The Bvlgari Hotel Milano is the kind of place that makes you forget you are in the middle of a busy city. It sits on Via Privata Fratelli Gabba, a private street between the Quadrilatero della Moda and Brera, behind a gate and a wall that hide a garden of roughly an acre. Antonio Citterio and Partners designed it in a contemporary Italian luxury style, with materials such as teak, oak, linen, Zimbabwe granite and Navona travertine giving the rooms a warm, tactile feel. There are 52 rooms, with standard rooms starting at 35 square metres, which is generous for a central hotel, and the flagship Bvlgari Suite measures 160 square metres and includes a private rooftop garden. The spa has a mosaic-tile swimming pool, and the rules are strict: guests aged sixteen or under are not allowed in the spa or pool area, which keeps the atmosphere calm. Dining centres on Da Niko, serving contemporary Italian cuisine in a dining room that is described as one of the most glamorous in Milan, while the Bvlgari Bar overlooks the garden and is a pleasant place for an evening drink. The location puts you a few minutes from Brera's cobbled streets and the Pinacoteca di Brera, and a short walk from Via Montenapoleone and the Duomo.
The garden is the heart of the experience. In a city where most hotels look inward onto a courtyard or outward onto a traffic-filled street, a private green space of this scale is rare, and it makes breakfast, an aperitivo or a quiet read feel like a retreat. Because the hotel sits on a private lane, noise is limited, which helps light sleepers, and the entrance feels discreet.
Living in it
Expect polished design, calm interiors and attentive service. The rooms are spacious and well finished, and the larger suites are among the most luxurious in the city. If you want to use the spa, book treatments ahead, and remember the age rule for children. The restaurant and bar are popular with non-guests, so reserve for dinner, particularly on weekends.
Who it suits
Couples and design-minded travellers who want seclusion and a polished, contemporary atmosphere. It is not the best choice for families with younger children because of the spa rule, and it sits at the top of the price range, with rates rising during fashion weeks and Design Week. For a more traditional luxury stay near La Scala, consider the Mandarin Oriental, and for a heritage address near the station, the Principe di Savoia.
Why stay here
- ✓52 rooms designed by Antonio Citterio
- ✓Garden of around an acre
- ✓Spa with mosaic-tile pool
- ✓Da Niko restaurant
- ✓Bvlgari Bar overlooking the garden
- ✓Bvlgari Suite with rooftop garden
- ✓Private street in Brera
- ✓Spa closed to guests aged sixteen and under
Good questions
Who designed the hotel?+
Antonio Citterio and Partners, using materials such as teak, oak, linen and travertine.
Is there a garden?+
Yes. The property has grounds of roughly an acre, and the Bvlgari Bar overlooks the garden.
Can children use the spa?+
No. Guests aged sixteen or under are not allowed in the spa or pool area.
