February might be the proverbial month of love, but we’d hate to limit that to only ‘couples and candlelit dinners’. Real Valentine’s Day celebration happens when we honour the relationships that give us the sense of belonging in a city that’s not our own – friendships, family bonds, or simply the relationship we have with ourselves.

From Shakespeare-inspired thermal spa evenings to home fragrance studios that make gift-giving personal again, we've rounded up 5 ways to share the love this Valentine’s weekend.

Written by: Ché Maria Milani

Rumore

Location: in the Portrait Hotel - Corso Venezia, 11

This American-style bar (with a dash of Italian hospitality - naturally) is a personal favourite of our founder, Katia.

And I can understand why.

Chilled, yet still elegant, offering a fine selection of champagnes and an equally impressive variety of expertly crafted cocktails. And between live music and DJ sets, a lively, chic atmosphere is guaranteed.

It’s the kind of place to perch at the bar with a best friend and people-watch while toasting a friendship that makes Milan home, or tucked away at a cosy table with your significant other delighting in a variety of Beefbar’s upmarket take on streetfood dishes.

For a Valentine’s weekend in style, book your table here.  

De Montel Terme

Location: via Achille, 6

What seals romance better than an indulgent day at one of Milan’s top spas?

And if romance isn’t on the cards for you, a relaxing day or evening with best friends wouldn’t go amiss here either.

And if you needed extra convincing, De Montel is one of the MWN Team’s favourite ways to slow down, connect (while doing a bit of brainstorming, of course) and just fully be present with special people.

Because you actually don’t need Valentine’s as an excuse…but if you were waiting for that permission slip - consider it given!

On the evening of Valentine’s Day itself, you can expect a unique event inspired by one of the greatest literary love stories, Romeo & Juliet.

Between music, lights and theatrical performances, be prepared to be whisked away from the daily hum of Milan. 

Your options for this experience are as follows:

Welcome drink, buffet dinner & dessert (19.00 - 01.00)

€100 online, or €110 at the door

Welcome drink, buffet dinner & dessert, and 50 minute relaxing massage (19.00 - 01.00)

€200 online, or €210 at the door 

Late night entry (22.30 - 01.00)

Access to spa area.

€80 online, or €90 at the door 

Even though this particular event isn’t eligible for the usual MWN 10% discount, it can still be used for access during regular hours and for gift cards (a great gift idea for a special someone if you can’t be together in person on V Day, right?)

And one more thing we can’t forget to mention - Winter Olympic activities around San Siro Stadium. So whenever you plan to go to De Montel Terme this month, be sure to make room for any delays due to this.

Book your special Romeo & Juliet-themed evening here.

CoreWork

Location: CoreWork Missori studio - via Fieno, 1

If you’re the kind of person who prefers a more active celebration of love, then one of CoreWork’s Pilates classes on Valentine’s Day will surely get the heart pumping.

With a morning class (09.00 - 10.00) or afternoon class (14.00 - 15.00) to choose from, this is the perfect way to introduce the joy of Pilates to your other half (especially if they’re sceptical!). As they say, couples that train together, stay together.

Naturally, it's not exclusive to partners. A friend, a relative, a sibling - anyone who’s curious about experiencing what makes CoreWork unique is most welcome (and of course we’re referring to the energy created as a group, the cultivation of that mind-body connection, and the burning intensity that takes everyone by surprise).

Simply email both your names and preferred lesson time to info@corework.net, and get ready to stretch, tone and tighten.

To discover more about CoreWork and our other fitness, wellbeing & activewear partners, check out Where We Move: MWN’s Top Fitness Studios & Activewear Brands in Milan

LUMÉ Beauty Studio

Location: Corso di Porta Nuova, 15

If a bit of pampering is your preferred way of spending a Valentine’s weekend, one of our most recent partners, LUMÉ comes immediately to mind.

A couple of months ago, ladies of our community came together for a fascinating afternoon discovering everything there was to know about caring for their skin.

With this came the chance to experience the whole process for themselves, which included an initial consultation to examine all aspects of their skin with one of their studio experts, as well as their treatment of choice.

From peels to microneedling, LUMÉ offers an entire suite of glow-inducing and anti-aging treatments.

But what really sets them apart is their signature HydraFacial treatment.

It stands out from the sea of facial treatments available out there thanks to its patented Vortex-Fusion technology. This is essentially a specialised machine that simultaneously cleanses, exfoliates, extracts, and hydrates the skin - which means leaving deeper and more visible results compared to traditional facials.

This is perfect for a solo, self-care morning or afternoon to yourself, or as a gift someone close to your heart.

You can find out more about their specialised treatments here,

and book your first - or next - appointment here.

(And for those of you who are Core members of Milan Women Network, don’t forget to take part in LUMÉ’s special giveaway taking place in our exclusive WhatsApp group. If you’re not yet a member, you can join us here!)

If you’re curious about how to take care of your skin this season - especially in Milan - check out the article The Ultimate Winter Skin Guide: Expert Tips, Skincare Ingredients & Treatments written by Michalina, the founder of LUMÉ.

Festina Lente

Location: via Genova Thaon di Revel, 9

Experiences aside, let’s turn our attention to beautiful gifts. If your special someone is a home decor fan, then we have just the thing…

Festina Lente, founded by fellow MWN member Marta, brings a thoughtful approach to home fragrance and decor that’s so refreshingly authentic in a city full of mass-market options.

Marta’s philosophy is encapsulated in the name itself – Latin for "make haste slowly" - and embodies a carefully considered approach to creating scents that transform humble living spaces into something more intentional.

Her home scents are proudly Made in Italy, with sustainability a significant cornerstone of her eco-luxury business.

If your first thought is ‘But it’s so hard choosing a scent for someone else’, there’s no better person than Marta to guide you through the entire process.

Scents aside, there’s also a wide selection of home decor gifts, as well as gift cards if choosing the perfect present is simply too overwhelming. And, another beautiful touch offered by Festina Lente is their handwritten, personalised message that accompanies each gift.

All our MWN members can make use of Marta’s generous 20% discount (available in our most recent email sent out) and if you’d like to join our inspiring, supportive community and enjoy perks like this, we’d love to welcome you here. 

However you choose to celebrate love this February – with a partner, a bestie, yourself, or all of the above – these 5 experiences prove that connection, community and cultivating what matters to us deserve more than the ordinary. 

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