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Cafè Rue Rivoli

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Restaurant | "Opulent"

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I want to begin this review by telling a story. It took place in China in 2007, although the time and location is not really all that important. I was travelling up from Tianjin to Beijing (a journey of around 90 minutes by train) on a Friday night after work. As it was June and pushing 90 degrees, I had shed my suit and tie in favour of shorts and a t-shirt. On the ride up, a colleague called me to invite me for beers. It being a Friday, naturally, I accepted. However, my colleague failed to inform me that we would be having these beers with clients from a major Japanese company. My colleague and all the clients were in very formal business attire, whilst I sat there in my sandals and shorts. So, wha...Read More

I want to begin this review by telling a story. It took place in China in 2007, although the time and location is not really all that important. I was travelling up from Tianjin to Beijing (a journey of around 90 minutes by train) on a Friday night after work. As it was June and pushing 90 degrees, I had shed my suit and tie in favour of shorts and a t-shirt. On the ride up, a colleague called me to invite me for beers. It being a Friday, naturally, I accepted. However, my colleague failed to inform me that we would be having these beers with clients from a major Japanese company. My colleague and all the clients were in very formal business attire, whilst I sat there in my sandals and shorts. So, what is the point of that story other than to chronicle a rather embarrassing moment of my life? Well, until my trip to Rivoli Cafe in Milan a few weeks ago, I had never felt as out of place and under-dressed in my life.
My girlfriend and I had travelled to Milan for a job interview that she had scheduled in the fashion district of the city. The plan was that I would kill time whilst she went to the interview and we would then head into the city to enjoy some of the tourist attractions such as Cathedral Duomo. Originally, I had planned to kill some time in the fashion area whilst my girlfriend had the interview – I had thought about splashing out on an over-priced shirt or two. However, as the rain was teaming down, I was not so keen on this idea. So, I decided that I would sit, have some coffee and read a Michael Chabon novel on my tablet. Unfortunately, close to the office at which the interview would take place, there were few options. I had the choice of either Rivoli or McDonalds. It was no great contest.
As soon as I entered Cafe Rivoli, I felt a little bit conspicuous. As I had driven all the way to Milan and I wad there purely for sightseeing, I was dressed in a rain-jacket, jeans and sneakers. The waiters in the cafe had three-piece suits. Not only were the staff beautifully attired, but the décor was also exquisite. Everything was panelled in cherry-wood and edged in gold. There were even two large chandeliers above the door.
As uncomfortable as I felt in my rather pauperish get-up, I wanted coffee and I did not want to get wet. So, I found myself a seat on the second floor and ordered a cappuccino from the waiter – who, in truth, did not look too pleased to be taking my order. It was very good. The coffee was superb. I had it accompanied with a couple of small cakes and some sparkling water. It was all very nice. The cakes were very nice and I found myself very content as I waited for my girlfriend.
The surroundings of Cafe Rivoli are truly wonderful. A visit there will make you genuinely feel like royalty … the coffee isn't bad either. I was also pleasantly surprised when my bill came to 13 Euros. It was not cheap, but I had expected to pay significantly more. I would certainly go again, but I would dress a little better for the occasion. Read Less

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on April 7, 2013

Cafè Rue Rivoli
Via Rivoli, 2
Milan, Italy
02 875454

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Fashion District

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One of the benefits of living in Nice is that you can get the best of two cultures: French and Italian. The most obvious example of this is the food where pizza and pasta dishes sit side by side with pates and coq au vin. However, there is also the added element of being able to travel between the two countries easily. My girlfriend loves to regale her friends with stories of how – after a night consuming copious quantities of wine – she and her friend got on a train to have coffee and breakfast in Italy. We have also hopped on the train countless times to enjoy the market in San Remo and the beautiful surroundings of Dolceaqua.Last month, my girlfriend also looked to take advantage of the proxi...Read More

One of the benefits of living in Nice is that you can get the best of two cultures: French and Italian. The most obvious example of this is the food where pizza and pasta dishes sit side by side with pates and coq au vin. However, there is also the added element of being able to travel between the two countries easily. My girlfriend loves to regale her friends with stories of how – after a night consuming copious quantities of wine – she and her friend got on a train to have coffee and breakfast in Italy. We have also hopped on the train countless times to enjoy the market in San Remo and the beautiful surroundings of Dolceaqua.
Last month, my girlfriend also looked to take advantage of the proximity to Italy by applying for an internship in Milan. As she would like to work in fashion, she thought that it would be the perfect place to immerse herself for a couple of months. And, it is not too difficult to get there. It is approximately four hours from Nice to Milan by car, so we decided that we could combine going for her interview with visiting the city. We were both very keen to see the renowned Duomo cathedral.
As our first stop was for the interview, the first thing we would see in Milan was not the ancient cathedral, but the famed fashion district. If I am honest, even though I am a big history buff, I was probably looking forward to that as much as the cathedral or any other attractions in the city. This was not for any particular tangible attraction that the fashion district would offer, but simply to enjoy the atmosphere and to soak-up the super chic aura.
Sadly, I have to say that I was a little disappointed. Perhaps I am not sure exactly what I was expecting. Maybe I was expecting to see top models sauntering past me – although it was probably a good job that I didn't see any of these as my girlfriend may have been angry at my craning neck – or icons like Donatella Vertsace or Karl Lagerfeld sipping Cappuccino in a nearby cafe. As you might imagine, we saw none of theis. The majority of people we encountered were very well-dressed – no-one looked too impressed at my sports anorak and sneakers – and there were some fabulously expensive boutiques, but little that was truly spectacular.
With no models to ogle and the desire to keep my girlfriend out of the expensive boutiques – which couyld have had disastrous consequences – I was a little underwhelmed at tha Fashion District. However, it may be a better idea to visit during Fashion Week or to go if you are prepared to part with a large wad of Euros.
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Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

