<-- test --!> 10 of the best hotels in Milan – Best Reviews By Consumers

10 of the best hotels in Milan

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This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK).

Visitors pour in to Italy’s richest city lured by its mix of luxury stores and neo-classical architecture, the highlights of which — like the Teatro alla Scala opera house and 19th-century, glass-topped Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II arcade — are found in the centre. But there’s also plenty of fun to be had elsewhere: head south to Navigli, whose canals and boutique stores make it a hit among young crowds, or north to Chinatown to contemplate the differences between dumplings and ravioli.

Simple bedroom with an eccentric, tropical wallpaper

The striking interior of Galleria Vik is a constant reminder of the hotel group’s South American origins.

Photograph by Galleria Vik Milano

A monochromatic room with a geometrically patterned sofa and coffee table, a female torso sculpture hung on the wall.

Art is central to Galleria Vik’s interiors.

Photograph by Galleria Vik Milano

1. Galleria Vik

Best for art-lovers
Spread across the upper floors of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Italy’s oldest shopping arcade, this arty hotel is the first European outpost of South American brand Vik Retreats. It proudly reflects the Uruguayan heritage of co-founder Alex Vik via art installations and dedicated culture and food nights.

Each of the 89 guest rooms is entirely distinct; you might find yourself in bed beneath a Renaissance-style mural or in a blue-and-peach-spattered bathroom. A huge cast of Auguste Rodin’s The Thinker awaits guests in the striking lobby. There are two restaurants here: casual I Dodici Gatti, serving wood-fired pizzas, and more upmarket Vik Pellico Otto, whose menu blends European and South American influences. Rooms: From €386 (£324), B&B.

A luxurious and eccentric rooftop bar with sundecks, chairs and a bordering pool.

Nhow’s rooftop bar in Milan’s design district is open to the public and offers panoramic views of the city.

Photograph by Nhow Milano

2. Nhow Milano

Best for maximalists
Loud colours and rotating artworks: maximalism is in at Nhow Milano. Located in the city’s design district, the hotel is moments away from the Museum of Cultures and Armani/Silos exhibition space — but it features plenty of quirky design nods within its own walls, too. Its 246 rooms, some of which are pet-friendly, are all themed differently, but oranges, purples, yellows and pinks prevail in the colour schemes.

Its rooftop bar, Vertigo, is open to guests and the public and features a 90ft-long infinity pool (one of the few properly swimmable rooftop pools in the city) alongside two smaller, circular ones. Grab an amaretto colada, starring Italy’s classic almond-flavoured liqueur, recline on a magenta beanbag and enjoy the panoramic views. Rooms: From €147 (£123).

A cool, dark bedroom with stylish lantern-esque lights and framed photos of rock legends and other notable figures.

Aethos embodies the spirit of a youthful member’s club that wouldn’t be complete without the in-house speakeasy.

Photograph by Pion Studio

3. Aethos

Best for the cool crowd
Aethos is Milan’s answer to a youthful member’s club. Located in buzzy Navigli, it has a co-working space with regular events, daily yoga classes and Zaia, a chic Mediterranean restaurant with a deftly curated menu. The crowning glory, however, is The Doping Bar, its name a nod to the sports theme that runs throughout the hotel — including its 32 bedrooms, which are filled with trinkets related to disciplines such as cricket, tennis and racing. After dinner, this 1920s-themed speakeasy is the perfect place to end the evening, with board games or cocktails amid surfboards, mannequins, flags and vintage lamps. The drinks menu riffs on classic concoctions, and you might find popcorn, shiitake and peanut butter swirling atop your glass. Rooms: From €207 (£174).

4. Palazzo Cordusio Gran Meliá

Best for rooftop views
Spring, summer and much of autumn bring a solid chance of blue skies in Milan — and on those clear days, Palazzo Cordusio Gran Meliá offers the best view in town. When the sun dips behind the Duomo, Italy’s largest church, and the sky fades from blue to pink, the hotel’s fifth-floor rooftop cocktail bar and restaurant, Isola, offers a front-row seat — best enjoyed with a glass of sparkling Franciacorta in hand.

It’s well worth splurging on a room with a Duomo view if you can, too. The palazzo is the former Milanese headquarters of the Italian Stock Exchange, and its rooms — a mix of dark wood-panelling and bright, white linens — are suitably spacious. Rooms: From €721 (£605).

