
Bar Luce
A visually stunning cafe designed by Wes Anderson, Bar Luce offers a unique 1950s Italian film set experience with delicious drinks and bites.

Highlights
Must-see attractions
Social
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Best Time
Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

Bar Luce

Highlights
Must-see attractions
A visually stunning cafe designed by Wes Anderson, Bar Luce offers a unique 1950s Italian film set experience with delicious drinks and bites.
"Step into a Wes Anderson film and enjoy a cinematic coffee break at Bar Luce."
Visit during off-peak hours
To avoid crowds and fully enjoy the unique atmosphere, consider visiting during less busy times.
Try paninis and cocktails
Don't miss the fresh paninis and inventive signature cocktails for a delightful culinary experience.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
Cafe / Bar
Price
Mid-range
Phone
+39 02 5681 4858
Address
L.go Isarco, 2, 20139 Milano MI, Italy
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Wes Anderson's Cinematic Design
Step into a Wes Anderson film with this 1950s-inspired cafe, featuring pastel colors, vintage decor, and a jukebox.

Inventive Cocktails & Pastries
Savor creative cocktails and delightful pastries, from classic Italian treats to unique creations, in a stylish setting.

Vintage Italian Film Ambiance
Immerse yourself in the nostalgic charm of Italian neorealist films and 1950s Italian popular culture.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Visit during off-peak hours
To avoid crowds and fully enjoy the unique atmosphere, consider visiting during less busy times.
Try paninis and cocktails
Don't miss the fresh paninis and inventive signature cocktails for a delightful culinary experience.
Appreciate the details
Take time to admire the intricate design details inspired by Italian culture and Wes Anderson's films.
Perfect for film buffs
A must-visit for fans of Wes Anderson and cinema, offering an inspiring and visually rich atmosphere.
Tips
from all over the internet
Visit during off-peak hours
To avoid crowds and fully enjoy the unique atmosphere, consider visiting during less busy times.
Try paninis and cocktails
Don't miss the fresh paninis and inventive signature cocktails for a delightful culinary experience.
Appreciate the details
Take time to admire the intricate design details inspired by Italian culture and Wes Anderson's films.
Perfect for film buffs
A must-visit for fans of Wes Anderson and cinema, offering an inspiring and visually rich atmosphere.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Bar Luce is widely praised for its unique Wes Anderson-designed interior, offering a cinematic and nostalgic atmosphere. Visitors love the creative cocktails, delicious pastries, and friendly service, though some mention the coffee could be better. While it's a bit out of the way, many find the ambiance and unique experience well worth the visit.
"Bar Luce is everything I hoped it would be — a charming, cinematic escape with beautiful interiors and a warm, nostalgic vibe. The coffee and pastries were lovely, but what made the experience truly memorable was the impeccable service. A special shoutout to Davide, who was friendly, attentive, and incredibly polite. He made us feel genuinely welcome — like regulars in a place we’d never been before. Can’t wait to return."
Pong Natthwut
"5 stars for Wes Anderson vibes, service was so so only (nothing to shout about, but at least they were not rude, which is rare in Italy). Love the look of the pastries and ambience ☺️ Coffee was bad according to my companions, but the vibe makes up for my trip to Bar Luce. Worth a visit, but maybe not more than once 😌"
Corinne N
"I absolutely loved it here. It is a must of you are a writer. I would also recommend if you are a fan of film. The cafe has a very inspiring atmosphere. The staff are friendly and helpful. The strawberry cake I had was so soft and creamy and melted in your mouth. The cappuccinos were small in size but very delicious. Mega thumbs up!"
Paula Phelan
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Bar Luce is famous for its unique interior design by filmmaker Wes Anderson, inspired by 1950s Italian cinema and culture.
Yes, Bar Luce is located at the entrance of the Fondazione Prada, a contemporary art complex.
Bar Luce serves coffee, pastries, sandwiches (paninis), and inventive cocktails. Reviews mention delicious cakes and fresh bellinis.
Even if you're not a film buff, the unique design, pleasant atmosphere, and good food/drinks make it a worthwhile visit.
Visiting during off-peak hours is recommended to avoid crowds and fully enjoy the ambiance.
Yes, Bar Luce is open to everyone, not just visitors of the Fondazione Prada, making it ideal for a gourmet break.