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Attraction | "Complete Surprise"

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My girlfriend and I visited Milan in order for her to go for an interview with a fashion company located in Milan's world-renowned fashion district. After that we planned to visit the Duomo cathedral in the centre of the city. We had seen photographs posted on facebook my girlfriend's cousin of the cathedral and it looked amazing. In truth, that was the height of our ambition. I pondered possibly taking a peak at La Scala, but that was no biggie either way. We knew nothing of Galleria Viotoria Emmanuele; it was not even on our radar. However, it proved to be one of the highlights of our trip.The Galleria is just a fantastic place. It is, apparently, Italy's oldest shopping mall. It was built in ...Read More

My girlfriend and I visited Milan in order for her to go for an interview with a fashion company located in Milan's world-renowned fashion district. After that we planned to visit the Duomo cathedral in the centre of the city. We had seen photographs posted on facebook my girlfriend's cousin of the cathedral and it looked amazing. In truth, that was the height of our ambition. I pondered possibly taking a peak at La Scala, but that was no biggie either way. We knew nothing of Galleria Viotoria Emmanuele; it was not even on our radar. However, it proved to be one of the highlights of our trip.
The Galleria is just a fantastic place. It is, apparently, Italy's oldest shopping mall. It was built in the 1860's. If we are being honest, however, 'Shopping Mall' is probably not the best label to apply to it. Such a moniker gives off suggestions of parking lots, discount brands and food courts. The Galleria is something completely different to that. It is beautifully designed and full of some of the most expensive boutiques in the world.
The style of the Galleria is fantastic. To a degree, I suppose this is to be expected as it sits at side of Piazza del Duomo and close to the Duomo cathedral. Any building in this area needs to be spectacular in itself just to compete with its surroundings. However, it would be fit to stand alone and dazzle. The first thing that grabs the visitor is the scale, which is best seen from the outside as it stands triumphantly to the side of the piazza. However, just like the piazza and the cathedral, it offers more than pure size. There is also wonderful architecture.
Personally, I found the roof to be the highlight of our visit. This is made from glass and a fantastically ornate iron skeleton. The galleria is in the shape of a cross. For the majority of the building, on each of the arms. The roof is crescent shaped. However, at the junction of these arms it forms a fantastic dome, which fills the area with light. The dome is actually two domes in one. There is a large dome topped by a smaller dome that creates an almost nipple-like effect. The roof was truly amazing, but it was also followed quite closely by the floor, which also boasted similarly delicate style. It was done in a mosaic effect with ornate patterns running along the four arms of the galleria and with a giant crest at the centre. I must admit that my eyes were feeling a little funny from staring at the wonderful patterns along the way.
The Galleria itself is also worth a visit for the shopping opportunities it provides. It plays host to several famous boutiques including Gucci and Prada as well as several smaller boutiques selling all manner of haute-couture. Even though it was not on our original itinerary it was a fantastic surprise that we really enjoyed. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on April 7, 2013

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
Piazza Del Duomo
Milan, Italy 20121

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Piazza del Duomo (Milan)

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Attraction | "The Pigeons of Duomo"

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It seems to be a given in many cities that major open spaces like squares and piazzas are full of pigeons. London's Trafalgar Square is my favourite example of this. In fact, one of my favourite pictures from my childhood is of my four-year-old self chasing a group of pigeons as I desperately tried to fling corn - that my parents had purchased from a small kiosk on the square – at the birds in an effort to feed them. In the picture, I look extremely excited; the pigeons far less so.The same is true of Piazza del Duomo in Milan. The large square that sits in front of Milan's magnificent cathedral is lined by shops and restaurants, but is occupied by several hundred pigeons. In fact, many of the p...Read More

