Cioccolati Italiani

When an intense afternoon shopping with friends inevitably leads to you craving a gourmet treat, is there a better place to go than Cioccolati Italiani? Though it now has three stores in Milan, this franchise cannot be simply labeled as a chain retailer.

My favourite Cioccolati Italiani store is the recently opened in Via Nerino 11, overlooking the charming Piazzetta San Giorgio, and not far from the Colonne di San Lorenzo. I’ve always found this store to be a shelter of sorts from the frenzy of Milanese shopping.

Upon entering you immediately feel like you’ve stumbled into a modernized version of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. Chocolate flows on tap, the walls and windows are painted in chocolatey brown and creamy white tones. All chocolates and pastries are made before the customer’s very eyes.

Cioccolati Italian is not only a chocolate factory though. It is also a gelateria, a coffee shop, a snack bar and a boutique, selling chocolate in all forms, handcrafted and beautifully packaged, ready as a treat to your own sweet tooth, or as a gift for any occasion.

It’s not an easy task, choosing from this incredible menu. But whatever you choose, it will almost certainly not disappoint. Whether you have just a simple espresso, or indulge in one of the exquisitely delicate chocolate spheres, you can be guaranteed that your order will be presented with utmost precision, and will be a feast for the eyes, not just the palate.

After thorough research, among the 13 flavors of gelato on offer, all made with the highest quality of raw materials, I recommend Nutella (naturally), Arauca (70% dark chocolate) and bologna cream. The cone comes filled with melted chocolate. As for pastries, it’s too hard to pick one, which is why you’re best off trying a bit of everything with the tasting plate.

It’s all impossible to resist!