Milan isn’t just about high fashion and elegance – it’s also home to a growing conscious living movement! Picture yourself enjoying a coffee at a cool eco-friendly café, shopping for sustainable goodies, or relaxing at a wellness haven. Milan is making sustainability stylish, just like Sowll aims to do.
Here’s our handpicked sustainable guide to enjoying Milan more mindful and eco-consciousy:
Cafes & Breakfast spots: slow starts for conscious mornings
Eutopia
A pastry and kitchen lab that prioritises seasonal ingredients from natural, biodynamic, or organic farming. Eutopia offers full-bodied, familiar flavours that break away from conventional pastry norms by using only whole-grain flour and natural sweeteners instead of refined sugar. Each creation is crafted with the care and warmth of a homemade treat.
Radicetonda
A haven for those seeking a quick bite throughout the day, Radicetonda serves up delightful vegan dishes. With an emphasis on organic ingredients and sustainable practices, it’s an all-day choice for eco-conscious foodies craving natural, homemade, and plant-based food.
Serra di Quartiere
This is a tiny modern eatery offering artisanal coffee, seasonal dishes, and quality wines. Open for breakfast and lunch, it focuses on fresh, locally sourced ingredients and delivers simple yet flavorful meals in an inviting atmosphere.
Restaurants: indulge with purpose
Joia / Horto / Altatto
When it comes to fine dining, Milan’s conscious options are growing. For an elegant dining experience, Joia, Horto, and Altatto offer a refined take on plant-based cuisine. They merge culinary creativity with sustainability, ensuring each dish delights the palate and supports mindful consumption.
Linfa
Linfa is Italy’s first entirely plant-based and 100% gluten-free concept restaurant. Committed to sustainability, it offers innovative, local, and nutrient-rich cuisine. Using cutting-edge techniques, Linfa reimagines iconic Italian dishes like pasta and pizza in a plant-based, gluten-free form. Pioneers of plant-based sushi provide a culinary experience focused on health, taste, and eco-consciousness.
Terroir Milano
It reflects Gabriele Ornati‘s passion for natural food and its cultural significance. Founded with a commitment to organic and biodynamic principles, it celebrates artisanal products and sustainable agriculture. The restaurant offers a curated selection of local and international small-scale producers, providing an exceptional dining experience rooted in a deep respect for nature and craftsmanship.
Tipografia Alimentare
It is a charming cafe and food hub near the scenic Naviglio Martesana. It’s a place to savour high-quality natural products for breakfast, lunch, or a relaxing aperitivo. The menu changes frequently to highlight seasonal ingredients and market availability. It offers a diverse selection of Italian and European natural wines, craft beers, specialty coffee, and homemade non-alcoholic beverages. Daily baked goods include stone-ground bread, pastries, and weekend treats like brioche and maritozzi.
Gelato: guilt-free indulgence
Out of the Box
Milan may be famous for fashion, but its gelato scene is equally noteworthy. Out of the Box offers a refreshing take on this iconic Italian dessert, serving many vegan and refined sugar-free flavours made from organic and raw ingredients. It’s indulgence with a purpose—a perfect treat during a warm Milan afternoon.
Ciacco Lab
Ciacco Lab teams up with local farmers to create gelato that’s free from additives and packed with pure, intense flavours. Always experimenting, they whip up unique and delicious combinations, making sure every scoop is both cruelty free and sustainable. If you’re looking for gelato that’s fresh, exciting, and full of taste, Ciacco Lab is your go-to spot!
Sustainable Shopping: style meets ethics
Milan’s fashion culture embraces sustainable brands, and several conscious shops and vintage stores are located there. Sowll is proud to highlight some standout places for those who want their style to reflect their values and focus on conscious fashion.
Bivio Second Hand / Madame Pauline Vintage / Cavalli e Nastri
These vintage stores offer an exceptional selection of second-hand pieces for unique, pre-loved fashion treasures. Shopping second-hand is one of the best ways to minimise fashion’s environmental impact while expressing individuality, making it an ideal spot for sustainable shopping.
Artknit Studios
If you’re looking for high-quality, sustainable knitwear, Artknit’s pieces are designed with the future in mind. This brand, available online on Sowll, opened its first store here a year ago. Artknit champions conscious fashion and sustainability by using natural, eco-friendly materials and offering transparency in their production process by working with small artisans nationwide.
WOK
This is a contemporary concept store in Milan that curates a unique selection of fashion products from emerging and established responsible designers. Known for its edgy, avant-garde approach, WOK blends fashion with art and culture, offering an eclectic mix that appeals to those seeking originality and sustainability.
Emily Levine
Emily Levine is a Milan-based brand offering ethically crafted, playful accessories and clothing inspired by global cultures. With a focus on handmade pieces, sustainable materials, and vibrant designs, Emily Levine’s collections are perfect for those looking to add a touch of whimsical elegance to their wardrobe.
Wellness: mindful spaces for body and soul
The Garden
In the heart of Milan, The Garden offers a serene escape from the hustle of city life. This wellness and sports centre focuses on holistic health, offering everything from yoga classes to meditation sessions and Gyrotonic, all in an eco-friendly, peaceful environment. It’s the perfect place to recharge your body and mind and part of our wellness guide.
You Off
You Off offers an exclusive massage protocol, blending techniques from diverse cultures to sculpt the body, boost circulation, and enhance wellbeing. The team tailors each session to your needs, leaving you feeling renewed and energised. It provides a detoxifying experience for body and mind in a space inspired by nature, harmony, and simplicity.
Milan is leading the way in showing how style, dining, and wellness can all be experienced with a more profound sense of purpose. As Sowll continues its mission of creating a conscious community, we hope this sustainable guide helps you discover how sustainability and luxury can coexist in perfect harmony. Whether shopping for timeless pieces from sustainable brands or enjoying healthy food, Milan offers endless opportunities to live beautifully and thoughtfully.