England are out and god knows what happened to previous world cup champions Italia. But not all is bad in Milano. I just had a delicious lemon granita at Grom. The thought of eating a heavy meal in this heat makes me sick! Luckily I live on Corso Sempione, home to a cluster of great bars all of which do a great aperitivo.

The thing I love about Italians is that everything revolves around food. The focus of evening drinks is not the British happy hour concept where you drink as much as you can whilst it is cheap. In Milan most bars display a large buffet of  food including salads, pastas, cheeses and couscous. The aperitivo concept: pay 8 euros for a cocktail and eat all you want!

Corso Sempione is great as you really are spoilt for choice between Bhangra Bar, Living, Deseo, Jazz bar, Blight or Roialto and Bar Milano within walking distance from  Corso Sempione. My favourite is Blight which is just next to a spa. It has a sense of freshness and you can easily get a platter of fruit and great non alcoholic cocktails. If you are going in a large group and where initmate conversations are not necessary then Deseo has a good vibe, and is probably the most popular. Bar Milano and Roialto are great spaces giving a hotel lobby feel, but the vegetarian options are limited.

A cocktail, good food or simply people watching from the bars that sprawl out on to the street, Corso Sempione is great for all.

If I had not been taken to this cute  and small enoteca, Ebrezza, I most certainly would have walked straight past it. Ebrezza is a charming down to earth enoteca. No frills, no posh table ware, and no snobbish sommeliers who pretend to smell their wine acting like they know what they are talking about!

My friend and I were welcomed by the owner and were taken upstairs to the three small tables that were surrounded by book shelves cluttered with a mix of books, wines and photos. Though minimalistic there was a rustic and warm feeling to the place.

Once we had chosen our wine from the endless list of Italian wines split by region, we shouted out our order over the stairs to the owner. And when the wine came, oh my god it was amazing! I choose the Bolgheri, a Tuscan wine which has now replaced my previous favourite wine Nero d’Avola. Three Bolgheri wines later, we moved downstairs to enjoy the live jazz music.

What was supposed to be a quick drink before going out for dinner, ended up being a long evening of fun and laughter over great wine and delicious bruschetta, piadina and a selection of cheeses. There is something about Ebrezza that just makes you stay on. Within ten minutes of being there, it all felt familiar, we could hear every one’s conversations and I almost felt part of them.

I will definitely be going back to Ebrezza and I hope to work my way through their extensive wines. For a great evening make sure to go on a Thursday night where there is live jazz music.

Ebrezza, Via Garigliano 5, 0039245480138, Milan – Italy

Stop over in Milan from London to Istanbul, in need of good quality food and a fresh uplifting environment. So, without a doubt I headed straight to Bianco Latte  for a lovely brunch.

Bianco Latte is modern, chic and stylish. In fact the design seems to be an integral part of the concept. Everytime I tried to take a photo, I was stopped by a waiter trying to protect Bianco Latte’s design and brand!

I had a lovely heart warming vegetable soup with a vegetable cake. The piadinas and savoury crepes are also delicious and served in an interesting ice cream cone shape. Bianco Latte is probably closer to a deli/cafe as oppose to a tradtional Italian restaurant.

Bianco Latte is also known for its gelato. I have been here for breakfast, lunch and dinner and somehow I have not got round to trying their gelato, which looks on par with some of my favourite gelaterias in Milan. Next time I will go to Bianco Latte just on a gelato date!

Bianco Latte, Via Turati, 0039262086177, Milan – Italy

Not in the mood to put on your high heels, but looking for a great cocktail? Lacerba is the perfect place, with a funky cocktail list, quite different to your standard Milanese bar. If you are adventurous try the strawberry and balsamic martini or the basil and honey martini. The cocktail list is extensive so there is something for everyone from the classic cocktail drinker to the virgin drinker, for whom the “platonic sex cocktail” is perfect!

I particularly like Lacerba as the vibe is local, the atmosphere is chilled out, and the cocktails are delicious! I would recommend the bar for a groups of friends, as the feng shui is almost set up for that. Not quite the place for a romantic date or to strut your latest Prada purchase.

Lacerba, Via Orti, 4, 0039025455475, Milan – Italy

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(Picture – courtesy of Verger)

A beautiful space that made me curious and reenter the day after showing off my new find in Milan to my friends. Verger, that opened only three months ago is a modern, spacious and multifunctional space exhibiting creativity through fashion and food.

On entering Verger I felt like I was on Via Savona during Milan’s design week.  In fact on the top floor, Christian and Enrico Verger have showcased Wendy Plomp’s  design collection from Milan’s 2009 design week.

Although Verger’s design collection is interesting, my budget would not permit me to come back to Verger for its collection alone. For me, Verger is a great place for a creative lunch or a catch up with friends over coffee in a funky environment.

Leaving Verger I was reminded what the Milanese are best at: design and innovation.

Verger, Via Varese 1, 003902 86998276,  Milan - Italy

I was one of those girls who used to get bored going to the kitchen section in John Lewis with my mum. However when I was in Kitchen, a beautiful cooking and kitchenware boutique on Via de Amicis in Milan, I could not resist touching practically every utensil. From German non-stick aluminum to Japanese ceramic knives, this place has it all.

Kitchen’s cooking book selection is also great and includes some top Italian chefs in the food industry. I picked up two excellent cookbooks: Diario di un Cuoco by Pietro Leemann who is the chef of Joia a Michelin star vegetarian restaurant in Milan and Tiramisu  e Chantilly by Luca Montersino and Roberto Sammartini.

After looking at Kitchen’s cooking courses (which range from  50 to 70 euros) and flicking through pictures of Tiramisu  in every shape and form I had to leave Kitchen as my mouth began to water. Luckily just next door to Kitchen is  Viscontea which serves some delicious pastries and delicacies. It is so rare to come across a cafe in Milan where you can  sit down, sip a cup of tea and watch the world go by. Viscontea  also serves lunch and aperitivo.  I highly recommend it, especially if you are in the area.

Kitchen, Via E. de Amicis, 45,  00390258102849, Milan – Italy

Pasticceria Viscontea, Via E. de Amicis, 39, 00390239430081, Milan – Italy

Cafe Nero claims to be the best espresso this side of Milan. I have found the best espresso in Milan. Just behind Corso Sempione, I came across a small degustacion cafe open since 1946. Even if you are not a coffee lover, the second you open the door, the strong coffee aroma allures you and invites you to try one of Hodeidah speciality coffees. Hodeidah has a large selection of coffee beans from around the world. The speciality is not so much the variety of coffee beans, but the way they are toasted in the laboratorio artigianale di torrefazione di cafe. And for those who are perhaps not used to a shot of espresso, or the regular milanese cappuccino or cafe there is a varied selection of cafes: Cafe con panna Cioccolino (coffee with chocolate and cream) Ciococarancio (chocolate, coffee with a hint of orange, and cream) Nocciolino (chocolate,coffee with a hint of hazelnut, cream and a layer or fresh hazelnuts) – my favourite! Cioccolata calda con gelato alla pera (thick hot chocolate with pear icecream….delicious) But please dont ask for an americano here…its not their style! This is not a place where you can sit and read your newspaper. Its a place where locals who work or live in Sempione go to have a quick coffee at the bar. Hodeidah also sell an extensive range of tea leaves from around the world, and a wide range of luxury chocolates and sweets.   The presentation and collectiveness of the coffees, teas and chocolates ensures that you do not leave the cafe empty handed. Hodeidah, Via Piero della Francesca, 8, 00392342472, Milan – Italy