A sophisticated interior of the hotel's master bedroom with an antique chinois dresser and balcony with views over Milan.

Rooms and suites at Palazzo Parigi are decorated in a contemporary Milanese style.

Photograph by Palazzo Parigi Hotel & Grand Spa

5. Palazzo Parigi

Best for spa-seekers
Paris meets Milan at this 17th-century architectural gem in Brera, a neighbourhood with cobbled streets, aperitivo bars and boutique stores. Rooms are either decorated in the more contemporary Milanese style, with light colours and natural woods, or with a traditional French flair seen in antique furniture and gilded vases. The tempo changes at the spa, which takes its influences from across the globe. Try a full-body Moroccan ghassoul clay mask in the hammam suite or a deep tissue Swedish massage amid minimalist wood-panelled interiors. Rooms: From €1,017 (£854).

6. Grand Hotel Villa Torretta Milan Sesto

Best for city escapees
Once the 17th-century summer home for a Milanese countess, this hotel opened under the Curio Collection by Hilton brand in 2018. Its 77 rooms and suites are a mix of contemporary spaces and opulent celebrations of history; some include restored frescoes and original fireplaces. Located in Parco Nord, one of Milan’s biggest public green spaces, the hotel is less than a half-hour metro ride or taxi from the city proper. Borrow one of its free bikes and tour the local landmarks, including the Pirelli HangarBicocca gallery, or catch an opera at Teatro Arcimboldi. Rooms: From €111 (£93).

7. Matilde Boutique Hotel

Best for families
This hotel is set between the balsamic vinegar shops, gelaterias and food delis of the city centre. You can’t get much closer to the Duomo and the Royal Palace of Milan, making this a handy option for those with little ones in tow. Each of the 25 well-sized rooms is clad in green velvet and black-and-white gingham, and comes with a sofa to up the comfort factor for families. Breakfast is served on the top floor of Ristorante Granaio, situated beneath the hotel, and includes a buffet with Sicilian cannoli from the restaurant’s standalone bakeries. Rooms: From €300 (£252), B&B.

8. Hotel Viu Milan

Best for stylish functionality
At the edge of Chinatown, and minutes from the Cimitero Monumentale (a graveyard renowned for its ornate Italian and Greek sculptures and tombs), this hotel wins over business travellers with its functional design. Rooms feature walnut panelling and earthy tones, while wisteria and ivy cloak the glass exterior in a nod to Bosco Verticale, the city’s iconic apartment-complex-turned-vertical-forest, a 15-minute walk away. There’s plenty to enjoy here, too — the eighth-floor rooftop, where breakfast and evening drinks are served, has a pool with scenic views. Rooms: From €225 (£189).

A couple sitting on the cushioned edge of a rooftop pool with views over the city at sunset.

A nearly unparalleled cityscape can be enjoyed from the rooftop bar of 21 House of Stories Navigli.

Photography by 21 House of Stories Navigli

9. 21 House of Stories Navigli

Best for night owls
Sweetie jars in the lobby? Check. Bedroom swing? Check. Furniture in every shape and colour? You got it. Fun is the name of the game at 21 House of Stories’ outpost in Navigli. Indoor and outdoor co-working spaces, a mezzanine-level restaurant and a rooftop cocktail bar make this a hit among the area’s young visitors, who flood the bars and trattorias lining the canals. It’s a great option for an aperitivo, and tempting extras — like the complimentary mini-bar on your first night — help sweeten the deal. Rooms: From €218 (£182), B&B.

A tasteful and stylish living room with arts books in a shelving system, marble coffee table and silver pendant lamp.

The inaugural Bulgari Hotel is turning 21 this year, but it’s as stylish as ever.

Photography by Bulgari Hotel Milano

10. Bulgari Hotel Milano

Best for a splurge
Bulgari’s inaugural hotel turns 21 this year but, like the best of the style set, refuses to show its age. If you want uncompromising luxury, there’s still nowhere better in town. It’s the only hotel within the city walls with a garden and the rooms run from spacious to huge. While the decor is unfussy, every detail has been considered — you’re even provided with lens cleaner and a polish cloth to wipe down oversized sunnies. There’s a pool, a spa and a hair salon for those in need of pampering. Rooms: From €1,220 (£1,024).

Published in the Jan/Feb 2025 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK).

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