Sweet Shops

Sweet Shops, Milan, Italy (D)

A guide to the top fifteen sweet shops in Milan, going from candy to traditional local and regional treats. This itinerary recommends a valid alternative to pastries for all those travellers looking for a place that will satisfy their sweet-tooth in Milan.
How it works: The full article is featured in the app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" on Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Download the app to your mobile device to read the article offline and create a self-guided walking tour to visit the sights featured in this article. The app's navigation functions guide you from one sight to the next. The app works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Sights Featured in This Article

Guide Name: Sweet Shops
Guide Location: Italy » Milan
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Article (D))
# of Attractions: 15
Author: Chiara Isabella Spagnoli Gabardi
Author Bio: Chiara is a globetrotting storyteller. Film critic, reporter, screenwriter, film-maker and visual artist. After attending a British school in Milan, she graduated in Political Sciences, got a Masters in screenwriting and film production and studied at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute in New York and Los Angeles. Her work experience embraces film, television and radio; as for her paintings they've been exhibited in Milan, Rome, Venice, London and Manhattan.
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:
  • Condorelli Specialità Dolciarie Regionali
  • Sweet Sweet Way
  • Food Market inside La Rinascente Mall
  • Eat’s inside Excelsior Mall
  • Gaboardi Pogliani
  • Motta Caffè
  • Drogheria Soana
  • Drogheria Grossi
  • The Space inside Movie Theatre Odeon
  • La Casa del Dolce
  • Tiger
  • Drogheria Plinio
  • Venchi
  • Ronchetti
  • Centro Botanico
1
Condorelli Specialità Dolciarie Regionali

1) Condorelli Specialità Dolciarie Regionali

This is the place of utmost concentration of the best sweet delights from all over Italy. The shop has a forty year experience, gathering all the most popular regional sweets of the country. If you’re in the mood for the Brigidini di Lamporecchio, which you can find in the Tuscan city of Pistoia, or the Baci di Dama from Alassio in Liguria, or the Parrozzo from Abruzzi, you don’t need to leave Milan, just come to this store. Name whatever regional sweet treat and they’ll have it.
2
Sweet Sweet Way

2) Sweet Sweet Way

Welcome to Candyland! This tiny spot fits perfectly the image of Hansel and Gretel’s house. You’ll find huge lollipops, marshmallows, candy necklaces and bracelets, chocolate coins and cigarettes and so much more. It’s a delight for the eyes, not to mention the palate. Children will have the time of their life in here!
3
Food Market inside La Rinascente Mall

3) Food Market inside La Rinascente Mall

If you happen to go shopping in the famous Italian Mall La Rinascente, on the top floor you’ll find a vast choice of refined foods. There’s one area that is entirely dedicated to desserts and sweets for every season. The sophisticated selection will conquer the hearts and stomachs of all kinds of food-shoppers.
4
Eat’s inside Excelsior Mall

4) Eat’s inside Excelsior Mall

The luxury Mall, that has been designed within an old movie theatre, has an entire basement floor dedicated to posh foodies. Indeed the customers that come here have high standards that fully meet their expectations. This gourmet supermarket has the best of everything. The appropriate word play to define the bakery and sweets department is cream of the crop.
5
Gaboardi Pogliani

5) Gaboardi Pogliani

The store is titled after the two founders, who represent an institution in Milan’s tradition of Food&Beverage. The shop has been renovated into a hip drug store with an incredible selection of food-shopping, where the choice of sweets is outstanding. From time to time the store organises some food-tasting-programmes, get ready to pig-out in style.
6
Motta Caffè

6) Motta Caffè

This used to be the oldest Coffee shop in Milan, designed by architect Melchiorre Bega in 1928, and for three generations it was the most popular venue amongst Milanese intellectuals and artists. In the 90s the Autogrill retail company acquired it and most recently it has reprised the original vibe of the coffee shop, boosting the international flair, but without neglecting a vast selection of typical Italian sweets.
7
Drogheria Soana

7) Drogheria Soana

This old drug store has a retro taste to it, that will enchant those travellers who want to avoid the stereotypical shopping centres. The small store was founded in 1947 by the Soana family, and has a wide selection of gourmet products, especially of old fashioned sweets that evoke long-forgotten flavours.
8
Drogheria Grossi

8) Drogheria Grossi

This place could be defined as the landmark of drugstores, since it dates back to 1928 and still holds the enchanting Art-Nouveau decorations. The sweets that can be found here aren’t only Italian, but also embrace other countries, reflecting the original spirit of the shop that imported gourmandise from all over the world, to delight the Milanese’s sweet-tooth ever since the late twenties.
9
The Space inside Movie Theatre Odeon

9) The Space inside Movie Theatre Odeon

Be not deceived by the fact you’re entering a multiplex, because at the entrance you’ll be catapulted in candy’s wonderland. Enjoy the incredible selection of sweets you may pick from the dispensers, to compose your candy bag, to devour during a screening or a stroll in the city centre.
10
La Casa del Dolce

10) La Casa del Dolce

Here are sweets and chocolates of all kinds and prices. You’ll have an amusing time seeing how the art of dessert-making can get creative in shapes and arrangements. Take a peep and a taste of toffees, jelly sweets, exotic caramels. Try a chocolate cigar, a cherry lollipop or a chocolate Befana (the traditional Italian old lady who rides on a broomstick during Twelfth Night to bring coal to bad children and sweets to well-behaved kids).
11
Tiger

11) Tiger

This is a Scandinavian company with 248 stores in 19 countries, that has all sorts of gadgets at low-cost prices but very high quality. The food section embraces spices and sweets that come in large packages for extremely low rates. Another branch store is located in via Meravigli, but we suggest you visit this one, so you get the chance to explore the Colonne di San Lorenzo. This is the best-known Roman ruin in Milan, in front of the Basilica of San Lorenzo, a square with a row of columns which were taken from a temple or public bath house dating from the 2nd century.
12
Drogheria Plinio

12) Drogheria Plinio

This 1934 drug store is located near the shopping street of Corso Buenos Aires and has an innumerable selection of delicacies in its shelves. There are traditional Italian sweet delights along with American candy. Jams, marmalades, biscuits, sugary snacks will enchant you as you walk inside.
13
Venchi

13) Venchi

Chocoholics will love this place, since it follows the Piedmontese tradition of chocolate making from 1878. This ancient brand boasts several shops all over Italy, this one in particular, located in the heart of the city, is easy to find and has a great variety of chocolate treats; from bonbons, to chocolate bars, from ice-creams to an exquisite hot chocolate that will blow your mind.
14
Ronchetti

14) Ronchetti

This vintage store unveils a treasure of sweets, chocolates, selections of teas and coffees from all places in Italy that will satisfy your appetite. It’s alluring to taste the traditional drug store setting, where you may find old sweet brands just as the contemporary ones. An all time classic are the famous chocolate kisses: Baci Perugina.
15
Centro Botanico

15) Centro Botanico

This store has three branches throughout Milan. The chain-store boasts to be one of the first bio-shops in Italy from 1972, with eight thousand biodynamic and organic products, that support sustainability in all fields: fashion, toys, books, design and naturally food. We recommend you see this particular store, because it’s located in the beautiful old fashioned side of town and because this particular shop is the latest concept store. Lavender jellies, canine-rose delights, marzipan treats, are just a small example of how eco-sweets can be truly scrumptious.

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