Terroir Milano

A gourmet grocery shop and a great place to stop by for a drink and something small to nibble on.Terroir is a gourmet grocery shop, but it doubles up as a great place to stop by for a drink and something small (mostly sweet) to nibble on. They serve freshly pressed juices, specialty coffee and real matcha, and pour natural wines you can also buy. Owner Gabriele Ornati sources the best Italy has to offer, thanks to an extended family of beloved artisans of food. Chocolate, coffee and tea, rice, flour, pasta, sweets, cheese, wine, produce, jars of pickled and fermented greens - the super niche selection will knock your socks off. Gabriele's attention to detail is borderline obsessive, his sense for ethical sourcing uncompromising: this really is the ideal stop for those who seek absolute flavor and like to make responsible choices for their home pantry. There is something to be said also about the store's interiors, thanks to the essential, elegant display curated by Gabriele’s wife, who is Japanese. A place like this is a magnet for a very specific community of like-minded people: you go to Terroir to shop but also to run into your friends and do some solid networking. If you’re in the mood for a more substantial bite after shopping at Terroir head to Onest cafe, a few blocks away. Owned by Lorenza Licciardello and Lea Pedrinella, this is a feelgood space, with a generous veranda and an intimate courtyard. They carry exceptional specialty coffee, thanks to Lorenzo Sordini, one of Italy’s best baristas, and the kind of smart menu where you can find banging selections of charcuterie and raw milk cheese, as well as a delicious take on pasta con le sarde or the perfect red lentil dahl. It’s great also for brunch, and they make their own bread and viennoiserie. It's my favorite cafe, together with Nowhere Cafe, which is in the historic center of the city, and has a fun Aussie vibe.