7 Best Hotels in Milan, Italy

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.

A sense of refined luxury pervades the guest rooms and public spaces of this sophisticated hotel, located just off the main Via Montenapoleone shopping street; from the elegant bedrooms with supercomfortable beds and oversize bathrooms with underfloor heating to the highly rated restaurant and one of the largest spas in Milan (9,700 square feet), you'll be taken care of here. The look is neutral and understated, with dark wood walls and hardwood floors punctuated by splashes of purple in the furniture and curtains. The retro ‘50s Italian bistro, Mandarin Garden, dishes up classic nibbles all day, while Seta restaurant serves more formal (and more expensive) fare. The friendly, helpful staff attend to guests’ every need, from sought-after restaurant reservations to thoughtful touches for travelers with children, including kids’ bathtubs and bottle warmers.

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.

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.

This ultrastylish all-suites boutique hotel in a former perfume factory has Italian-designed furnishings; paintings by local Brera Academy artists; and sleek, white accommodations—each with its own signature scent (such as fruity, woodsy, or floral) and all overlooking one of two tranquil courtyards. Brightly colored leather couches, king-size beds, and oversize bathrooms round out some of the in-room amenities. Although there's no lobby per se, the library hall is a comfy space to read a book or get some work done. The well-regarded on-site restaurant, Da Noi In, turns out creative modern Italian dishes, and it's only a short stroll to the Navigli canal side streets for more dining and people-watching options.