BLACKBOOK DISPATCH BLACKBOOK DISPATCH SECRET DEALINGS Take a walk under the arches of Piazza dei Mercanti (Merchants’ Square) and whisper into the base of a column: anyone standing diagonally opposite you can hear everything you say. A ruse once used by traders wanting to conduct clandestine business, today it serves as a whimsical attraction for visitors. City-centre views and rooftop pool at Ceresio 7 Palermo-born chef Filippo La Mantia at his eponymous eatery (left); the futuristic dining room at Terrazza Gallia on the seventh floor of the new Hotel Gallia (right) WHERE TO STAY It took more than four years and a multimillion-dollar renovation to bring the majestic Hotel Gallia (excelsiorgallia.com), originally built in the 1930s, back to its former glory. While the façade has been restored to the lustre of yesteryear, the interiors, refitted by the Milanese studio Marco Piva, blend belle époque architecture with the contemporary aesthetics of Italian design favourites like Cassina, Fendi, Molteni and B&B Italia. With a prime location abutting the Central Station, Hotel Gallia boasts 235 rooms, including the spectacular 1,000sq m Katara Suite with two terraces, four bedrooms and a private spa. Other highlights include the Terrazza Gallia, manned by the three-Michelinstarred Cerea brothers, and the Shiseido Spa, the only one of its kind in Italy. Another hotly anticipated launch, the Mandarin Oriental ( mandarinoriental.com), has finally come to fruition just a few steps away from La Scala, with 104 rooms by star designer Antonio Citterio, who infuses Italian style with oriental touches, and culinary delights by multi-starred chef Antonio Guida. WHERE TO EAT & DRINK It was Milan that pioneered the idea of combining traditional Italian aperitivo with tapas-style appetisers, all enjoyed on a serene rooftop terrace in the cool evening air. Few spots rival Ceresio 7 (ceresio7.com), a bar with a pool on the roof of a historical Milanese palazzo, created by Dean and Dan Caten, the designers behind Dsquared2. The unusual venue also houses a restaurant helmed by chef Elio Sironi. Meanwhile, the new Terrazza Triennale (triennale.org), set in a transparent greenhouse surrounded by nature with spectacular views of the city’s skyline, offers Michelin-starred fare by acclaimed chef Stefano Cerveni, who spoils guests with aperitifs, snacks, immaculate mains and warm, friendly service. Back on the ground, the destination for aperitivi par excellence is Via Solferino, where Dry Cocktails & Pizza (drymilano.it) has just opened, experimenting with an unprecedented alliance between pizza and mixology. The cocktail list samples » CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: MAURITIUS IMAGES; © GIANMARCO CHIEREGATO; © HOTEL GALLIA; © CERESIO 7 (2) 28 DEPARTURES-INTERNATIONAL.COM CONTACT PLATINUM CARD SERVICE FOR BOOKINGS
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