!
The shop is tiny and stylish, and they have a little wooden table with toys to entertain the little ones (which is not very common for Milan).

Marinella

Michela — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 20:36:06 +0000

Ties made by E.Marinella must be the most famous Italian ties. This family boutique opened in Naples in 1914 by Eugenio Marinella and it has been in the same family ever since. This family, now for nearly a century, has been the synonym of elegance and style first in Naples and now all over the world. The first historical shop in Naples is on one of the best sea promenades you can find, the second one is in Milan. You can now find a selection of Marinella ties in some of the boutiques of luxury hotels, but nothing beats the atmosphere of their flagship stores.
The shop in Milan is in a very old and elegant building, the décor of the place is antique and classic yet airy and not stuffy at all! You will find many tables covered in big wooden boxes full of ties, all of them quite classic, but never boring and you can always find ties in the season’s fashion colours. Very smart looking shop assistants will help you pick the right one, so do not be put off by the reputation.
My husband thinks they are superior in the quality of the silk, the cut, the make and also the prints — although I must say that the prints he picks look all very similar to me.
Even if you do not trust my husband you should definitely trust the endless list of famous people who have chosen Marinella over the decades — including all American presidents since Kennedy!
They must be really excellent if even my very sober father bought two of them in the last 4 years, one to wear at my wedding and one at my sister’s.
Just one suggestion, try to avoid the week before Christmas if you can — it’s just mad!

-Michela

Panettone, not just for Christmas!

Michela — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 22:28:06 +0000

Although it is now the symbol of Christmas lunch and dinners all over Italy, Panettone is the ultimate Milanese Christmas dessert. Its origin is the subject of many legends, but what is certain is that it dates back to the XV century. It is shaped like a cylinder with a rounded top, it can be high (30cm) or low (15cm), and in its original recipe the dough contains eggs, butter, raisins and candied oranges. These days you can find it without candied fruit or raisins, or with chocolate chips and custard cream. But, as any true panettone lover would say, those may taste good…but they are not the real thing!
Italians normally have it at the end of a special meal (lunch or dinner) together with coffee or a sweet wine. When one feels really indulgent you can have some fresh mascarpone cream on the side.
Panettone should not be heated before serving, but does, especially in the winter, benefit from a few minutes in a warm place, like in front of an open oven or on top of a radiator. Left-over panettone makes for a very delicious breakfast. You can find loads of industrially produced ones, and some of them are quite good but nothing beats the panettone which comes from one of the traditional patisseries in Milan.
My all-time favourite is from Marchesi, a patisserie that has been around since 1824 and whose atmosphere still has the power to bring you back in time, to the beginning of the last century. Right before Christmas, as soon as you enter their shop, you will immediately notice the table with the big pile of panettoni wrapped in white with a red ribbon. If you stay in the shop for a few minutes you’ll see this pile disappear quickly, as many people enter the shop just once a year and for the sole purpose of buying their lovely 1kg panettone.
Luckily now panettone is produced almost all year round, with the exception of the very warm months of July and August. So any time you are in town you can pick one up to take home!

-Michela

A real submarine

Michela — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 22:26:36 +0000

The Science Museum in Milan hosts, in its backyard, a real war submarine. The “Enrico Toti” was built in 1967 and was used during the cold war to spy, and possibly destroy, the big missile ships of the Soviet army. In 2000, after 30 years of service, it was decided it would gloriously end its career and reside in the Museum named after Leonardo da Vinci. Children, but not only they, could not be happier.
Visits are organised in groups of six, helmets must be worn, and children below 3 are not allowed. Once you are in, the first thing you realize is how cramped it is inside. (I couldn’t imagine actually living in one of those!) Then you are shown the periscope (and get to see the nearby roofs!), the sonar and the big slots to launch torpedoes. Admittedly the explanations may be a bit complicated for 3-year-old kids, unless they are already acquainted with the terminology, but I would think that a 5-year-old would really have a blast here.

Tickets can be bought at the Museum counter or booked in advance on the phone, and if you don’t want to risk it, I suggest you buy them before, especially on a weekend.
I think this is the perfect father and son outing; what’s better than a little bonding over an old battle-ship?

-Michela

Fungo Matto

Michela — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 22:25:07 +0000

Fungo Matto means ‘crazy mushroom’ and such a funny name is perfect for one of my favourite clothing shops in Milan. It is a tiny one-window shop in the Navigli area that has been carefully decorated with red mushrooms with white dots, vintage wooden toys, antique but simple furniture and a sweet collection of antique children’s chairs.
Anna Barbavara realised there was a gap in what Milan had to offer in terms of children clothing: shops were either selling very expensive traditional outfits which made children look like miniature versions of very stuffy parents, or offered scruffy-looking clothes full of big loud prints and stitched teddy bears.
She set the style of her shop when she discovered the Imps & Elfs collection. But she didn’t stop there; she continued to look for cool, good quality brands, designed with children in mind.
She now stocks pieces also from Quincy, Minimù, Muchacha, Mosquito en Alaska , Sara Rotta Loria and Jeep.
Every time I enter the shop just to have a look, I always end up getting something… maybe just one piece, and I never regretted it!
This is definitely a little gem of shop, certainly not ordinary and with a non-ordinary owner as well — Anna runs the shop during the day and is an opera singer by night!

