EBG Rating: 8.5/10

Choice/Quality of Drinks:
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From the humblest bottle of plonk to exclusive vintage labels with everything in between. Not reserved to Italian wines either, with a democratic approach. Several wines by the glass to explore which are of the wider region. Whiskies and sherries for sale, and you can even buy a beer here should you wish.

Style/Décor:
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Small, compact space with bottles from wall to ceiling. A little ramshackle but not overtly so. Small bar to the left of the entrance, with very limited tables to the rear and small perches opposite the bar.

Atmosphere/Character:
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Lively, convivial and bubbly, there is a joyous feeling to be amongst the consumption. The bar has a good tempo to it even during the day. The small size encouraging casual socialising, the servers busy but happy.

Amenities/Events:
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Aperitivo, snacks, takeaway, gifts, poetry readings on Tuesdays

Value For Money:
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Considering the aperitivo, prices are fair and either way, there is a range on offer to suit most wallets.

Description:
Via Paolo Sarpi is the heart of Milan’s Chinatown and Cantine Isola is about as central as you can hope to get. Established by Giovanni Isola in 1896, this wine bar wears its history proudly but lightly.

Yes, you can find signs of its past. It’s a compact size, much more than most modern businesses would choose, while various newspaper cuttings and framed heritage speak to the years past. But this is not cobweb-strewn museum piece. It’s a bar that has remained relevant.

As you walk in, prepare to be greeted by bottled from floor to ceiling. They take a democratic approach, so this is a place you can find some exclusive labels on full show (not just from Italy) to the humblest bottle of plonk.

Any bottle can be bought and opened on site, offering a bewildering array of opportunities, but it is more common to find people exploring the wines they have on offer by the glass, which are on rotation and are influenced by the weather and the season.

It’s a busy social space with a real character imbued not only from its surroundings but the life and rhythms of the people who inhabit it.

Yes, it’s going to be difficult at times to find a seat and sometimes to get in there at all, but work around that knowledge, plan your visit accordingly.

The wines are accompanied with an aperitivo spread which starts as a basic buffet (the etiquette is that the spread is free, but that you take an amount in accordance with what you’re consuming) but tends to become a little more generous the more you consume. The food offering more than justifies the prices charged for the wines.

In a city known more for its commitment to work and adapting to the changes of the world, Cantine Isola is a glorious hub of consumption, imbibing and socialising reminding Milan’s residents there are finer things in life than committing to the grind.

(Added June 2025)