Rooms

The décor in the 18 rooms varies but follows a theme of modern, minimalist design with rich splashes of colour: sleek elegance with petrol-blue walls and contemporary acrylic furniture in one, industrial minimalism with a gunmetal grey and crimson ensuite in another, even soft romance in one of the Junior Suites dressed with antiques and a draped four-poster. Original paintings, illustrations and sculptures by Italian artists adorn walls and liven up the hallways, giving every angle a unique look.

All rooms have kingsize platform beds (two can be made up as twins); we found ours to be super comfy, but they are very low to the ground which may be tough if you have tricky knees. Rooms also feature WiFi, safe boxes, phones, TVs, minibars and a designer chair or two. Bathrooms are spacious and ultra-modern, with rain showers, hairdryers, fluffy white cotton towels and fabulous organic toiletries by Malin and Goetz.

Most rooms fall into the Design category, the smallest but by no means least stylish of the bunch. The Deluxe rooms are characterised by whitewashed brick walls; ours (Room 5) was on the first floor, had parquet flooring and 2 balconies looking onto the peaceful side streets and elegant neighbouring buildings. The pared-back interiors were like a sensory reset after being in the hustle and bustle of Milan's centre, and the powerful shower was appreciated in the June heat.

If you can afford to splurge a bit, get one of the Junior Suites or the sole Suite, all a bit larger with separate sitting areas, and some with indulgent bedside bathtubs. Only these categories have tubs; Design and Deluxe have showers only.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Hairdryer
• Minibar
• Safe box
• WiFi

Eating

A buffet breakfast is included in the room rate. It’s a relatively simple Italian affair with cereal, an assortment of breads, cheese, salami and smoked salmon, yoghurts and spreads, fresh fruit, and delicious sweet and savoury pastries. There's scrambled egg and bacon for something cooked, and for an extra charge you can pick a hot option from the a la carte menu: choices include avocado toast, pancakes and three types of omelette. After a week of indulging in pasta and Aperol Spritz I kept it light with a refreshing bowl of melon, a flakey pastry and a plate of scrambled egg - all were delicious.

For lunch and dinner, there’s no shortage of great eateries on the doorstep. For hearty, traditional Italian food and a buzzy atmosphere head to Taverna Del Borgo Antico, or for a more old-school vibe choose Trattoria Milanese (known for its excellent ossobuco). Truffle lovers should check out Tartufotto, a contemporary truffle bar, restaurant and shop whose products also make great take-home gifts. If a quick sandwich fix is all you’re after, then try De Santis, a wildly popular hole in the wall with over 200 sandwich concoctions.

Back at the hotel, the bar is an excellent place for an aperitivo or nightcap. It carries a selection of fine wines from around the world, as well as a cocktail menu packed with Italian classics. Every evening they host Happy Hour from 6pm - 8.30pm, where you can pick up a glass of Prosecco, indulge in some complimentary nibbles and get chatting with your fellow guests.

Features include:

• Bar
• Breakfast
• Restaurants nearby
• Room service

Activities

• Visit the Duomo, which took nearly 600 years to complete, and check out the panoramic views from the roof
  
• Go shopping! Head to the designer boutiques of the Quadrilatero d’Oro and the beautiful Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, and fully expect to remortgage your house when your credit card bill arrives
  
• If antiques, vintage clothing and boho-chic are more up your alley, then head to the Brera district, particularly the area around Via Madonnina
  
• Catch a performance at Milan’s world-famous opera house, La Scala
  
• Take a stroll through the antiques market along the Grand Canal in the Navigli area, which happens on the last Sunday of every month
  
• Explore the city on 2 wheels - there are rental bikes right outside the hotel
  
• View ‘The Last Supper’ by Leonardo da Vinci, considered the greatest Renaissance painting ever and on display at the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. Pre-booking is essential
  
• Take a day trip to beautiful Lake Como, just over an hour from central Milan by train. Board a boat cruise across the water, and stop at the scenic villages that line the shore (Varenna is my favourite)

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Boat trips
• Cycling
• Historical sites
• Museums / galleries
• Nightlife
• Private guided tours
• Shopping / markets
• Wine tasting

Kids

The hotel accepts children of all ages, and baby cots and extra beds can be provided in some Deluxe Rooms for an extra charge. However, neither the layout of the rooms nor the tiny stairwell or lift make it particularly suitable for families, and we’d say it’s best suited to couples or friends travelling together.

Family friendly accommodation:

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

The hotel is in the centre of Milan, in northern Italy. It’s a few minutes’ walk from the Duomo and other major sights, and near the Cordusio and Cairoli Castello metro stations.

By Air:
Linate (10km away) is the closest airport, but most flights to Milan land at Malpensa, 50km outside the city. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving these airports.

From the Airport
Private transfers can be arranged (see Rates), or you can take a taxi. It's easy to take public transport from Malpensa though: catch the express train or shuttle bus, both of which will run you straight into the city's Stazione Cadorna or Stazione Centrale in around 50 minutes. From there you can walk or jump on the metro.

By Train:
The imposing Stazione Centrale is served by high-speed links from most major cities in Italy, and from here and Stazione Cadorna you can catch trains out to Lake Como. Trenitalia is the Italian state railway and you can prebook tickets and see schedules online. Validate your ticket by stamping it in the yellow machine on the platform before boarding.

By Car:
We don’t recommend driving in Milan - the streets are clogged with traffic and it’s easy to explore on foot or by public transport. If you do want a car to explore the wider area, see our car rental recommendations. The hotel has valet parking (reserve in advance).

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

More on getting to Italy and getting around