• Added: 15th of June 2007
• Area: Milan
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Milan 20141

tane said

400 in English, quattrocentro in Italian...the Italian name sounds decidedly more stylish, and as such, suits this venue.

This place is a favourite amongst many of the Milanese crowd, especially those who like to look good and be at the right place at the right time.

A lot of attention and effort has gone into the design and furnishing of this place, maybe too much for some.

The food is inventive with an Italian base and the wine selection is also very good.

The main attraction is the spacious garden, where you can lounge in the day and night.

It's further out from the centre but worth it.

• Added: 15th of June 2007
• Area: Milan
• Category: Food and Drink

Milan 20123

tane said
Like a kid in a culinary store!
If you love food then you'll love this place. This place is the Harrods or Fortnum & Mason of Milan for food - nothing but the finest selection of the best food. The selection is of course primarily Italian, but there is also an excellent range of international foods here, especially the international coffee that you can find upstairs - Jamaican and Indonesian in particular - Italian and French cheeses, the finest cuts of meat, fresh and cured, fresh pasta, while downstairs you'll find probably one of the best public cellars of wine in Europe.

But, of course, prices are not for the faint hearted

• Added: 14th of June 2007
• Area: Milan
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Milan 20143

tane said
Übercool - maybe too much
Mix a modern, minimalist dark interior with a style conscious crowd, peppered with driving beats (a least later on) and you have an idea of what bond is.

Drinks are priced steeply but the crowd don't seem to care, judging by the queues - and yes this place follows the genius of having to get in one queue to pay for your drinks first, then queueing in another queue to get the drinks - frankly, I'm lost on this apparent logic but it's everywhere in Italy, don't ask me why.

I'd add it's a regular attraction for the fashion crowd. Funnily enough, this place seems to (try to) be bigger than it's small size. Nonetheless, I like it, but understand that it's not for all.

• Added: 14th of June 2007
• Area: Milan
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Milan 20142

tane said
Funky 60s retro
The location isn't ideal - a quiet residential zone, but the venue is. Spacious and loungy, with a stylish retro 60s interior, mixed with an interesting use of water and lighting to add to the decor and ambience. Along the back wall is a large blow up photo of Los Angeles at night, which gives it a distinctly urban feel, while the "front garden" is laid out with astro-turf with an outdoor bar.

Can't speak for the food but the drinks certainly go down well.

• Added: 8th of June 2007
• Area: Milan
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Milan 20144

tane said
Hidden Treasure
Pass it on the street and you would think nothing of it. But enter through the small room at the front, pass by the frenetic kitchen and you realise you've found something. Then you enter in the large, lush courtyard out the back...open sky above you, tables around the fountain and the bar at the back, perfect for aperativo - an essential activity of the Milan night scene. This is what's typical about Milan - the best places are hidden from view and this is certainly one of them.

Quite simply, go there!

• Added: 2nd of June 2007
• Area: Marylebone
• Category: Restaurants

London W1U 4RX
020 7935 6175

tane said
Excellent Brunch
The Providores, one of the many flavoursome fruits of Peter Gordon's culinary nous, is hands down, an excellent place for brunch.

Although, it's been a while since I was last there, I can still remember how fantastic the food was. Tea smoked salmon - the name says it all, and the grilled chorizo - superb.

One slight minus is the lack of room in the tapas room, although maybe it's changed now...hope so.

• Added: 2nd of June 2007
• Area: Soho
• Category: Cafes and Coffee Shops

London W1F 0PT
020 7734 0370

tane said

Had a superb coffee at this gem-of-a-joint and have had difficulty finding one as good since, except for monmouth maybe