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The Best Cafés And Coffee Shops In Milan
Designed by Wes Anderson, Bar Luce takes inspiration from Italian popular and visual culture of the 1950s and ’60s. Pastel green formica tables, pink terrazzo flooring and decorative wallpaper recall scenes from Italian neorealist films, while the vaulted ceiling is a nod to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II; an architectural icon of the 19th century. Housed within the modern surroundings of the Prada Foundation, Anderson wanted to create a space for eating, drinking, talking and reading; and presumably also for winning points on the Steve Zissou-themed pinball machine in the corner.
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This bar's kitsch design and pastel colour palette draws you in like one of Wes Anderson’s whimsical movies – which is perhaps unsurprising since the cult film director is the brains behind Bar Luce’s design. From the 50s formica tables to the Steve Zissou-themed pinball machine, the experience is like being immersed in Anderson’s cinematic world. Housed in the elegant Fondazione Prada, the bar also draws inspirations from the city itself; look carefully and you’ll notice details from Milan’s iconic Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.
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Housed in a former gin distillery, Bar Luce, at the entrance to the grounds of the Prada Foundation, is just as much of a destination as the art museum itself. It’s designed by Wes Anderson, and the candy-pastel café delivers as much on the food and drinks as it does on style. Play Sophia Loren’s "Zoo Be Zoo Be Zoo" on the jukebox and feel confident that any photo you take here will look good on Instagram.
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View this post on InstagramA post shared by Tanan Boonyatanapiwat (@booslur). Fondazione Prada is one of Milan’s finest attractions, a 200,000-square-foot contemporary art complex in Largo Isarco, off the beaten bath in southern Milan. The museum was created from an old distillery combined with brand-new buildings, in a project designed by star architect Rem Koolhaas.
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A short metro ride on the yellow Metro Line 3 to Lodi, for instance, followed by a 10-minute walk to the spartanly exquisite Prada Foundation is well worth the trip even if only to admire the grounds, though the experience is enhanced appreciably by a panini or slice of pink cake at Bar Luce. It may have been the first place in Milan where you could plug a USB charger cord into the wall, thanks to Rem Koolhaas and Elia Zenghelis’s OMA design in collaboration with Wes Anderson. (Ahead of the first of ten of Italy’s humdrum Starbucks which have opened in rapid succession since the buzzworthy Piazza Cordusio Roastery ribbon cutting in September 2018.)
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Film director Wes Anderson turned his hand to interior design at Prada’s Bar Luce, which puts a kitschy spin on the typical Milanese cafè. ‘I tried to make it a bar I would want to spend my own non-fictional afternoons in,’ explained Anderson, who spliced period features with bright colours. The building’s opulent arched ceiling – designed as a ‘miniature’ replica of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuel’s vaulted glass roof – is paired with retro 1950s Formica furnishings, pinball machines and a jukebox to create a film-set space where you can grab a light bite and drink before exploring the Fondazione Prada.
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Designed by director Wes Anderson, the Fondazione Prada Bar recreates the atmosphere of a typical café in old Milan. Therefore, sandwiches could not be missing from the menu of this fashionable but also gourmand location: a variety of mouth-watering recipes, divided between cold cuts, meat (including fois gras), fish and vegetables, combined with as many appetising ingredients, including sauces and condiments. Open to everyone, not just visitors, it is also ideal for a gourmet break before or after an exhibition.
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All’ingresso della Fondazione Prada (Largo Isarco 2), il locale progettato dal regista Wes Anderson è sempre ai primi posti delle compilation dei bar milanesi. Molto luminoso - nomen omen - è il luogo dove Anderson, e noi con lui, passerebbe un intero pomeriggio a scrivere, o leggere o studiare. Realizzato nei locali di un’ex distilleria, i suoi arredi giocano sulle tinte pastello e contengono chiare citazioni alla Galleria Vittorio Emanuele e alla storia della città.
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Make sure to grab a coffee, pastry, or cocktail at Bar Luce, a café designed by Wes Anderson that’s located on the grounds of Fondazione Prada. The design echoes mid-century Italian aesthetics such as formica furniture and wood wall panels and is reminiscent of Anderson’s short film Castello Cavalcanti (2013). Anderson said on the bar’s website, “The approach I used to design this bar is exactly the opposite I usually use for the set designs of my movies.
