Upcycle Bike Café is one of the few places in Milan that advertises itself as a co-working café, but unfortunately, it falls short of delivering a welcoming and enjoyable experience.

I arrived on a Thursday morning to find the café about 60-70% full, with most patrons deeply focused on their laptops. It's clear that this is more of a working hub than a casual coffee spot, so if you're looking for a cozy place to catch up with friends, this probably isn’t it. The atmosphere struck me as cold and somewhat uninviting, which was further compounded by the distant attitude of the staff. Aside from the cashier, who was polite enough, the service felt indifferent—perhaps my lack of Italian played a role in the chilly reception, but in an international city like Milan, I expected more warmth.

I ordered a flat white, having confirmed with the cashier that they could make one. Unfortunately, the coffee was a real letdown. The milk was poorly steamed, leaving the drink overly foamy and far from the smooth texture you'd expect. For a café in Milan, where coffee is almost a religion, this was particularly disappointing. I didn't try the food, but given the lack of care in the coffee preparation, I wouldn’t hold my breath for stellar results on that front either.

In terms of the co-working setup, the café is definitely laptop-friendly. The two long communal tables in the middle are packed with people working. However, there are some practical issues—namely, a shortage of charging points. These are only available at the benches along the sides, which can be a hassle if you need to charge your device and don’t want to move from the communal space.

While the café does offer Wi-Fi (password protected), I can’t say much about its speed or reliability, as I used my own hotspot. By noon, I noticed many of the laptop users had cleared out, and the staff began setting the tables with cutlery and placemats, which suggests there's potentially some sort of unofficial rule against laptop use during lunchtime.

In summary, while Upcycle Bike Café is convenient for those who need a space to work for a few hours, the unfriendly atmosphere, lackluster coffee, and limited amenities make it difficult to recommend for an extended stay. It’s a decent option if you need a spot to open your laptop, but the poor service and disappointing coffee will have you thinking twice about returning.