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The Rocco Forte Group rarely does things by half, so when it opened its first Milan address last November, expectations were understandably high. Thankfully, The Carlton more than lives up to them. Designed by architects Philip Vergeylen and Paolo Moschino after an extensive renovation carried out under the group’s creative director Olga Polizzi, the 71-room property blends Art Deco references with contemporary Italian design: Carrara marble, bold jewel tones, studded leather headboards and bespoke furnishings that nod to the city’s tradition of craftsmanship without tipping into excess.
Light floods the spacious rooms – the larger suites almost feel like elegant Milanese apartments – and even the bathrooms, still a rarity in most hotels. Some rooms overlook Via Senato, while others face the hotel’s quieter internal courtyard, though the real treat comes in the higher-category rooms and upper floors, where views across the city’s terracotta rooftops feel unmistakably, charmingly Milanese. Details like fresh flowers, Illy coffee machines and Irene Forte’s beautifully scented skincare products add the kind of polish that elevates the stay from comfortable to memorable.
That sense of refinement continues through The Carlton’s dining spaces, from the moodier, 1920s-inspired Spiga (order the Carciofi carciofi carciofi here) to the bright Café Floretta, where breakfast is served each morning in a plant-filled winter garden beneath a vast glass ceiling. Take a moment to linger here over coffee and pastries: it’s one of those spaces that makes you briefly forget you’re in the middle of Milan.
There’s also the excellent Irene Forte Spa, a calm little sanctuary hidden beneath the hotel, while The Carlton Bar – which recently opened a new dehors just in time for summer – is quickly becoming one of the neighbourhood’s smarter spots for cocktails and aperitivo.
Once you’re ready to sightsee, head out through either Via Senato or Via della Spiga – the pedestrianised heart of Milan’s Fashion Quadrilateral – passing a bloom-filled flower shop by Vincenzo Dascanio before emerging onto one of the city’s chicest shopping streets.
Neighbourhood
Set between Via Senato and Via della Spiga, The Carlton places you right in the heart of Milan’s Fashion Quadrilateral, with the boutiques of Montenapoleone, the galleries of Brera and the cafés of San Babila all within walking distance. Despite the ultra-central location, the hotel somehow manages to feel surprisingly calm and discreet once you step inside.
Nearby
- Via della Spiga: For Milan’s chicest luxury shopping street
- For historic cafés, designer boutiques and one of the world’s most beautiful shopping arcades
- Museo del Novecento: For Italian modern art and unbeatable Duomo views
Time Out tip
If Milan’s pace starts catching up with you, book in at the Forte Vita Bar inside the Irene Forte Spa. The express facials and high-tech treatments – including LED therapy, radiofrequency and the LYMA Laser PRO – are designed for maximum glow in minimum time, making them ideal between meetings, shopping sessions or aperitivi.
DETAILS
Address: Via Senato, 5, 20121, Milan
Expect to pay: From £1500 per night for a sleek-designed room
Closest transport: San Babila Metro Station (metro lines 1 and M4) is a four-minute walk.
Book now: Click here
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