"This intimate hotel in a formerly industrial building has, as the name suggests, just three rooms. Or perhaps apartment is a better word, since each one covers an entire floor and features a bedroom, bathroom, and living room. Designed by former fashion magazine editor and publisher Carla Sozzani, the apartments come endowed with a wealth of colorful, stylish furnishings by iconic 20 th- and 21 st -century designers. There’s no need to worry about knowing a Eero Saarinen from a Charles and Ray Eames or Marcel Breuer; a conveniently prepared catalog indicates the designer of each piece, and since everything in the room is for sale—including the books, art pieces, and bathroom fixtures—prices are listed, too. Each apartment also comes with its own private entrance and a balcony overlooking the building’s charming internal courtyard (which also serves as a delightful tea garden). Modern touches include state-of-the-art Bang & Olufsen TV and audio systems, Alessi French presses, and high-speed Internet. There’s no reception or concierge, but each guest gets the telephone number of a personal assistant upon check-in."

"The Armani Hotel Milano occupies a beautiful, box-shaped 1930s palazzo in the beating heart of Milan ’s fashion district. As striking as it looks from the outside, it’s arguably even more glamorous on the inside. Every aspect of its interior, from the mother-of-pearl doors to the leather-lined walls, has been either designed or approved by Giorgio Armani himself. The overall aesthetic is smart and elegant, thanks to the neutral color scheme of beiges and light grays. Special touches abound, including Armani amenities in the gray marble bathrooms, complimentary minibars, and a “lifestyle manager" appointed to each guest upon arrival. The hotel’s 95 rooms come in various sizes and types, ranging from Armani Deluxe rooms, with their own deep bathtubs, to two-story Armani Signature Suites, which offer stylish central staircases and their own living rooms. The seventh floor of the building houses the impressive Armani/Ristorante, with floor-to-ceiling windows that look out onto Milan's skyline. An Armani/Bamboo Bar and Armani/SPA provide further opportunities for exquisite in-house indulgence."

"Set in a renovated 18th-century Milanese palazzo on a private street close to Milan's Via Montenapoleone, the Bulgari is one of Milan’s most distinguished residences. The hotel’s enormous private garden dates back to the 14 th century, and the interior is awash in sophisticated materials like African black marble, Italian stone, and teak. In short, the place oozes class.The rooms—designed by the architectural studio Antonio Citterio, Patricia Viel and Partner—are tasteful, modern, and surprisingly adventurous. Located along dimly-lit corridors, the rooms come in various color schemes and feature an array of designer furnishings and conveniences, including not one but two plasma screens, Tivoli radios, and exclusive Bulgari bathroom products. Balconies overlook the surrounding villas, and gardens have been redesigned by landscape architect Sophie Agata Ambroise and feature patio furniture and a dedicated bar service. The Bulgari gardens serve as a natural extension of the nearby Botanical Garden and provide private relaxation amid Milano's bustle. The hotel also has a high-end restaurant and bar, and a comprehensive spa. All guests get access to a personal shopper, personal trainer, luxury car rental, and even assistance with packing and unpacking. In addition, the concierge can arrange everything from hydroplane trips around Lake Como to personal shopping excursions around Italy by private plane, limousine, or yacht."

"Galleria Vik Milano (formerly Seven Stars Galleria) As the only hotel inside the city’s famed 19 th -century Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II (the oldest shopping mall in the world), the place is in a league of its own, from the building’s hand-painted vaulted ceilings and original frescoes to touches like grand pianos in the rooms and the racing-green Bentley Continental Flying Spur that whisks guests around the city in style. There are 24 rooms in total, though the tall ceilings and mezzanine levels make them feel much more like private apartments than rooms. Designer furnishings and high-tech amenities complement the building’s original features and antiques, and guests get their own professional butler-concierge (all languages catered for), a choice of bed linen and pillow type, and as much vintage wine and champagne as they can handle. Personal laptops and shopping trolleys from the best luxury brands are also available on request."

"The Gray Just steps from Milan ’s world-famous Duomo, the Gray offers 21 rooms designed by Guido Ciompi, the man behind Gucci boutiques worldwide. Ciompi’s playful style is immediately apparent from the five-seat, fuschia swing in the lobby, and continues through to the eclectic rooms, which feature a mix of large, suspended beds, jungle-inspired decor, and rich textures such as padded-leather furniture and faux animal pelts. As well as the usual gadgetry, rooms also feature round Jacuzzi baths and gorgeous shower areas made from marble, wood, and glass. Manned by youthful, black-uniformed staff, the hotel’s other perks include contemporary Mediterranean cuisine in the trendy Le Noir restaurant, cocktails aplenty in G Bar, and snuggly sofas on the Aria roof terrace."

"Don’t be fooled by the slightly traditional stone facade; behind it lies one of Italy’s most avant-garde hotels. Built with deliberately bold materials—slate, brass, iron, concrete—the 4-star hotel draws a fashionable crowd. The impact of the "industrial-chic" interiors (all created by architect-designer Vincenzo de Cotiis) is endlessly impressive, from the bare concrete walls to the torn gauze trapped between sheets of glass along the corridors. Rooms are spacious yet discreet, with tailor-made chairs and sofas, bold lighting, and mirrored walls that open to reveal minibars and closets. Bathrooms are fitted with aged mirrors and designer sinks, and the showers have sheet-metal floors and brass walls. As one might expect from an edgy hotel like this, the staff are young and hip rather than formal, and their insider recommendations tend to be on the cool and in-the-know side."

"Set in an 18th-century palazzo, once a former bank, the Park Hyatt Milan boasts interiors designed by American-born, Paris -based architect Edward Tuttle. It aims to wow from the outset. Guests are greeted by a lobby decorated with sophisticated materials such as warm travertine stone and alabaster, and topped with a 30-foot glass-domed cupola. There’s a discernibly modern aesthetic throughout the rest of the hotel, though, from the vibrant modern art scattered throughout the public areas to the contemporary color palettes (creams, beiges, and gentle grays). Rooms are correspondingly elegant, with high ceilings, expensive dark woods, rich wool carpets, and hand-selected furnishings (Murano light fixtures, Bang & Olufsen TVs). The bathrooms are especially impressive, not only because of their generous size and marbled interiors, but also thanks to the mirrored walls, double sinks, octagonal stone and glass showers, and Lauro Tonatto bath products."