Milan’s 5 coolest barber shops

“Looking like a natural man is attractive” (cit. Mr Porter)… Every gentleman has his secret place to relax, escape, and take care of himself. It’s not his home, nor can it be his office: they call it “the third place.” Hidden in Milan’s streets and neighbourhoods, they are the Barber Shops: true ateliers, places of worship, intimate and private, where you can relax and entrust yourself to the skilled hands of shaving masters.

1940s cuts, beard care, and the “extra details” that would be overlooked in an ordinary salon take form and style here. Scissor artists are at your complete disposal: travellers, musicians, graffiti artists, united by their passion for what they call “old school” style. Everything happens in splendid settings where the protagonists are flavours of the past.

Here is the list of the coolest Barber Shops in the city: try them to believe it!

Acqua di Parma Barber

Via Gesù, 1

Acqua di Parma has chosen the intimate Via del Gesù as its “home”, halfway between Via Montenapoleone and Via della Spiga: a location that suits it perfectly, discreet and impeccable, in the most luminous and refined heart of the Quadrilatero. Inside the boutique, beyond the iconic fragrances, you discover a true barbershop devoted to the Italian ritual of shaving, interpreted with tradition, care, and that artisan touch that speaks of Made in Italy. The atmosphere is that of a classic barber’s, with exclusive chairs and stations, and barber masters capable of a service so precise it borders on obsession: from beard shaping to moisturising serums, right through to a straight-razor shave with a double scented hot towel. For those who want the very best, there is also the Prestige treatment, a full hour of indulgence with a scrub, a hyaluronic acid mask and eye contour care, as well as a haircut and head shave. You leave looking perfect and feeling fresh, like a contemporary dandy — and with a gift idea that is practically foolproof.

Francesco Cirignotta

Viale Gabriele D’Annunzio, 25

Everything feels extremely sophisticated: the furnishings, inspired by travel, halfway between a lounge and a luxury hotel designed for the most demanding businessman. (…) The second relaxation room allows you to enjoy a whisky of your choice from the selection of displayed spirits.

Bullfrog

Via Dante, 4

The atmosphere is extremely masculine, reminiscent of childhood memories waiting for my grandfather at the barber. Now it feels like being in another city, perhaps another country. The sensation is that of 1930s America, and even the staff fits perfectly into the setting. At the entrance, an exclusive service for shoe polishing, glazing, and patina, reportedly offered only in one other shop in Italy, completes the scene.

Pisterzi Italian Grooming Art

Via Monte Napoleone, 17

Pisterzi Italian Grooming Art is a refined salon in Milan, founded by Gian Antonio Pisterzi, elevating male grooming for beard, hair, and skin into a true art, offering exclusive services in an elegant environment for those who consider self-care a lifestyle.

Tonsor Club Barber Shop

Via Palermo, 15

I am welcomed into a carefully detailed environment with a vintage look. I schedule an appointment for a beard trim, arriving slightly early, but I am offered a light drink, perfect for the late afternoon. Everything is extremely relaxing: the jazz music in the background and the young artists skillfully taking care of their clients.