Giardini Montanelli / Porta Venezia

Hotel Manin

★★★★★

Hotel Manin is a slice of old Milan hospitality in one of the city's most pleasant locations. The Colombo family has managed the hotel since 1904, across four generations; the building was destroyed in an air raid in 1943 and rebuilt after the war, and the hotel reopened in 1948. That continuity is what you feel in the service: discreet, experienced and personal. The hotel stands on Via Manin, facing the Giardini Indro Montanelli, the oldest public gardens in Milan, with the Natural History Museum and the Planetarium inside them. That gives many rooms a green outlook that is rare in central Milan, and the park is a lovely place for a morning walk or run. The fashion district starts a few minutes away, Brera and Porta Nuova are both within a short walk, and the Duomo is about fifteen minutes on foot or a couple of stops on the metro from Turati or Palestro. Rooms are classic and comfortable in style, from singles and doubles to deluxe rooms and junior suites; some have balconies or park views, and a few have a Turkish bath. The hotel also has a private garden, a restaurant and a bar. It is a good choice for couples and families who want space, greenery and a quieter base than the Duomo area, as well as for business travellers.

The history is part of the stay: few hotels in Milan can claim more than a century of management by the same family, and the Manin's staff are proud of it. The style is traditional rather than cutting-edge, which many guests appreciate after a day of contemporary design.

Room tips: ask for a park-view room, ideally with a balcony, to make the most of the gardens. Deluxe rooms and junior suites are worth the upgrade for longer stays. Families should note the Natural History Museum and Planetarium across the road, which make easy outings with children. The neighbourhood is one of the most rewarding in the city for a stroll: the Liberty-era palazzi of Porta Venezia, the flamingos in the garden of Villa Invernizzi, glimpsed through the railings, and the cafes of Corso Venezia are all close, and Villa Necchi Campiglio is a short walk away for a morning of design history.

Practicals: Via Daniele Manin 7, near the Turati metro stop on line M3 and Palestro on M1, about fifteen minutes' walk from the Duomo. Fit: families, couples and anyone who prefers a calm, green, classic base close to the fashion district.