Best Design Hotels in Italy

Surrounded by seven beautifully tended acres of land, this 52-bedroom residence is the place to choose for seclusion and private walks. It has an authentic Ischian feel, with local dishes created in the il Corbezzolo restaurant from the freshest island ingredients (many of which originate from the hotel’s organic vegetable garden). An outdoor pool and jacuzzi is fed by the natural thermal waters, as is the spa. Botania Relais & Spa is ideal for older families (children over 12 are welcome) or as a romantic boutique break. Lacco Ameno is just a short stroll away, accessed by a series of stone steps.

Taking us back to the artery of Venice, PalazzinaG and its rooftop eatery, are perched alongside the Grand Canal. But, like the JW Marriott, it eschews antique interiors. Instead, guests will find chic French infused interior design by Philippe Starck. While displaying modern decor with many an artistic statement piece, the hotel nods to the building’s previous life as a Roman Spa (look out for the giant columns). Rooms come equipped with Bottega Veneto toiletries, nightly sweet treats and – if you bring your pooch – canine beds and bowls too.

Guest staying in the 130 guestrooms and 39 suites of the St Regis all benefit from the brand’s attentive take on butler service, while some also enjoy private terraces with plush furnishings and panoramic views. The building, just a few minute’s stroll from the Piazza San Marco, is over 150 years old and avant-garde both inside and out. Its Italianate garden provides a backdrop in which you can eat, drink, or just relax, away from the tourist throng and features geometric patterning, curlicue topiary, rose planting and pathways. Or you can dine on modern Venetian cuisine in Gio’s Restaurant and sip cocktails in the Arts Bar.

Found only 100 meters from the Duomo, The Gray Sina is a five-star design hotel with an impressive Art Nouveau façade. Inside are 21 rooms and suites, decorated in a sophisticated contemporary style that utilises steel, glass, silk and natural woods, offset by daring touches, such as animal print textiles. Some are especially unique with features including suspended beds, private gyms and Turkish baths. It has three places to eat and drink; Le Noir restaurant for modern and delicate dishes in a cleverly lit dining room akin to a black container; the on-trend GBAR, and Aria, The Gray Sina’s alfresco lounge.

Finally, Hotel Viu is another pet-friendly luxury hotel, located close to Milan’s main financial district. It consists of 124 rooms, which all benefit from a contemporary aesthetic and understated colour scheme. Among the facilities at the hotel are a spa, a gym and an outdoor pool. Rooms offer free wi-fi and flat-screen Smart TVs, while Hotel Viu also boasts two main restaurants. The first is a more casual offering, known as the Bulk Restaurant, while the alternative is the more sophisticated Morelli Restaurant, which serves authentic Milanese food.

Bulgari Milan is arguably the most outwardly glamorous hotel in the city, as the building itself is a renovated 18th-century palace. It lies around 1km from Milan Cathedral, on its own private street in the downtown area. Standard rooms offer free Wi-Fi, a flat-screen television, marble bathrooms and either garden or courtyard views, and upgraded rooms include a walk-in closet. Meanwhile, high-class suites include a living area and a dining area. Among the hotel’s other features are a 4,000-square-meter private garden and a traditional Italian restaurant.

The Mandarin Oriental Milan is located around five minutes from the city’s iconic Teatro alla Scala opera house, within the Montenapoleone district. The hotel itself spans four different 18th-century buildings, with the combination of Milanese architecture and Oriental decorations giving it a unique appeal. Rooms within the hotel come with large flat-screen televisions and marble bathrooms, while suites include a living room area. Meanwhile, a variety of food options are headlined by Seta; a two Michelin-starred Italian restaurant.

A former church (consecrated in 1934), this building now houses 185 guest rooms and suites — some of which have private terraces — in the fashionable CityLife district. The brand blends the property’s old original and ecclesiastical features with the NH group’s signature on-trend new decor and a 13-storey tower wing. On the rooftop, a pool and The District cocktail bar offer panoramic views and a solar power system provides greener energy to the four-star property. And at ground level, there’s an urban garden where you can take breakfast. Lunch and dinner are offered at Tailors restaurant, with a retro, midcentury style.

The hottest new hotel to hit Milan’s streets (specifically the desirable and arty Brera quarter), Casa Baglioni is the work of Italian architects Spagnulo & Partners and the latest addition to the Baglioni Collection. It takes inspiration from the Milanese design era of the 1960s and includes a curated selection of art pieces, rotating exhibitions and bespoke furnishings by big hitters in the world of interiors. The property accommodates 30 bedrooms and suites, a common living area, a wine cellar offering private tastings and a restaurant by the Michelin-starred chef Claudio Sadler.

The fifth of Radisson’s luxury resorts to arrive in Italy, this brand-new hotel is housed in a mid-century landmark building. Inside, the redesign encapsulates elements of this 1960s heritage, through arty black-and-white photography and the kinds of shapes and textures that are experiencing a current resurgence. Three restaurants have been included in the architecture; the Sofia Kitchen & Bar on the ground floor, ISSEI serving Peruvian cuisine on the rooftop and a fourth-floor bar by the outdoor pool. The Radisson Collection Hotel, Santa Sofia Milan is also pet-friendly.