If You’re Buying Something in Milan, Choose with Style! 4 Recommended Souvenirs
Milan, Italy is at the forefront of fashion, gourmet culture, and business. Of course, it’s a great place to enjoy sightseeing, but when it comes to shopping, no amount of time or money ever seems enough—it’s that fun of a city!
So it would be a waste to buy your Milan souvenirs just from a supermarket! Since you’re already here, why not look for tasteful and stylish items like affordable brand-name cosmetics, chic accessories, or gourmet ingredients? This time, we’ll introduce some recommended souvenirs you should definitely buy when visiting Milan.
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If You’re Buying Something in Milan, Choose with Style! 4 Recommended Souvenirs
1. Italian Food Ingredients
After enjoying delicious Italian food in Milan, don’t you want to bring that taste back home to your family and friends? Pasta, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, cheese, sweets—all of these are available at supermarkets around town. But since you’re in Milan, why not go the extra mile and choose high-quality products as souvenirs?
The gourmet shops trusted by discerning Milanese customers offer an impressive range of carefully selected items. Among them, we particularly recommend PECK, a luxury food store headquartered in Milan.
PECK’s original products, including a wide variety of pasta sauces, are very popular as souvenirs. Since it gathers top-quality goods from all over Italy, you really can’t go wrong with anything you choose. The deli section is also well stocked, making it perfect for when you’re too tired to eat out at a restaurant.
2. Panettone
The traditional sweet bread “panettone”, which originated in Milan around the 15th century, is essential for an Italian Christmas. It’s made using a special type of yeast known as panettone yeast, which naturally produces preservative-like effects during fermentation, allowing the bread to be stored at room temperature for about 3 to 6 months.
It’s a soft, fluffy, dome-shaped bread made from brioche dough mixed with dried fruits and nuts, and is about the size of a whole cake. In recent years, more variations have appeared, such as ones with chocolate chips or liqueur.
There’s also a similar-looking sweet called Pandoro, which is plain on the inside and originated in Verona—but for the Milanese, panettone is the more familiar of the two.
It’s commonly served with ice cream, whipped cream, wine-infused custard, or zabaglione, though it’s also delicious eaten as-is. Starting in mid-November, it becomes a winter staple displayed in the windows of pastry shops and bakeries across the city. Some versions are sold year-round in boxed form, making them perfect souvenirs.
3. KIKO Cosmetics
KIKO is a hugely popular Italian cosmetics brand known for offering high-quality items at affordable prices. It has become a staple not only in Italy but across Europe, with over 600 stores. The brand’s flagship store is located on Via Dante in Milan—truly an authentic Made in Italy brand born in Milan.
KIKO is especially loved for its wide range of color variations, strong pigmentation, and stylish packaging—but most of all, for its budget-friendly prices. Best-selling items like mascaras, eyeliners, and nail products can be purchased for under €10.
These products are sure to be well-received as gifts. The heart-shaped lipsticks that are popular worldwide make a great souvenir!
4. Venchi Chocolate
Founded in 1878, Venchi is a long-established chocolate brand that every Italian knows. Using only the finest carefully selected ingredients, their chocolates are made with precision and care—earning the love of even the most discerning Italian palates. Among their most popular products are the ones with pistachios or hazelnuts kneaded into the chocolate, and the "Cremino Bar" which combines white chocolate and gianduja.
Although their chocolate spreads are not very common—beloved in Italy—are also highly recommended. They come in four varieties: white, dark, milk, and rum-flavored. You can spread them on bread or crackers, or use them for baking. They’re so delicious you might want to eat them straight from the spoon—making them perfect souvenirs! The “Fruit Dragée,” which are chocolate-coated dried fruits, have a refined adult flavor and pair wonderfully with coffee or liqueurs.
◎ Summary of Recommended Milan Souvenirs
When it comes to souvenirs from Italy—the land of gourmet cuisine—food items tend to dominate. But as Italy is also a country of the arts, museum gift shops are also worth exploring.
In Milan, for example, you’ll find various goods sold at the Santa Maria delle Grazie, the church famous for The Last Supper. These are exclusive souvenirs only available to those who have viewed the painting. If you’re a fan of limited-edition items, don’t miss your chance to get them!