-Michela

Park and aperitivo

Michela — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 22:23:45 +0000

Milan is not a city full of spaces for great outdoor activities; people just make the best of what is available! The biggest park in the center of town is Parco Sempione, bordered by the Sforzesco Castle, the Triennale, the Arco della Pace and the Aquarium. It’s no wonder it has been central to Milanese leisure time activities since its creation in 1888.
So even if it’s not comparable to the beautiful (and unique) London parks, it constitutes a very good and effective outlet for kid’s energy. They can run, ride bicycles and play football, and on the side nearer Arco della Pace there is a nice playground with big climbing structures that will appeal even to the most experienced kid. Nearby there are kids’ electrical motorbikes and cars — the dream of every preschooler, and a cute (and old) electrical train that will be the joy of the younger ones.
If you go in the afternoon then, when everybody is in need of a break, you can indulge in what Milanese excel at: aperitivo! The park is in fact surrounded by very cool and stylish bars that around 6pm get ready for the big “happy hour” crowd. Happy hour in Milan does not mean cheaper drinks; it means free food!
Arriving early, and having booked a table, means you can enjoy a drink even with children in tow. The counters are normally covered in trays of food, maybe not Michelin-starred, but of the type children love. There will be carrot and celery sticks, pizza and focaccia squares, little bruschettas, chunks of salami and mortadella, tofu cubes, a warm pasta, little sausages, meatballs, cheese cubes, sometimes fruit and, if you are lucky, raw fish… and all of this is on free buffet. These places become busy once office people set free, which is normally around 8pm, so you will have plenty of time to enjoy the chilled-out atmosphere before calling it a day and taking your kids home!
There are a few nice bars around the Arco della Pace and my favourite place is Living, just on the right of the arc, especially in the summer when they have nice tables on the pavement with great views of the park trees just in front of you.

-Michela

Citta’ del Sole

Michela — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 22:22:28 +0000

This chain of toy shops is really a ray of light in a town where (nice) toy shops are difficult to find! The Città del Sole was founded over 30 years ago by Carlo Basso who still today carefully chooses the selections of toys that will be part of the catalogue.
Since my childhood Città del Sole has been a synonym of good quality educational toys. They sell funny, imaginative toys from big and small brands with a particular predilection for traditional toys. For example, you can find Schleich animals, Sigikid stuffed animals, Plan Toys pull-alongs, Galt toys and a big selection of arts and crafts material.
They have also been the main dealers of all the books by Bruno Munari and have been partners in a few of the exhibitions devoted to the great artist who thought so fondly of children and their playtime.
If the shop is not too crowded (Saturday afternoons or Christmas time) the owners will gladly take their time to help you choose that little present you are desperate to buy; they will listen to you, ask your budget and always find something you will be happy with, big or small. Oh, and they will also gift-wrap it for you!
They have four shops in Milan, so refer to the website for addresses. They also happen to be one of the few toy retailers which has a good web-shop.
How’s that? So modern, yet very traditional.

-Michela

El Resentin

Michela — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 22:20:57 +0000

This restaurant has a story with a happy ending!
El Resentin* used to be a wine-bar, or better a “grappa” bar open ’til late every night, where actors from the nearby theatre could find a quiet place to have a drink after the show. It opened 25 years ago on the ashes of a bistro that had been there since the 1920s. But in the spring of 2007 it closed down.
Then Rome-born Eros Ramazzotti, the famous singer, who lives nearby in the Brera neighbourhood and used to have breakfast in a café on the other side of the street, noticed the closed windows and thought it could be nice to open a restaurant to build even stronger roots in Milan and in the neighbourhood that had always made him feel welcome.
He bought the place and last September the “new” Resentin opened for business. The idea was to have a nice and welcoming place where one could eat like at home, and where families could feel welcome.
The menu is simple with a few starters, about five “primi piatti” of pasta and rice, about five mains (meat and fish), a few nice salads and very good desserts. Complemented by a serious wine list. The selection is modern and traditional at the same time, quite a good mix!
In addition they have hook-on chairs for babies, nice firm cushions for children that can sit at regular chairs, and they will bring crayons and papers and carton books for the babies. They do not have a children’s menu but will happily do half portions of the pasta dishes.
Overall the place is really charming (they just restored the whole bar furniture), the food is lovely, the location is really convenient, children are welcome in a way not very common in Milan, and the only average thing are the prices!

-Michela

*”resentin” is a word in the dialect from Veneto that denotes the action of drinking a shot of grappa in the same cup where one has just had an espresso. The warmth and the coffee really improve the taste and the perfume of the grappa.

Handbags’ paradise

Michela — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 21:54:27 +0000

I recently took a stroll in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the only covered gallery in Milan that connects the Duomo Square to the La Scala Square. It was built in the second half of the nineteenth century and traditionally it was considered Milan’s ‘good sitting room’. It used to be lined with luxury boutiques and nice cafés, and they all had black signs with gold writing. Then in the 1980s the quality of the shops fell and the Galleria wasn’t a shopping destination anymore. The central octagon still hosts a MacDonalds (with a very sober black sign!), but now the wind has changed and in the space of 50 meters, under the same glass volts, you can find Tod’s, Prada, Gucci and Luis Vuitton. So if you need a handbag you know where to go!
Prada has been there for ages, Tod’s and Gucci for a few years and Luis Vuitton has opened quite recently. The Gucci store sells only accessories but they also have a small café with a terrace in the gallery where pastries and pralines come engraved with the double G!
Another pleasant addition is the reopened Savini restaurant. It is probably the most famous of the traditional restaurants in Milan and it was closed for over a year for refurbishment. The ground floor is now a regular café with a bistro, and if you have your cappuccino at the counter it will not even cost you much!

-Michela