Milan Designers Reveal Insider Favorites for 2026 Design Week
Ahead of Milan design week 2026, Dezeen magazine has compiled recommendations from prominent local designers and tastemakers for the best spots across the Italian city. The curated list spans bars, restaurants, cultural sites, vintage dealers, and gelaterias. Notable picks include Bar Basso, recognized by Alcova co-founder Valentina Ciuffi as a historic meeting point that helped shape Fuorisalone. Design duo NM3's Francesco Zorzi and Nicolò Ornaghi championed Trattoria del Nuovo Macello, where chef Giovanni Traversone, a protégé of Italy's first three-Michelin-starred chef Gualtiero Marchesi, serves acclaimed risotto and cotoletta. For culture, Formafantasma's Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin highlighted art center Ordet for its experimental programming, while Dimore Studio's Emiliano Salci and Britt Moran recommended Villa Necchi Campiglio, a house museum by architect Piero Portaluppi. Vintage furniture retailer Compasso Design, noted by Tutto Bene founders Oskar Kohnen and Felizia Berchtold, sits "dangerously close" to Bar Basso. The guide is featured in the second edition of Dezeen Dispatch, a dedicated magazine for the event available at participating locations. Milan design week 2026 runs from 20-26 April.
Key facts
- Milan design week 2026 takes place from 20-26 April.
- Dezeen compiled recommendations from local designers for the event.
- Recommendations include bars, restaurants, cultural sites, vintage dealers, and gelaterias.
- Bar Basso is highlighted as a historic meeting point for designers.
- Trattoria del Nuovo Macello's chef Giovanni Traversone trained under Gualtiero Marchesi.
- The guide is published in the second edition of Dezeen Dispatch magazine.
- Designers cited include co-founders from NM3, Formafantasma, Dimore Studio, and Tutto Bene.
- Cultural sites mentioned include Ordet art center and Villa Necchi Campiglio.
Entities
Artists
- Maddalena Casadei
- Francesco Zorzi
- Nicolò Ornaghi
- Edoardo Pandolfo
- Francesco Palù
- David Raffoul
- Nicolas Moussallem
- Valentina Ciuffi
- Andrea Trimarchi
- Simone Farresin
- Giovanni Traversone
- Gualtiero Marchesi
- Joy Herro
- Emiliano Salci
- Britt Moran
- Oskar Kohnen
- Felizia Berchtold
- Piero Portaluppi
- Daniele
- Raimondo Garau
- Delfino Sisto Legnani
- Federico Bontempi
- Jack O'Brien
- Delbo Andrea
- Duke of Windsor
- Duchess of Windsor
- Rudolf Nureyev
- Giuseppe Verdi
- Indro Montanelli
Institutions
- Dezeen
- Milan design week
- NM3
- 6AM
- David/Nicolas
- Alcova
- Formafantasma
- Dimore Studio
- Tutto Bene
- Thaddaeus Ropac
- Palazzo Belgioioso
- Ordet
- Grand Hotel et de Milan
- Massimo de Carlo
- Cardi Gallery
- Tribunale di Milano
- Villa Necchi Campiglio
- Pennisi
- Compasso Design
- Gilda & Co
- Orticola
- Fuorisalone
- Dezeen Dispatch
- Dezeen Events Guide
Locations
- Milan
- Italy
- Brera district
- Tuscany
- Castello
- Corso Como
Sources
- Dezeen —