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Item to Order: Ape Maia sandwich with Parma ham, melted brie*, pear slices, parmesan shavings*, rocket and a drizzle of honey. Designed by film director Wes Anderson in 2015, Bar Luce finds its space within the entrance of Fondazione Prada, one of the ultimate contemporary art galleries in the city founded by Miuccia. Inspired by traditional Milanese cafes, Bar Luce was conceived as a space where people can relax, read a good book and order their ‘usual’.
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My husband plays on a pinball team at home in Brooklyn, so I was most excited to visit the Wes Anderson-designed Bar Luce, in Fondazione Prada to check out the Steve Zissou-themed pinball machine. It turns out the machines only take lire and francs—but despite having to sit out pinball, the cafe is worth a tea break from the museum to sit in pastel green chairs for cups of Earl Grey along with tiramisu, ice cream, and pistachio pastries.
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Inside Fondazione Prada, Bar Luce offers a vibrantly quaint atmosphere designed by director Wes Anderson, recreating the traditional Milanese café of yesteryear. The building’s original structure features high, vaulted ceilings reproducing the glass covering of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II alongside exposed steel beams. “I tried to make it a bar I would want to spend my own non-fictional afternoons in”, explained the director.
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Bar Luce, designed by the director Wes Anderson who wanted to recreate a typical cafe of the old Milan, has been one of the most instagrammed places in Milan in the last years. It seems to be on the set of a movie in the fifties!. There are furniture in formica, old pinball machines, glass jars full of candy, the ceiling that recalls that of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, pastel colors and lights of course.
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Kendall Jenner name drops Pizzeria Gino Sorbillo, Bar Luce, and Bianco Latte as her must-visits during Milan Fashion Week. Meanwhile, Kim Kardashian ate at Ristorante Da Giacomo where she learned what tortellini was and ate penne noodles by sliding the pasta onto the prongs of her fork. We cannot confirm whether or not this anti-piercing pasta trend has caught on in other Milanese restaurants.
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Okay, so perhaps you’ve heard of this secret spot in Milan… But on the off chance that you haven’t, I’ve decided to add it to this list of secret spots in Milan!. Designed by cult film director Wes Anderson, Bar Luce is inspired by the Milanese coffee shops of the 1950s and ’60s. All pastel shades and with a vintage ambience, it’s well worth stopping by, if only to enjoy an Italian coffee!
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Honestly speaking, the Fondazione Prada is a contemporary art gallery that couldn’t be cooler if it tried. Not only is it housed in a former gin distillery, it’s owned by one of the most famous fashion houses in the world (Prada), with a bar (Bar Luce) designed by cult film darling, Wes Anderson. Clearly, this contemporary art haven is a must for any culture hawk swooping through Milan.
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If you’re a fan of the director and his quirky films, you’re going to love Bar Luce in Milan for a coffee, cake, or happy hour, conveniently located in the Fondazione Prada. It’s one of the most unique places in the city and EVERYTHING is in Anderson’s signature style – the man himself designed it. Stick around for a tour in the Fondazione Prada, which is definitely worth a visit.
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Designed by the film director Wes Anderson and located inside Fondazione Prada, Bar Luce is a restaurant that evokes the atmosphere of a typical Milanese café. When designing it, Anderson wanted to have many places for eating, drinking, talking, and relaxing, while keeping some original architectural and decorative details. Whitewaller recommends: Enjoying a panini.
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Fans of the eclectic filmmaker shouldn't miss Bar Luce, a café designed by the director for Fondazione Prada. While the café channels the 1950s and 1960s, popular Italian aesthetics inspire the retro furniture and color palette, and you'll see some resemblance's to Anderson's film sets. Don't forget to take an Instagram next to the vintage pinball machine!
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Designed by acclaimed film director Wes Anderson, when you walk inside Bar Luce you will feel like you have walked onto one of these film sets. Thanks to its stunning interior design, Bar Luce is considered one of the Best Instagram spots in Milan and it’s worth a visit. It’s not only an Instagram place in Milan but it’s a lunch break spot.
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Okay, this one isn’t technically free – but for the price of a coffee, you can enjoy a magical experience at Bar Luce, a retro café designed by film director Wes Anderson. It’s part of Fondazione Prada, and it feels like stepping into a movie set. If you’re a fan of Wes Anderson aesthetics, this café must be in your Milan itinerary.
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If you’re familiar with Wes Anderson movies, you’d notice that his visuals are usually very eccentric and whimsical–nostalgic sets, symmetrical architecture, bright colors. Would you believe it if we told you that a coffeehouse in Milan was designed by the famous filmmaker himself?. Bar Luce is inspired by the 50’s and 60’s.