It seems to be a given in many cities that major open spaces like squares and piazzas are full of pigeons. London's Trafalgar Square is my favourite example of this. In fact, one of my favourite pictures from my childhood is of my four-year-old self chasing a group of pigeons as I desperately tried to fling corn - that my parents had purchased from a small kiosk on the square – at the birds in an effort to feed them. In the picture, I look extremely excited; the pigeons far less so.
The same is true of Piazza del Duomo in Milan. The large square that sits in front of Milan's magnificent cathedral is lined by shops and restaurants, but is occupied by several hundred pigeons. In fact, many of the plazas and shopping areas that surround the square have large nets erected to keep the pigeons out. Just like in London, the pigeons are something of an attraction in themselves.
My girlfriend and I had just visited the interior of the cathedral and were stood on the steps in front taking pictures of the façade – which is wonderfully delicate and detailed for a building of such scale – and of each other in suitably touristy poses when we were approached by a young man who looked to be homeless. For a second, we thought that he was trying to snatch my girlfriend's bag. However, he simply held out his hand to show he was holding small pieces of corn to feed the birds. This relaxed us both considerably. He then motioned for my girlfriend to hold out her hand, which he filled with corn.
Within seconds of the corn dropping into my girlfriend's palm she was swamped by pigeons looking for a snack. At first, my girlfriend looked genuinely petrified. However, as it became clear that the pigeons were rather friendly and were just hungry, she began to relax. As she did so, and the man added more corn to her palm, more and more pigeons arrived. At one point there were about 15 in her close vicinity and the whole scene looked like something from Hitchcock's 'The Birds'.
The little episode was great fun and very amusing. However, it ended on something of a sour note. As the young man was obviously doing his rather fun little trick for tourists to make a few Euros, I handed him a 2Euro coin. He refused this and demanded 10Euros, which we thought rather extortionate. I again offered the two and he again he refused. He then followed us across the square demanding more money and generally making a rather uncomfortable scene. In the end, I guess he realised that he was unlikely to get the 10 Euros, so he took the two and departed. We will remember the pigeons for a long time and I will choose to forget the unpleasant ending.
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Piazza del Duomo (Milan)

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Milan Cathedral (Duomo)

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Attraction | "A Matter of Scale"

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In my opinion, appreciating the Duomo Cathedral is all about perspective and distance. It can be appreciated in two ways. The first is from afar when the visitor is struck by the pure scale of the creation and the way it dominates the Piazza del Duomo. The second is from close up when it possible to see the intricate detail of the decoration on both the exterior and the interior. It is a truly fantastic sight to see.My girlfriend and I began our experience with Duomo from close-up. This was by chance rather than design. The main reason for this was that we had parked in an area behind the cathedral and found ourselves approaching it form the rear, which is far less dramatic than the front. Howev...Read More

In my opinion, appreciating the Duomo Cathedral is all about perspective and distance. It can be appreciated in two ways. The first is from afar when the visitor is struck by the pure scale of the creation and the way it dominates the Piazza del Duomo. The second is from close up when it possible to see the intricate detail of the decoration on both the exterior and the interior. It is a truly fantastic sight to see.
My girlfriend and I began our experience with Duomo from close-up. This was by chance rather than design. The main reason for this was that we had parked in an area behind the cathedral and found ourselves approaching it form the rear, which is far less dramatic than the front. However, as we walked along the side of the cathedral we were astounded at the amount of statues that were carved into the walls and by the quality and details of those statues. It was truly astounding to look into the eyes of the bearded saints who loomed out of the walls and see real faces and emotions.
As we reached the front, the detail went out of the window as we simply stood and stared across Piazza del Duomo at the cathedral. It's pure size and scale are magnificent. With the late afternoon sun pouring down onto the white façade it looked wonderful and had a certain heavenly feel. Even from such a difference it was easy to see that the imposing front of the building was also beautiful carved with immense detail. This was particularly true of the roof on which there is an array of tiny towers that crown the building delightfully.
To go inside, there is a plethora of confusing admission option. Thankfully, you are allowed to go in just to see the main body of the cathedral. However, if you so wish there are options that allow you to see the alter, the roof, a viewing gallery the crypt and other selected areas. We opted just to see the main part of the cathedral and certainly were not disappointed.
The first thing to hit you when you enter is the magnificent view from the door down to the altar. There is a wonderful combination of symmetry and perspective as the pillars rise up to the ceiling, pews line the centre of the cathedral and the floor is tiled in geometric patterns. Sadly, the cathedral charges 2Euros if you wish to take a picture of this great sight. The policy is actually enforced strictly as volunteers in red robes approach anyone taking a picture to politely ask for the fee. The architecture on the inside of the cathedral is wonderful, but the highlight for me was the ceramics on the floor that were so tiny and provided a wonderful contrast to the towering pillars.
The Duomo cathedral is by far Milan's biggest attraction and is well worth the visit. My girlfriend and I were very impressed. It is in the centre of Milan and has its own metro station. Admission is free, but you can pay more to see different parts of the cathedral.
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Member Rating 5 out of 5 on April 7, 2013

Milan Cathedral (Duomo)
Piazza Del Duomo
Milan, Lombardy
02-864-63456

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