Terrazza Aperol: spritz facing the Duomo
A balcony over piazza del Duomo
The Mercato del Duomo occupies the corner where the cathedral square meets the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. You go in through the Motta shop, then head up to the second floor to find Terrazza Aperol. Outside, a terrace lined with planters and parasols juts out over the square: the side of the Duomo, with its spires and statues, seems almost within reach, with the Palazzo Reale off to one side.
A setting redesigned in 2025
In spring 2025, the venue was given a makeover under the direction of the studio Vudafieri-Saverino Partners. The interior plays on gold, orange and blue, with a long counter in undulating shapes and illustrations by Vahram Muratyan that reinterpret Milan's monuments and the ritual of the aperitivo. Large picture windows connect the room to the terrace.
Spritz, cicchetti and evenings out
Unsurprisingly, Aperol Spritz is the star, alongside a cocktail list; expect to pay around €21 a glass. To go with it, the kitchen serves Venetian-style cicchetti with a Milanese twist, as well as dishes for lunch and dinner. The venue regularly hosts DJ nights.
Practical information
Terrazza Aperol is open every day from 11am to 11pm, until 1am on Saturdays, all year round. It does not take reservations: in the early evening and at weekends, queuing is part of the experience, and arriving early remains the best way to land a table on the terrace. Getting there: Duomo metro station (lines M1 and M3), which exits directly onto the square.
For a spritz in the very heart of Milan, with the cathedral as a backdrop, this is the obvious stop on the square.
