Atomic shares the same witty retro look – and architects – as some other Milan bars like Cuore (see Drink) and Rocket (see Party); however, Atomic has a darker side.

With soft-porn pin-ups by Marvel Comics illustrator Manara and surreal Hans Bellmar-style punk Barbies in pickle jars, Atomic attracts an outré crowd epitomized by Robert Smith-styled boys with make-up.

Don’t be put off, though – it’s lightened up with plenty of normal folk (in orchestrated scruffiness) and comic 1960s details, starting with the red neon spaceship street sign.

The bar’s curved wooden counter originally came from Hotel St Moritz; the TV in the corner reads ‘STOP WATCHING TV’. At the heart of this small T-shaped bar is a crazy-paved bronze glitter DJ den with a sun-like spinning discoball where the daily DJ plays recherché electro, pop and rock.

Once a month it hosts Verde Notte, or ‘green night’ where absinthe is added to the fray, wisely rationed in a bar where out there is in.