The café in Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II – Enjoy a latte with latte art for just €2

Text & Photos /Happy Cloud

It’s truly said that friends are your best support when traveling. While staying at a friend’s place in Milan, my friend introduced me to an old shop inside the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II...

...that had been acquired by PRADA — PASTICCERIA MARCHESI, a historic patisserie with over 200 years of tradition. That day I didn’t have any sweets, but I unexpectedly discovered an incredibly cheap standing Latte Macchiato (caffè latte with a spot of espresso), and what's more, I could overlook the beautiful Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.

I hadn’t personally experienced or remembered much about the history of this old shop. Maybe I’d walked past it before, but never gone in. That day, next to PRADA, I saw Fondazione Prada, got curious and went in for a look, and that’s how I unexpectedly found the shop my friend had mentioned.

More than ten years ago, during my first trip to Italy, I had a coffee and a slice of tiramisu in this beautiful Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. That must have been my vague first impression of Milan. The price? I don’t remember, but it seemed reasonable (though back then the euro hadn’t even been introduced yet).

On later visits, I remembered Milan not being particularly cheap, especially on this famous shopping street.

With the mindset of checking it out no matter the cost, I stepped through the doorway, climbed the stairs, and entered this nearly 200-year-old, traditional pastry shop in Milan — Pasticceria Marchesi.

Pasticceria Marchesi is the perfect example of a blend between tradition and creativity. It’s located in an elegant 18th-century building at Via Santa Maria alla Porta 11/a in central Milan. In 1824, the Marchesi family opened their pastry shop here, and through hard work and dedication, it eventually became renowned for its handmade desserts.

In the early 20th century, the owner, Angelo Marchesi, began offering not only freshly baked pastries, cakes, cookies, and sweets but also morning coffee, evening cocktails, and other light refreshments.

Now, Pasticceria Marchesi is not only a high-quality pastry shop but also an elegant and charming café, gradually becoming one of Milan’s classic landmarks.

Since its early days, Pasticceria Marchesi has maintained an authentic atmosphere, preserving the original early 20th-century furniture, checkered ceilings, antique mirrors, and Art Deco-style lighting. It remains faithful to its founding traditions of selecting premium ingredients, upholding excellent craftsmanship, and paying meticulous attention to detail.

The shop’s magnificent 18th-century façade and its imaginative window displays attract customers to step inside involuntarily. Once inside, you feel as if you’ve entered a magical world of irresistible sweets. Exquisite gift boxes tied with bright ribbons contain various beautifully crafted pastries that are simply mouthwatering...

For more information about the shop and its story, please see:Pasticceria Marchesi (available in Simplified Chinese)

At first, faced with the colorful array of desserts in the shop, I was dazzled and really didn’t know what to choose. I thought, why not just sit down, relax, and figure out what to order.

But as soon as I walked in, I saw someone standing at the counter ordering a standing coffee, and I thought, hey, why not give that a try too!!

So I casually ordered a Latte Macchiato (caffè latte with a spot of espresso), and to my surprise, a standing coffee cost only €2. Ah~~~ And it even had latte art... wow~~~ There’s really a huge price difference compared to sitting down to drink it!!

I initially thought about drinking at the counter, but then I spotted an empty table by the window. So I took my coffee over and stood there, sipping while overlooking the flow of people in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Wow!!! Is €2 really that good a deal??

On my previous stop in Florence, I had also learned from the Italians by ordering a standing coffee at an old shop, along with a dessert, and the total was surprisingly affordable.

Coming to more expensive Milan, doing it this way seems like the more economical choice!!

Wow!!! PRADA’s luxury-brand café, with such an amazing view and the classic style of an old Milanese shop — what a fantastic value experience!!

I’m generously recommending it to everyone. Next time you go to Milan, don’t miss it!!

Continuing my walk and exploration, besides the designer stores, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II also has some old shops. This old bookstore was quite attractive — if I spoke Italian, I’d have loved to go in.

Walking around Milan, even your eyes get delighted. I saw many handsome guys and beautiful women (of all ages), but I felt a bit shy to take photos!!

............................................................... Eating, drinking, playing — the fun never ends

PASTICCERIA MARCHESI
Website
Address: Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, 20121 Milano, Italy
Phone: +39 02 9418 1710
Business hours: 7:30–21:00

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