Milan

Part florist, part restaurant, Fioraio Bianchi looks like the backdrop of a high-fashion photoshoot. The walls are artfully scraped down giving it a shabby chic appeal and the large bouquets of flowers provide the blooms of colour.

At Dry you can enjoy gourmet pizzas created by skilled Chef, Andrea Berton. There’s also an intriguing cocktail menu with options such as Gin Gin Mule which includes gin, mint and ginger beer.

Whilst this is more of a patisserie than a restaurant, we just had to give it a mention. Cova Milano was first established in 1817 as a literary cafe which became a fashionable rendezvous point. The decor of Cova is still as elegant and refined as it was when it was founded over 200 years ago.

Prepare all your senses for a dining experience at Contraste. It’s not simply somewhere you go to enjoy a meal, it’s somewhere you go for a culinary adventure.

Located in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel is the highly acclaimed restaurant Seta which has been awarded 2 Michelin Stars. The restaurant is operated by Chef Antonio Guida and the decor is contemporary and stylish.

Located in the Hotel Sheraton Diana Majestic, HClub is a favourite for the fashion crowd as a summer drinking scene. The garden here is stunning with its magnolias, cyclamens, water fountain and mature trees.

If you want to dance until the early hours, then head to Alcatraz – one of Milan’s most popular night clubs. Each evening brings with it a different theme and style of music from Peace and Love parties inspired by the 60’s and 70’s to the slightly more intense music of Papa Roach.

Bar Basso has an authentic atmosphere which is reflected in the decor and choice of cocktails including signature Negroni Sbagliatos which are a mix of sweet vermouth, campari and slightly sparkling wine garnished with orange peel and served over ice.

When you first walk into this bar which appears very unassuming from the outside, your first thoughts will most likely be ‘What have I just walked into?’ but the unique decor isn’t where the surprises end because the cocktails here are on another level.

Fashion Week occurs twice a year in Milan; the Autumn/Winter event is held in February/March and the Spring/Summer show is held in September/October. Whilst many of the shows are by invitation only, there are some which are open to the public.

A white night in Italy usually means a sleepless one! For one night each year (usually mid June), bars, restaurants, cafes, shops and cinemas prepare to celebrate and stay open until the early hours of 6am.

Held along the canal, this flower fair adds a splash of colour to Milan as over 200 nurseries and horticultural schools come from all over Italy to create displays. The Mercato dei Fiori is held every year in April along the Naviglio Grande.

This is one of Europe’s biggest contemporary art shows and it welcomes artists, dealers, critics and collectors from all around the world. If you’re interested in attending it’s held in early April.

This notable furniture fair welcomes top designers from around the world who display their exquisite furniture and fittings for visitors to browse. If you have a keen interest in interior design this is definitely one for you. The event takes place in Rho in mid-April.