12 Best Hotels in Milan, Italy

The decor in this eclectic, extremely hip hotel at the foot of the lively Corso di Porta Ticinese and by the Navigli canals features sports memorabilia from golf, horseback riding, boxing, and others. The lobby area is anything but traditional: check in while sitting in a barber's chair, as you plot to carve out time in the inviting dark leather couches or perhaps enjoy a cocktail at The Doping Bar, or dinner in the Mediterranean-style restaurant, Zaïa. Despite all the design, the ambience is casual and welcoming. Some suites even have their own terraces where you can chill in private.

A feeling of relaxation prevails in this 19th-century building, and the neighborhood—the church that houses The Last Supper is a block away—is one of Milan's most desired and historic. Half the rooms face a courtyard and the others a back garden; many have balconies, and one ground-floor room has a private garden with table and chairs. Though the buffet breakfast is not included in the lowest rates, it's available for just a small extra charge and earns high praise from guests.

This minimalist boutique hotel looks like it has been plucked from the pages of a sleek magazine, and it should: it was designed by fashion icon Giorgio Armani to evoke the same sculptural, streamlined aesthetic—and tailored comfort—as his signature clothing. Room types range from deluxe (with metallic roll-top desks and soaking tubs) to posh two-story suites (replete with central staircase and living room). All have Armani bath amenities, and many have balconies; an iPad controls lights, curtains, and other tasks like ordering room service. Every guest is treated like a VIP, with extras like a "lifestyle manager"—appointed to each guest upon arrival to accommodate any request—and complimentary minibars stocked with soda, juices, and snacks. The restaurant affords floor-to-ceiling views of Milan's rooftops, and the spa encourages guests to customize their experience.

Housed in an 18th-century palazzo on a quiet street a short stroll from Brera and Montenapoleone shopping, the Bulgari offers up chic yet restrained rooms, an enormous garden, and a celebrity-chef-helmed restaurant. Rooms vary in size and shape (and some have balconies or terraces), but all feature oak-paneled walls, wood floors, and black or cream marble bathrooms stocked with the renowned Bulgari products. The inviting lobby is filled with couches perfect for chilling or having tea, while Il Ristorante Niko Romito serves solid modern Italian cuisine. Look for such touches as complimentary herbal tea in a thermos delivered to your bedroom each night.

Built in the 15th century as a convent, with a colonnaded cloister, this sophisticated retreat certainly exudes a feeling that is anything but urban. Although this hotel is the perfect location for serious shoppers, it's on a quieter side street slightly apart from the fray. Parts of the original frescoes can still be seen in the lobby and lounge, and some rooms have balconies looking onto a glassed-in courtyard. The sophisticated spa area boasts a lap pool beneath 19-century vaulted ceilings along with modern treatment rooms and a well-equipped fitness center.

Only blocks from La Scala, you'll find everything you would expect from a traditionally elegant European hotel, where tapestries and persimmon velvet enliven a 19th-century look without sacrificing dignity and luxury. The place is sometimes called the Hotel Verdi, because the composer lived here for 27 years; his apartment, complete with his desk, is now the Presidential Suite. The on-site Don Carlos restaurant comes highly recommended.

Nice wood flooring, comfortable rooms, and contemporary furnishings that maximize space and bring in light all help recommend this conveniently located bargain in pricey Milan. Flat-screens, Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, and free use of the minibar are among the many amenities for guests.

The spare but classically elegant and efficient rooms at this hotel are arranged around a courtyard—four have private terraces—and offer good value for pricey Milan. The 1890s building was originally a seminary, though today's level of comfort and service is far from monastic. The included breakfast and free nonalcoholic drinks in the minibar get high marks from guests, and the location, a few steps west of the Duomo and around the corner from the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, is ideal for shopping and sightseeing.

The central courtyard of this boutique hotel near Milan's fashion district is covered in a layer of water, a cheeky nod to the Naviglio Grande canal that once ran in front of the 19th-century palace, which now has a sleek, minimalist design and artsy touches like brass ginkgo biloba-leaf lamps, serpentine mosaic floor patterns, and flowers and music selected by curators. Relatively simple white-on-white guest rooms have black and gray accents, high ceilings, oak parquet floors, and white Carrara marble bathrooms; try for a room with a private terrace overlooking the peaceful courtyard. Though there's no formal restaurant, the Senato Caffè offers small plates and aperitivo. A seasonal rooftop sundeck is perfect for chilling and has a phone for placing drink orders with the Caffè.

That this chic city-center inn is owned by an architect's family comes through in details like the custom-designed furniture and paintings by young Milanese artists in the stylish guest rooms. For all its artistic accents, this is still a comfortable, homey base in Milan, with an inviting frescoed breakfast room and many rooms with private terraces. Personal touches—such as wine and snacks in the lobby, eggs cooked to order at breakfast, and free nonalcoholic drinks in the minibars—abound.

Inside this faithfully restored palazzo dating from the early 1900s, spaciousness is accentuated with soft white interiors, muted fabrics and marble, and contemporary lines. An understated entrance leads into what seems more like a sophisticated, upscale residence than a hotel—which is precisely the feeling the designers were striving for. Massive mirrors don't hang, they lean; baths are almost as spacious as the living areas; a refined hush prevails. Though there's no restaurant or breakfast room, if you wish you can dine in privacy with room service for breakfast (for an extra fee).

Extensive use of warm travertine stone and modern art creates a sophisticated yet inviting backdrop at the Park Hyatt, where spacious, opulent guest rooms have walk-in closets and bathrooms with double sinks, glass-enclosed rain showers, and separate soaking tubs. A 30-foot-high glass-domed "cupola" tops the lobby, and rooftop suites have terraces with city views. The hotel seems determined to spoil its demanding clientele with a seemingly endless number of amenities.