La Fontanella - Milano

My first night out in Milan lead me here. I went to meet a few friends for a drink on the famous and ever so popular Navigli. I was told to get to 'La Fontanella'... It seems a fair enough request but considering that there is probably over 150 bars on two streets and I had never been to this area at night before made my journey that little bit harder. I asked a few passing people outside other bars if they knew where this place was but it seemed that nobody could help... I made the decision to meet my friends at Piazza XXIV Maggio, and from there we went. It was only a short walk, it took no longer than five minutes and we were there.

La Fontanella is one of the first bars along the Navigli and there are bouncers on the door, very rare I thought for a pub in Milan... I hadn't seen any in any other bar or pub and considering I had walked past them all by now I a bit surprised. We walked straight up to the big man and said we would like a table for four and we were led to a small table in between everyone else who was out. As I looked around I saw all these crazy vessels of alcohol on tables and huge glasses of beer, I instantly took a shine to this place. The waiter (per se) gave us a beer menu, a tiny square of paper and a pen. You write down exactly what you want and they bring it to you, you pay at your table - very handy and straight forward... Apparently this isn't rare in Italy but it was all new to me. We chose what size drink we wanted between us and what type of beer to have and got drinking. The beer was good and the novelty was absolutely excellent! Later in the evening we were joined by more friends and we moved inside to get a nice big table as we were in eight by then. We ordered "the octopus" and as you could imagine it was a fishbowl with tentacles which acted as pumps for the alcohol so people could serve themselves simultaneously.

We polished that off and went on our way. The place was still heaving, there was a queue of people waiting to get in as we left - and rightly so! La Fontanella is a brilliant bar, the drinks are priced moderately for Milan and the atmosphere along with the novelty of the diverse drinks and the forms in which they come in really do merit the crowds they attract every week.

They also show sports and serve food which should be noted, although I haven't had anything to eat there plenty of people were ordering food so I can only presume it was ok. Albeit sandwiches and possibly burgers - but the people flock here for the whole experience (but most probably mainly for the beer, I know I did!)

I've had a few good nights out there so far so it would only be fair to give it a solid 4/5

I would honestly recommend it to anyone!