Page 198 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Milan & The Lakes

196  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS

Nightlife d’Oro, near the Spanish
walls over looking Porta
One of the characteristics that distinguishes Milan from Romana, is jam-packed
other Italian cities is the way in which the city really comes in the summer.
alive at night. From Tuesday to Saturday the city’s pubs, bars,
restaurants, cafés and discotheques are generally packed, Nightspots
though there are fewer Milanese and more people from with Live Music
outside the city on Saturdays. Monday and, to a certain Listening to live music is a
extent, Sunday, are the quiet days, offering only rare popular activity in the city
occasions for entertainment. During the week clubs and and the choice of venues
discos organize theme evenings, and some of them operate is wide. Blue Note is one of
the city’s historic nightspots.
a strict door policy. Places offering live music are also very It is the place to go for live
popular; they often feature promising new performers. The jazz, but recently has been
majority are located in the Navigli district, one of Milan’s offering a wider selection of
most vibrant areas. blues and ethnic music. The
place gets very crowded and it
can be difficult to find a table
Discos and Clubs Currently drawing in the unless you book in advance.
For the energetic on the fashion crowd is Hollywood. In the Navigli area, Rocket is
lookout for new trends in This is the place to go if you worth checking out for up-and-
music and dance, Milan is a fancy celebrity spotting. The coming bands. Ittolittos is the
great place to be. The many Magazzini Generali, which place to hear jazz and blues.
discos and clubs in town offer is also used for concerts and There is also a restaurant here.
different types of music and exhibitions, attracts a mixed Nidaba is small, dark and
are so popular that they crowd. The week opens on smoky, but people love the
attract young people from Wednesday and themed atmosphere and it is always
all over Italy. The scene is evenings include new musical full. Promising young bands
quite volatile and with rare trends and popular DJs. Friday often perform here.
exceptions – some places is usually international night, Lastly, concerts of current
have become positive with the latest music from music are held at the Tunnel,
institutions – Milan discos around the world. Saturdays a converted warehouse
change their name, focus on the best of new under the Stazione Centrale
management and style dance, rock and contemporary (main railway station). Tunnel
periodically. It is quite pop music. also functions as a cultural
common for a wildly popular The Shocking Club is centre, hosting shows and
club to fall out of favour, only crowded every night from exhibitions as well as book
to return to popularity once Monday to Saturday, and has launches for new publications.
again some time later. become a Milanese institution
Some places charge an just like Nepentha. There is a
entrance fee; others are free strict door policy. A trendy Discopubs
but you are obliged to pay for multi-purpose disco is the For those who want to dance
drinks. Prices vary quite a lot; Circolo Magnolia, which without going to a disco there
the so-called drinkcard system, hosts many live music acts. are so-called discopubs. In
whereby you pay for your Fabrique is a futuristic the early evening, these
drinks at the entrance, is architectural structure putting places are ideal for a relaxing
fairly common. on top live entertainment. drink and quiet conversation.
One disco that has adopted The Old Fashion, inside Later in the evening, the
this method is Alcatraz, a the Triennale, is a disco with atmosphere livens up
former factory converted into popular theme evenings. (The considerably. Loola paloosa,
a multi-purpose venue for restaurant is also a big draw, for example, is an Irish pub
concerts, fashion shows and especially for Sunday brunch.) with a happy hour extending
even conventions. Friday is One of the largest discos from 5 to 9pm. Late at night
given over to 1970s and in Milan is Limelight. The it transforms into a totally
1980s revival dance music. place is also used for television different creature: the volume
La Banque attracts a chic programmes and for holding is turned up and every
crowd to its good restaurant. music concerts. available spot is used for
The clientele stay on to dance The Black Hole opens up dancing, including the tables
to music mixed by hip DJs. its huge summer garden for and the counter.
Situated right beside the dancing from May through B Space, in the Isola
Porta Ticinese, Le Trottoir September. It has students’ quarter, is another great
alla Darsena, offers live night on Thursdays and gay place to enjoy a long happy
music almost every evening. nights on Fridays. Il Ragno hour followed by dancing

196-197_EW_Milan.indd 196 20/10/16 3:20 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.7)
Date 5th March 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm