Nighttime is a gathering place for restless souls and a stage where masks are dropped. It’s a realm of freedom, where inhibitions fade, and an indescribable alchemy takes over. “I stepped into this magic when I was 17,” shares Carola Abrate, bartender and co-founder of Dirty, the cocktail bar that’s taken Milan’s nightlife by storm. “When darkness falls, it feels like no one is watching or judging you, so you seek out spaces filled with people who vibe with you — people on the same journey.” Dirty was born from that very idea: to fill a time slot that had yet to be claimed in Milan.
Dirty, a Place for Bartenders
“We wanted to create a place for people in our industry, somewhere they could connect with others who, like us, stopped getting Saturday night birthday invitations because we were never free. Initially, we opened at 7 PM, but our guests quickly shifted that. Now, from midnight to 3:30 AM, we offer a meaningful space for those who didn’t have one before, without doing anything particularly groundbreaking,” Carola Abrate explains.
Housed in a brutalist rectangle adorned with graffiti paying homage to Jean- Michel Basquiat, Dirty reinvents itself every night. The liberating, celebratory atmosphere helps guests shed the weight of their daily lives. When nostalgic tunes play, the room erupts in singalongs, leaving space only for happy memories. As hip-hop beats drop, street-level rage transforms into triumph for those who’ve overcome life’s challenges. But the night isn’t all carefree.
Carola Abrate and Hers Magical Nights
“Maybe the night has taken more from me than it’s given,” Abrate admits. “So many relationships ended because there’s little understanding for someone who works nocturnally. People want you around during conventional hours and struggle to accept an upside-down life.” Still, the night has its gifts. “It’s taught me patience, foresight, and how to handle people who transform after sunset. Over the years, I’ve learned to manage not only my own demons but those of others, and that feels like a real blessing,” she reflects. “The night has also given me lightness, an excuse to take things less seriously.”
For someone navigating life’s complexities, these tools are vital. “Fragility is beautiful — it’s one of my greatest strengths. Anger isn’t part of my world, even though when Dirty first opened, there was a lot of talk about it. I’ve been let down and disappointed, but I’ve always found a way forward because what happens outside is just a reflection of what’s inside me,” she says. Carola Abrate nourishes her spiritual side by reading about psychology, science, and culture — especially Eastern philosophy. “In Southeast Asia, people often have nothing, but they always find a way to smile.”
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