Milan hotels

One of the best hotels in Milan, the original frescoes in this 15th-century convent are just some of the Four Seasons many attractions. The sumptuous rooms in a contemporary Italian design are arranged around the landscaped internal courtyard, once the nuns’ herb garden and now an attractive place to enjoy the raw bar and an aperitivo. Even the entry level rooms have plush Fortuny fabrics, wooden floors and marble bathrooms with deep soaking bathtubs. Meanwhile, the beautifully designed spa in the cellar is by Spanish architect Patricia Urquiola and features a 24/7 gym, steam room, sauna, treatment rooms and a lovely pool. If you’re here to shop, the ritzy Quadrilatero district is mere steps away, with all the best designer boutiques on Via Montenapoleone, Via della Spiga and Via Sant’Andrea.

Another one of the best hotels in Milan, the Park Hyatt is in an excellent location near Piazza del Duomo and the historic Teatro alla Scala, a haven for opera lovers. (Top tip: performances at the opera house are often sold out, but it’s possible to buy last minute tickets two hours before, often at a 25% discount.) Contemporary Italian design is at its best in the hotel’s top suites, with plenty of marble in the bathrooms, dark parquet floors and light wood cupboards. The Fiori Chiari Suite is one of my favourites, with its high dome-shaped ceilings and generous balcony with views of the historic city centre. The food and drink offerings are excellent at all-day La Cupola Lounge and fine dining spot Pellico 3 Milano (the clam and squid spaghetti is fantastic). In the evening, Mio Lab is a lively cocktail bar featuring vibrant nightly DJ sets.

Part of the Relais & Châteaux collection, this Art Nouveau gem is just outside the centre, in the Monforte district, overlooking the elegant Piazza Tricolore. Chateau Monfort was originally a private home and has a crystal-domed lobby bar, making it one of the most unique properties in the city. Interiors were inspired by fairy-tales and operas like Puccini’s Madame Butterfly. In fact, the Butterfly Suite is decked out in red and gold with Oriental decoration and floral patterns that evoke the famous opera. The spa is quite special too, with a sauna, Turkish bath and saltwater swimming pool. Located in a lovely neoclassical Royal Villa, the Gallery of Modern Art is within a ten-minute walk. There you’ll find an impressive collection of 19th and 20th-century art.

The rooftop spa and outdoor terrace overlooking the city is reason enough to stay at Hotel Principe Di Savoia. This grand historic hotel has welcomed travellers since 1927, including royalty and famous artists from around the world. One of the best hotels in Milan, Art Deco elements throughout evoke a sense of nostalgia, while the guestrooms offer a delightful mix of 19th-century and modern decor. Expect heavy Italian drapes, textured wallpaper and stunning ceramic bathroom tiles. On a recent visit, I was particularly impressed with the hotel’s guided art walking tour featuring Lucio Fontana, the modern artist known for his slashed canvases. The daily pasta at Acanto is outstanding, while the imaginative desserts are almost too beautiful to eat. Ten minutes away, Moebius is a cool place for tapas, cocktails with live entertainment and a hip vinyl store.

One of the best boutique hotels in Milan, Casa Baglioni is in the artistic Brera district and has a 1960s Milanese feel. It was designed by Milanese architects, with lighting by Panzeri, furniture from Rubelli Casa and a great selection of original art by mostly Italian artists in the 30 guestrooms and public spaces. Food, meanwhile, is headed up by chef Claudio Sadler, who has moved his Michelin-starred Ristorante Sadler to the hotel. In keeping with Milan as a ‘fashion city’, hotel guests are offered a ‘made to measure’ experience in their own suite with Milanese hat designer Borsalina, Italy’s oldest luxury hat brand. Another special experience offered to hotel guests that really appealed to me is The Feminine Point of View at Poldi Pezzoli Museum, a special privately guided art tour that features a range of sculptures and paintings, each either created by women or honouring them.

One of the best hotels in Milan, this renovated 18th-century villa is set in its own pretty garden, right beside the charming Orto botanical garden. As you’d expect from a Bulgari property, there’s plenty of dark wood, black marble, floor to ceiling windows and a beautiful indoor pool with glittering green and gold mosaics. The sleek bar attracts an uber fashionable crowd and drinks come with tasty free snacks. Food at Il Ristorante is by Niko Romito of three Michelin-starred Reale restaurant in Abruzzo. Another must visit that I highly recommend, mainly for the historic vibe, is Jamaica, a bar and café near the Pinoteca Brera, which has been owned by the same family since 1911. It’s long been a popular spot for creatives and has attracted notable figures such as Lucio Fontana and Ernest Hemingway.

Located in the hip Porta Volta area, it's hard to miss the striking vertical gardens over this 5-star hotel’s glass fronted façade. They were installed to help reduce pollution and provide insulation, making this one of the best hotels in Milan for fans of innovative design. An outdoor rooftop pool is a highlight, offering stunning, photo-worthy 360-degree views of the city. Guestrooms feature parquet oak wood floors that nicely contrast with light colours and fabrics, complementing the furniture by Molteni. The restaurant is helmed by chef Giancarlo Morelli, who presents gourmet Milanese dishes like lamb with sour cherries and chanterelles and – my favourite – a pasta with smoked eel and cedar. He also oversees the property’s Bulk Mixology Food Bar, with its popular and reasonably-priced Saturday brunch, as well as at the Rooftop Terrace Bar.

The fairly nondescript 19th-century exterior of this centrally-located hotel, set on a quiet side street just five minutes from the Duomo, belies its urban chic interiors. As one of the best boutique hotels in Milan, the 18 rooms here are a decent size, with some featuring balconies with whitewashed brick walls, original floorboards, rough concrete surfaces and modernist furniture. The in-house hairdresser is a particularly thoughtful service for guests. Breakfast is included with the room rate, but you’ll need to venture outside the hotel for other meals. In the local vicinity, Taverna Del Borgo Antico offers traditional Italian dishes like Ossobuco and good pizza. For truffle fans, meanwhile, Tartufotto is a must-visit restaurant and shop. The simple tagliolino pasta with truffle butter and Parmigiano Reggiano is not to be missed.

The location of the Mandarin Oriental, within minutes of the Duomo, the Opera house and the posh shopping streets, is hard to beat. The hotel itself, set inside four elegant 18th-century buildings, is equally fashionable. Contemporary luxury interiors feature plum velvet furniture, B&B Italia desks, oak wood floors and photos by Antonio Salvador. The more deluxe rooms have small terraces. Dining is top notch in the two Michelin-starred restaurant Seta, run by acclaimed chef Antonio Guida. The spaghetti with sea anemone and red prawn tartare is incredible. For a slightly more relaxed atmosphere, try the Mandarin Garden. Each restaurant here has an outdoor terrace, great for eating outside in warmer months. The substantial spa is another major draw at this luxury hotel, featuring treatment rooms, a hair salon, a gym, and the biggest indoor swimming pool in the historic centre.

One of the most affordable and best hotels in Milan, Sonder Missori is located within a ten-minute walk of the Duomo, one of the world's largest cathedrals. Guestrooms here feature modern Italian design with chic textiles and furnishings, plus amenities like coffee makers and flat screen TVs in all the rooms. While breakfast is available at the hotel, you’ll need to go elsewhere for other meals. There are lots of great options nearby. For a change from Italian food, Yokohama offers a tasty Japanese menu with a selection of delicious carpaccio dishes including wagyu, sea bream, salmon and tuna. It's also worth checking out the excellent chocolate shop nearby, Giovanni Galli, founded in 1911 and still using the same production process, almost entirely by hand.