Circolo Canottieri Milano

The historic home of Canottieri Milano can genuinely be described as an oasis of calm just minutes from the nightlife of the Navigli, and it conceals a restaurant and cocktail bar well worth discovering. First things first: Canottieri Milano is a historic sports club along the Naviglio Grande. Founded in 1890, it offers a wide range of sports and activities, including rowing, swimming, water polo, basketball and tennis. The historic Art Nouveau building is surrounded by lush greenery, an Olympic-size swimming pool, seven tennis courts and various other sports pitches, including basketball and five-a-side football. You will immediately find yourself saying that classic phrase: ‘it does not even feel like Milan’.

Yet the real highlight is Circolo Canottieri Milano, a restaurant and cocktail bar with a conservatory, now managed by Officina Milano. If you are familiar with their venue in the Bocconi area, which we at Flawless have often recommended, you will recognise the level of attention to detail and the quality of drinks and dining that also defines this new venture by Officina.

The setting at Circolo Canottieri Milano brings to mind an English club, with tobacco leather sofas, parquet flooring, dark wood tables, historic sporting photographs and 19th-century portraits on the walls. Nodding to the club’s signature sport, two large wooden canoes hang from the ceiling in the main rooms. The bright conservatory, with large glass windows overlooking the gardens and pool, is ideal for a business lunch or Sunday brunch, while the terrace comes into its own during warm weather for an aperitivo or dinner al fresco.

The menu features regional Italian dishes such as yellow saffron risotto, cotoletta alla milanese, carciofi alla romana and Tuscan panzanella, alongside international favourites including salads, club sandwiches, burgers and tartare. There is also a dedicated selection of tasty Neapolitan pizzas, while weekends bring a classic brunch with traditional made-to-order egg dishes, Italian options and plenty of tempting desserts.

The cocktails deserve a chapter of their own, catering both to those who stick to the classics and those who like to experiment with bolder flavours and aromas. For an aperitivo, with dinner or late into the evening, they hit the spot, and sipping them in such a tranquil setting on a summer evening is thoroughly restorative. Even better when accompanied by live music or weekly DJ sets.

Entry to Canottieri Milano is generally reserved for members, but do not be put off: restaurant guests can enter freely. Finally, a detail that will delight every local: there is a spacious private car park, a true luxury around the Navigli.

Photos ©Maurizio Marassi