Slick Hotels for a Relaxed Stay in Milan, Italy

The spacious, modern rooms at the three-star Hotel Viva Milano provide guests with a comfortable home away from home, just 15 minutes from central Milan. The newly-refurbished hotel boasts 55 rooms available as single, double, twin, triple or family-sized making it a perfect accommodation offering for all group sizes. The minimalist hotel is decorated in swathes of whites and neutral colours with pops of colour in the furnishings, creating a contemporary and timeless finish. Guests can make the most of a free breakfast made up of local cuisine before exploring the local neighbourhood of Citta Studi, a budget-friendly area known for its churches, parks and cafes. Attractions like Teatro alla Scala and Museo del Duomo are both easily accessible.

Giorgio Armani is perhaps one of Milan’s most famous sons. A stylist of international repute, his collections have mesmerised millions over the decades. Milan has the honour to host one of the exclusive hotels designed and signed by Armani, who took care of every detail to ensure guests can enjoy the elegance of the interior and the splendour of the rooms to the full. The hotel boasts 95 rooms and suites, all with an exclusive design and wonderful fittings.

Chateau Monfort brings elegance and romance to the heart of Milan. The five-star hotel – which overlooks Piazza Tricolore in the Monforte district – prides itself on its fairytale atmosphere and classic décor, with rooms inspired by operas and ballets. The exquisitely designed hotel has pet-friendly rooms and also accommodates children for free. The classic, neo-romantic style flows through all of the hotel’s rooms and suites, the beautiful Spa Amore & Psiche, and Restaurant Rubacuori. Cella di Bacco is a particularly special spot buried underground where guests can enjoy private dining or wine tastings in the vaulted cellar.

This self-acclaimed urban lifestyle hotel is part hotel and part art gallery. The unique four-star concept hotel is decorated with art by Milanese street artists making it extremely contemporary and colourful. Possibly the coolest hotel in the city, NYX even has its own in-house DJ. Rooms feature vivid walls painted in bright colours and posters of old film stars hanging on the walls, all while offering great views of Milan. Besides the 299 rooms, the family- and pet-friendly hotel also has a rooftop terrace and garden, as well as a business centre. Retro arcade games are dotted about the hotel for guests to enjoy and a packed calendar of pop-up events keeps the place busy and bustling. Guests can enjoy eating in the Clash Restaurant and drinking in the Clash bar.

Widely regarded as one of Milan’s most luxurious hotels, the palatial five-star Mandarin Oriental Hotel is a fusion of traditional Milanese design with Oriental luxury – and all just around the corner from the Teatro alla Scala. The elegant hotel occupies four 18th-century buildings which have been beautifully transformed into a chic and sophisticated place to stay for couples and families. All of the rooms are finished with flares of Italian design. Guests have the choice of two restaurants: Seta’s traditional Italian Seta or the Mandarin Bar & Bistrot. For an urban escape, guests can also make use of the hotel’s tranquil spa.

With its sleek and simple features, Hotel nhow Milano offers cosmopolitan lodgings in the design district of Via Tortona. The iconic building that houses the hotel was designed by renowned architect Matteo Thun and was formerly the home of General Electric. Each of the 246 rooms is uniquely decorated, with different colours and chic furniture. The hotel is busy all year round, but it reaches its peak during Design Week, when it also turns into a prime venue for exhibitions and events.

Hotel Milano Castello is a beautiful new hotel in the heart of Milan, where traditional design meets contemporary decor. The small, family-friendly hotel offers single, double and triple rooms and is centrally located just a short walk from Duomo di Milano. Many of the rooms overlook the beautiful, private garden, sheltered by towering walls with lush greenery cascading down to the ground. Flag-stone floors and marble finishes make Hotel Milano Castello a simple but classic place to stay. Guests can enjoy a breakfast buffet in the dining room or al fresco, and can also use a fully-equipped gym during their stay.

This ‘perfume hotel’ has 39 suites each associated with an exclusive fragrance that accompanies guests throughout their stay. The hotel is set on what was once the industrial premises of Marvin, Italy’s most important cosmetic brand. Today sisters Giorgia and Ambra, the third generation of the Martone family, carry on the family tradition by running an artisanal perfume laboratory inside the hotel’s winter garden. Guests and public can try the various fragrances, have them bottled and customised in front of their eyes and also learn more about the ancient art of perfumery by accessing the laboratory’s personal library.

While the four-star Osteria della Pista is situated just outside the city of Milan, it’s well worth a visit. Located 7km (4mi) from Milan Malpensa Airport, in the centre of Casorate Sempione, the 30-room hotel was renovated in 2013. Every room in the hotel – which has a rich equestrian past – is named after a famous horse or important stable. Osteria della Pista dates back to 1875 when it launched as a rest stop for nobles and knights travelling from Milan for leisure breaks to hunt or take part in equestrian competitions. The historic hotel offers free airport shuttle and welcomes guests travelling with pets. For food, visit the on-site pizzeria and restaurant that both serve traditional Italian cuisine.

The three-star family- and pet-friendly Biocity Hotel is a unique and humbling place to stay. In a city that is focused on high-end fashion and luxury, Biocity Hotel is a breath of fresh air. The project was born out of a passion to create an organic, environmentally friendly and ethical hotel in the heart of Milan, all while maintaining a level of comfort and customer service. The interior design and furnishings are natural while the toiletries and cleaning products are organic and biodegradable. The hotel uses a zero-emission climate control system and an energy-efficient heating system. The vegetarian and vegan specialist bistro Biogusto boasts a simple menu based on the principles of a healthy Mediterranean diet while a spa is available at a surcharge. Nearby you have Milan’s central station that easily takes you to places like Corso Como, which is known for its buzzing nightlife.

STRAF is situated in the city centre, a short walk from the Duomo Cathedral. The hotel’s origins lay in a modern concept of hospitality, characterised by a personal and attentive, yet informal brand of service. By choosing unusual materials, recycling objects and experimenting with the surroundings, architect Vincenzo De Cotiis has achieved an interior design that looks more like a contemporary art installation rather than a standard hotel. It includes elements of industrial style and ‘Arte Povera’ (an Italian artistic movement of the late 60s and 70s). The premises are often used to host fashion shows and art exhibitions, while the street bar STRAF hosts musical evenings.

Nestled inside Milan’s first and best concept store, 10 Corso Como, Hotel 3 Rooms is one of the most exclusive hotels in town. As the name clearly states, the venue only has three rooms which are actually three suites, all offering top-notch service and luxury amenities. 10 Corso Como, is run by Carla Sozzani, a prominent Milanese figure and sister of the late Franca Sozzani, editor-in-chief of Vogue Italia. The entire venue, including the hotel, has a fashionable and artistic vibe: the best of international fashion brands, contemporary art and modern literature are surrounded by jasmine flowers and Art Nouveau decors.

Possibly one of Milan’s best little-known secrets, the Atellani Apartments are situated in the museum and private home Casa degli Atellani, where Leonardo Da Vinci himself lived while working on the Last Supper. The residence offers six self-catering, elegantly furnished and fully-serviced vacation apartments, combining Milanese ancient charm with contemporary comfort, all in the historical centre of Milan. Restored in the 1920s by architect, Piero Portaluppi, Casa degli Atellani transports visitors into the Milanese Renaissance, with architectural elements that date to as early as the 1400s. The inner courtyard hosts a vineyard known as La Vigna di Leonardo.