Look To Suites

Rooms

Revamped by architectural garden designer Guiliana Marsiaj, every spacious suite glows with the colours of the flower it is named after. All feature high-end comforts, with useful extras like international adaptors and smart TVs. New double glazing means you’ll hardly hear a murmur from outside.

The Rosa (sleeps 2) and the slightly bigger Narciso (sleeps 2 adults + 1 child) have balconies with fine views, whereas the Lillà (sleeps 2 in twin beds or converted into a double) overlooks the internal courtyard. The beautiful bathrooms all have showers and bidets.

We stayed in the largest, most private suite at the end of the corridor, the Giglio (sleeps 3), with its vast super-kingsize bed. Although the window is too high for views, we were too busy luxuriating on the gondola-inspired daybed to notice. The bathroom has twin basins and a shower with giant botanical print panels.

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• Bathrobes
• Central heating
• Coffee / tea making
• Fan
• Hairdryer
• Safe box
• Toiletries
• TV
• WiFi

Eating

A simple yet delicious breakfast is included in the rate and served at Ghigo, the oldest pastry shop in Turin, situated an easy 20-metre stroll from the hotel. You'll get either a coffee or cappuccino, a glass of freshly squeezed juice, and the choice of a sandwich or just-baked brioche, depending on how sweet your tooth is. 

There's also a communal 'breakfast' room with a coffee machine, fridge and small oven where you can store and prepare your own snacks and hot drinks. 

If you’re here for the food, Turin won’t disappoint with its seven Michelin-starred restaurants, while just ambling along we passed old-fashioned family trattorias, a pungent ‘truffle bar’, and a surprising number of Japanese restaurants. Best of all are the beautiful cafes, some dating as far back as the late 1700s; my favourite was the tiny, exuberantly fin de siècle Caffe Mulassano under the arches of Piazza Castello, where tramezzini (crustless, triangular white bread sandwiches) were apparently invented. Other culinary firsts reflect Turin’s historic relationship with chocolate and include the choc ice on a stick at Gelatteria Pepino, which is still going strong in Piazza Carignano.

Features include:

• Breakfast
• Restaurants nearby

Activities

• Hop on-hop off sightseeing buses stop in Piazza Vittorio and at pretty much all of Turin's fabulous roll call of museums and art galleries, offering combination fast track entry tickets to many of the same.
  
• We especially enjoyed the bite-size Museum of Oriental Art (MAO) with two peaceful Japanese gardens in its courtyard.
  
• Set aside a morning just to stroll the wide arcades aimlessly, or take a guided walking tour (from Art Nouveau Architecture to Chocolate Tasting.)
  
• Visit the botanical gardens and the Borgo Medievale, a ‘medieval’ town built in 1884, in Parco del Valentino; Italy may be stuffed with peerless examples of the real thing, but children in particular love its toytown atmosphere.
  
• Catch the shuttle from Piazza Vittorio to the gilded interiors and extensive grounds of the House of Savoy's former residence, the Venaria Reale. Don’t miss the Fantacasino, inspired by 18th-century mechanical amusement parks, or the Mandria hunting lodge set in 3,000 hectares of nature reserve.

  Activities on site or nearby include:

  • Historical sites
  • Museums / galleries
  • Nightlife
  • Plantlife / flora
  • Private guided tours
  • Shopping / markets
  • Traditional cultures

Kids

Although the décor may suggest otherwise, they’re not precious here, and children of all ages are made welcome. Everything you might need can be provided on request, from a changing table to a babysitter, while the library includes some thoughtfully chosen and very beautiful picture books without words much enjoyed by my four- and 10-year-olds. Children under six stay free.

As for Turin, my city-averse children fell in love with the place; it’s the most pedestrianised city in Europe where street entertainers abound.

Best for:

All ages

Family friendly accommodation:

The Giglio and Narciso suites can sleep a family of three comfortably; request an extra bed upon booking. All rooms can fit a baby cot.

Distances:

• Airport: 20 minutes
• Shops: all around
• Restaurants: 5 minutes' walk

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Look To is in Piazza Vittorio Veneto 8, in the heart of Turin. The city's main attractions are all within walking distance.

By Air:
Turin Airport (18km) is the closest.

From the Airport:
Take a taxi (30 mins), or catch the shuttle service to Porta Susa train station (40 mins). From there, you can either take the tram from Piazza XVIII for five stops (20 mins), taxi (15 mins) or walk to the hotel (30 mins).

By Train:
Turin has two train stations: Porta Nuova and Porta Susa. From Porta Nuova, it's a 20-minute walk to the hotel, a 15-minute tram ride via lines 68, 6 or 61, or a 10-minute taxi ride. See above for directions from Porta Susa.

By Car:
Driving isn't recommended in Turin as there are traffic-free zones at certain times of the day. If you do want a car to explore the wider area, see our car rental recommendations – you can park in a nearby car park for a daily charge.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.