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Film director Wes Anderson set out to recreate a typical cafe from the city when he designed Bar Luce. Sweet treats are displayed at the counters and classic games machines line the room. Customers can choose to sit at a table or in individual seats with slide-out tables that resemble something you’d find on an aircraft.
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After visiting, stop at Bar Luce, the Art Deco–inspired bar designed by director Wes Anderson. The sandwiches are divine and supposedly made by Miuccia’s go-to paninoteca. Negroni your way through the end of the day and then head to tower, and by that I mean the Ristorante Torre, the Fondazione’s tower restaurant.
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Any Milano knows that a cafe list would be incomplete without Bar Luce. Designed by the famous film director Wes Anderson, Bar Luce is not just a cafe but an experience. Situated within the Fondazione Prada, this cafe combines a retro aesthetic with modern amenities, making it a great spot for digital nomads.
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Bar Luce, Fondazione Prada’s cafè, is probably the most geotagged. It was designed by Wes Anderson, who wanted to recreate the old Milan’s atmosphere with pastel shades and retro furniture. Rosa & co. is the best place for all the pink-addicted, where you can drink a bubble tea sitting on a pink velvet sofa.
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For the last 25 years Fondazione Prada has championed contemporary art and culture through its innovative and experimental program. A visit is mandatory not only for the exhibitions and stunning architecture, but to IG story your time at Bar Luce which will make it seem as if you're in a Wes Anderson movie.
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Designed by Wes Anderson, Bar Luce at Fondazione Prada truly encompasses the aesthetic of the award-winning director. Fashionistas and art lovers rub shoulders with neophyte or culturally driven travelers who walk into this quasi film set to enjoy cakes and coffee by Marchesi or cocktails inspired b...
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Bar Luce is designed by creative director Wes Anderson, located within the Fondazione Prada. This café is a work of art, offering a visually captivating setting to enjoy coffee, cocktails, and the ambiance inspired by Wes Anderson's distinctive style. Address: Largo Isarco, 2, 20139 Milan, Italy
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This bar was designed by American film director Wes Anderson and is based on typical Milanese cafes of the 50s and 60s. Go there for your most Instagramable pic and you’re sure to stay for the excellent menu and good vibes. Bar Luce is based at the art and culture complex at Fondazione Prada.
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If you visit Fondazione Prada, you can enjoy coffee with a dessert in this place, designed by Wes Anderson. Bar Luce recreates real Milanese cafe feeling by using veneered wood wall panels, formica furniture, floor as well as colour palette from the 1950s and 1960s.
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With all their old-world charm, Bar Basso and Camparino would be strong contenders for the most Wes Anderson-like bars in Milan. Claiming that title is frustrated by the fact that Milan is the only city with a bar actually designed by Wes Anderson—Bar Luce.
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Image credit: Paolo Bona / Shutterstock.com The quirkiest option from the list, Bar Luce is a cafe designed by Wes Anderson. Inspired by the 1950s, the cafe is located on Largo Isarco, 2 and known for its tasty cocktails— such as the Negroni.
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You can find Prada’s modern art museum on the outskirts of the city in what used to be a distillery. The museum’s signature bar, Bar Luce, was designed by the American film director Wes Anderson. In fact the end result is a little kitch.
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Designed by film director Wes Anderson, Bar Luce is a retro-chic coffee spot inside Fondazione Prada. The unique décor and perfectly crafted espresso make it a must-visit for coffee enthusiasts with a taste for design.
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Bar Luce: A Milanese cafe designed by Wes Anderson in his iconic style, located at the entrance of Fondazione Prada. It’s a stylish, clean and charming little cafe movie lovers and design admirers will adore.
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Inside the Fondazione Prada, which building is covered with 24-carat gold, you will find a Bar Luce where you can stop for a coffee, prosecco, sandwich or a light meal.
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The warm and whimsical restaurant-cum-bar in the Fondazione Prada was conceived by film director Wes Anderson and is a good spot for coffee, panino or dessert.
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Moreover, a visit to Bar Luce, designed by famed filmmaker Wes Anderson, offers an immersive atmosphere reminiscent of old Milanese cafés and culture.
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Café Trussardi Alla Scala, Bar Luce, Pasticceria Marchesi, and Bastianello (said to have the best cappuccino in Milan) are a few of the best!
Social
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit