Milord Milano

“I want people to feel a bit at home” is one of the first things that Cristian Lodi tells me. He is the bartender and owner of Milord Milano, a vintage cocktail bar located between Loreto and Città Studi. The desire to make customers feel at home is an evergreen trend, which in the last two years is experiencing a real boom, declined in new aesthetic and sensory suggestions. Maybe with the pandemic we all discovered that the familiarity our home can give is not so bad, it is so pleasant that even when we go out, we unconsciously search for the same feeling of warmth and intimacy that the Anglo-Saxon language perfectly describes as “cozy”?

Surely Cristian Lodi succeeded in his intent: in 2021 he decided to restyle his bar, that really looks like a living room now, with the only exception of a professional bartender who serves exclusive cocktails. From 18.00 until late in the night Cristian awaits you here: his staff will welcome you from behind the large and well-stocked counter in an informal but courteous way and will accompany you in the main room, among tables, armchairs and sofas found in antique markets, advertising posters and vintage signs, old radios, books and pianos. All this combined with a fané wallpaper with dark green walls.

Once you are seated, lulled by the pleasant jazz soundtrack, let yourself be seduced by the new menu, rigorously printed, telling the house proposals through delicious illustrations with an antique glamour, in line with the mood and atmosphere of the place. Are you ready to order one of Milord Milano’s signature cocktails? They are about 10 and change from season to season, but they keep as common denominator research, quality of raw materials and a harmonious mix of classic and unusual ingredients. Moreover, what is not obvious, they also satisfy the aesthetic side. I tried a preview of the Mediterranean Scrub, an elegant and tempting proposal, served – ça va sans dire – in a vintage-inspired glass, decorated with a small waffle shaped like a beehive, which refers to one of the main ingredients: honey soda. The latter competes sweetly with the fig flavoured vermouth, the whole managing unexpectedly not to be cloying, mitigated by the balsamic aroma of the mountain pine scented cordial. Those who prefer savory flavors cannot avoid tasting Tann-in Skin, which counts brine among its ingredients, moderated by the aromatic sweetness of virgin Marsala and the citrus freshness of T.10 gin. But even those who have more traditional tastes are satisfied, because Milord also serves more classic proposals, such as the timeless spritz, or a selection of sparkling wines, including some Champagne labels. Everything, at aperitif time, is accompanied by express snacks: meatballs, cold cuts, cheese and small bruschettas.

Milord Milano, with its 400 square meters spread over two floors, is also the ideal place to organize parties or events: the basement space is practically a club in the pub, a sort of Italian speakeasy, dominated by an imposing billiard table, behind which shines a second, large counter bar.