Milan has a reputation for being industrious but look in the right places and you’ll discover that it also knows how to let its hair down. Don’t take our word for it: don your snappiest gear and see for yourself.

Few things will be handed to you on a plate in Milan – except, perhaps, a generous portion of rich and creamy risotto con ossobuco. The Lombard capital has an enviable wealth of restaurants, shops and galleries but the best are often hard to find. This is a city that rewards those who take the time to tap on a closed door and look beyond an unassuming stone façade. 

Naturally, as a mecca for fashion fans and design aficionados, Milan can also be a fast-paced and dizzying affair. That’s where we come in. We’ll steer you towards the top bars for a negroni and reveal our favourite spots in which to savour both innovative fare and authentic cucina Milanese. We’ve sifted through the city’s labyrinthine retail offering for the tailors making the sharpest suits and the homeware shops packed with rare finds. Plus the hotels that we long to hunker down in, from polished renaissance palazzos to cosy family-run boutiques.

Authors: 

Monocle reports from around the globe in print, on radio, and online. As its editors and correspondents dart from city to city, they get to know the best places to rest their heads, stretch their limbs, and kick back with a contact in a hard-to-find cocktail bar. 

That information is now available in Monocle’s Travel Guide Series: a line-up of titles that speaks to you in an informed but informal way about everything from architecture to art, late-night bars to early-morning markets. These are books that go beyond the traditional tourist beats to make sure you get the best out of a city — no matter how short your stay. Designed to be compact and collectable, they are also discerning; Monocle’s team won’t list a hundred places to eat but they will tell you where’s best for everything from some tasty fast food to something truly celebratory. Cities are fun. Let’s explore.

Vienna has long been a city that bridges Eastern and Western Europe with panache. Pack your suitcase and delve into the melting pot of Europe.

There's much more to Austria’s capital than Baroque palaces, horse-drawn carriages and the landmark venues where Mozart and Klimt first showcased their masterpieces. This guide will steer you away from the crowded Prater and its ferris wheel (although naturally we'll make a quick detour past the Vienna State Opera and Schönbrunn Palace) and out to explore the city's 23 diverse districts. 

We'll show you where to shop for shoes and silverware from the most venerable manufacturers and our pick of the coffeehouses for a frothy melange and slice of apfelstrudel. We'll take you to the most vibrant art galleries and toe-tapping music venues, guide you through the Museumsquartier and to our favourite brutalist buildings and also reveal the best running routes along the Danube.

Authors:

Monocle reports from around the globe from the platforms of print, radio, and online. As their editors and correspondents dart from city to city, they get to know the best places to rest their heads, stretch their limbs, and kick back with a contact in a hard-to-find cocktail bar.

All of that invaluable information is now available in The Monocle Travel Guide Series: a line-up of titles that speaks to readers in an informed but informal way about everything from architecture to art, late-night bars to early-morning café excursions. These are books that go beyond the traditional tourist beats to make sure you get the most out of a city no matter how short your stay. Designed to be compact and collectable, they are also discerning. Between the covers, there shall not be a list of a hundred places to eat, but a thoughtful focus on what's best for any occasion.