Milan may be known as the fashion capital of Italy, if not the world — but the Olympic Games are a good reminder that it’s also the gateway to one of the most beautiful alpine regions. For this edition of Two Perfect Days, we’ve connected with two Milan locals who’ve fully embraced city life while still taking pride in their mountain roots.Born in Grisons, just across the border in Switzerland, to an Italian father, Giorgio Rocca is one of the most decorated slalom skiers of all time, winning 11 World Cups. In 2006 he competed in the Torino Games, where he recited the Olympic Oath at the opening ceremony. Today he’s a sought-after ski coach, living in Milan but working all around the peaks of Livigno, where this year’s snowboard and freestyle competitions are being held.Originally from Merano, in Italy’s autonomous province of Bolzano, Brigitte Niedermair is a Milan-based artist whose interdisciplinary works focus largely on photography. One of Niedermair’s most recent pieces — a large-format tapestry — can be seen on permanent display in the reception of the newly renovated Aman Rosa Alpina. It’s a full-circle moment for the artist, who during the 1990s worked in the hotel’s housekeeping department and has since maintained a close friendship with the owners. Below, Rocca and Niedermair weigh in on the spots they’d prioritize for a perfect day in their adopted hometown — the co-host of the 2026 Winter Olympics — from the best bakeries to get your morning sugar fix to the late-at-night scenester spots surrounded by the fashion elite.Running and RisottoLife in Milan is all about finding the balance between living healthily and enjoying the city’s indulgences.For a decadent breakfast, I choose Pasticceria Ernst Knam. Known as the king of chocolate, Knam is famous throughout the city for culinary creations that are as artistic as they are delicious, from one-bite pralines to delicate chocolate tarts piled up with concentric circles of fresh fruit.If you’re looking for something more substantial, no one does a high-quality brunch better than the Portrait Milano. It starts with a parade of seasonal cheeses and vegetable-focused dishes from the buffet, and then I’ll order anything from the hot menu that comes with plenty of avocado and salmon. There’s a twist on eggs Benedict that replaces the English muffin with a flaky croissant that’s very good.If it’s the weekend, I’ll head to Parco Sempione afterward for a run — the park’s paths are really wide, making it the perfect exercise spot amid some of the most iconic greenscapes in Europe. Most locals like to escape to the countryside when it’s not a workday, but for me it’s the time to have the city to myself, especially around the Navigli canals. The historic waterways feel like the true heart of Milan and are the perfect spot for a leisurely amble.A good risotto alla Milanese should never be missing from a definitive day in my city, and the absolute best one is at D’O, chef Davide Oldani’s two-Michelin-starred kitchen. It’s just outside of the city center in the village of Cornaredo. His signature zafferano e riso puts a modern spin on the classic recipe by reducing the butter, which relieves the dish of its richness and lets the saffron shine through.If I have clients in town, we usually take afternoon meetings at the Swiss Corner, a mod café and multipurpose events space filled with classic tulip chairs and tables. It was designed by Swiss Chamber (confusingly, that’s the proper name for the Swiss Chamber of Commerce) as a place for public encounter, and it’s right across the street from the Porta Venezia Gardens.For dinner, sushi has gotten really popular in Milan lately, with a ton of new restaurants opening up. My favorite is (and will always be) Nobu. International restaurants come and go, but the iconic miso cod and yellowtail jalapeno is here to stay.In the evenings, I’m usually heading to private events and film premieres, but my go-to spot for an after-dinner Negroni or a late-night glass of Italian wine is, without a doubt, Armani Privé. There’s nowhere better in Milan that cultivates an atmosphere of exclusivity that everyone in town — local or otherwise — desires.Galleries and GlutenI think the reason I love Milan so much is because she’s such a beautiful lady but she doesn’t really like to show off. Every visitor must, of course, indulge in her most famous sights — Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and the Duomo di Milano — but after that, she’s waiting patiently for you to discover more. And in a way I feel like I’m doing just that, discovering the city all over again, because I recently moved my studio to a different part of town and am now finding a variety of lovely places far away from Brera’s thrum of tourists.Take, for example, Signor Lievito, my new favorite bakery. It’s a big departure from Italian classics, selling pastries from northern Europe instead, like sugar-topped cardamom buns, and cream-filled fastelavnsboller (doughnuts, basically, but laced with the same signature spice as the buns). You must be there at 8 a.m. for your morning cappuccino. If you’re late, you may miss out on some of their best pastries.When I’m in my studio, be it drawing, painting or organizing a photo shoot, I tend to stay close to my work and make my own lunch — I love to cook. But to get a taste of Milan, one should be aware that the city is a cotoletta battleground. The dish is native to the region, comprised mainly of a breaded meat cutlet.My favorite is at Il Ristorante Niko Romito at the Bulgari Hotel Milano — it’s so tender, with the perfect crispy edges — and I always get it with spaghetti al pomodoro. Trattoria Masuelli San Marco, across town, is a worthy opponent if you’re looking for more traditional surroundings to match.I’m afraid to tell you that I’m probably Milan’s worst shopper — Dior just sends me gifts, I’m lucky like that! Instead of boutiques, you can find me in the galleries of my friends, like Casa Mutina, a showroom for art collabs with the famed Mutina ceramic brand, and Federico Vavassori, a space largely dedicated to conceptual and avant-garde painting.I also visit the Pinacoteca di Brera every time they have a new exhibition — it never gets old. The current retrospective on Giorgio Armani’s career is worth checking out, and has been extended until May.But an endorsement of Milan would feel incomplete for me without admitting that I like to escape the city back to my small hometown of Bolzano. If you visit, you must eat at Meteo. To describe the food would do it a great disservice — the entire place vibrates differently than anywhere you’ve ever eaten before.Don’t be scared that I’ve not prepared you well enough for what to eat, the chef’s wife, Agata, has a very strong personality and she will decide for you!
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