The interior of Pasticceria Marchesi at Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
Milan’s charm comes in discreet doses. On the surface, the city is all business. But behind the gray and stony facades of its towering buildings, for instance, you’ll find extraordinary secret gardens in bloom. The same goes for the latest branch of Pasticceria Marchesi, which opened last fall: it’s tucked up high on the mezzanine of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, itself a breathtaking glass-roofed reverie once you step inside. This third outpost for the renowned pastry shop, which was founded in 1824 and bought by the Prada Group in 2014, is a springtime delight, with green Venetian plaster walls covered partially by floral silk jacquard fabric in matching verdant hues. Adding to the visual intrigue: exposed wooden beams on the ceiling, creating a coolly graphic striped pattern, and lush velvet chairs — both also green. And we haven’t even gotten around to the handmade sweets: beautiful cakes, pastries, panettoni, 10 different types of brioche, gold-foiled chocolate and praline confections… all of which you can eat in style while overlooking the Galleria’s mosaics from the wide arched windows. One afternoon there — or morning or night; Pasticceria Marchesi also serves breakfast and evening aperitifs — and you’ll see why the place is a favorite of the fashion set.

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