19 Best Hotels in Milan, Italy

For hip, design-focused lodging with a friendly feel and prime location right next to the Galleria and around the corner from the Duomo, you can’t do much better than the city's outpost from Spanish hotel chain Room Mate. Conceived by Milan designer Patricia Urquiola, rooms come in a range of sizes, all with a whimsical color scheme of bright greens, oranges, and blues along with mod furnishings including desks and plush couches. The airy modern lobby lined with art books invites lingering, and the enthusiastic staff are full of advice on Milan attractions. Amenities include a small 24-hour gym, sauna, and Turkish bath; a well-stocked breakfast buffet is available for an extra charge.

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 on 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.

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.

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 an extra charge and earns high praise from guests.

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.

The 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.

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.

Here, you'll find all the exquisite trappings of a traditional luxury hotel: lavish mirrors, drapes, and carpets; and some of the city's largest guest rooms, outfitted with eclectic fin de siècle furnishings. The Mosaic rooms (named for the glass mosaic panels in their ample bathrooms) are even larger, and the three-bedroom Presidential Suite features its own marble pool and spa. The Principe bar is an elegant aperitivo spot, and the Acanto restaurant has garden seating and is open from breakfast to dinner. Lighter food is served in the lobby bar Il Salotto.

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).

This outpost of the Spanish hotel brand ME by Meliá has a lively party atmosphere, with rousing music playing in the lobby, a design-conscious vibe, and a happening rooftop bar with panoramic city views. Rooms have a dark and moody feel, done up in browns and neutral colors and hung with oversized arty photographs. The hotel includes modern steak house STK restaurant, complete with its own DJ after 10 pm, while Radio Rooftop Bar is the perfect place for an aperitivo while mingling with a fashionable crowd.

Don't be fooled by the functional exterior of one of Milan's key business addresses: inside, rooms have a contemporary look with soothing gray walls and marble bathrooms. Although there's no pool, many of the 30 suites have their own Turkish baths. The in-house PanEVO restaurant focuses on seasonal northern Italian cuisine and has a lovely outdoor terrace in season.

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.