Grand Hotel et de Milan

The classic 1860s building has an undeniable grandeur, and is infused with the spirit of the musical legends who have stayed here, including soprano Maria Callas and composer Giuseppe Verdi, who made this his Milan home for many years. The lobby is filled with paintings, sculptures, and antique furniture. An elegant glass and wrought-iron skylight hovers above the main seating area, surrounding a fireplace with an intricately carved mantel. The hotel is a bit of a destination in its own right, and locals or tourists from other Milan hotels can be found mixing with guests in the Grand Hotel's restaurants and bars. There are many references to opera throughout the hotel, including in the Don Carlos restaurant, which is named for the Verdi composition and has walls filled with classical artwork and sconces plus round tables set with taper candles. The Caruso restaurant is slightly more contemporary; it has a French bistro vibe with arches and columns, and a glass-walled room overlooking the street. Gerry’s Bar is a lofty space filled with furniture upholstered in pumpkin-colored velvet, and cream curtains filling tall arches. The elegant property attracts business travelers with generous travel budgets and tourists alike. 

The Grand Hotel et de Milan sits next to the Montenapoleone Metro station in Milan’s vibrant Brera district, a walkable area in Milan’s historic center that's home to plenty of beautiful architecture. The area is filled with shops, including many high-end designer boutiques, cafes, bars, and restaurants. The Teatro alla Scala, or La Scala, is a five-minute walk down the street, and it's a 10-minute walk to the Duomo. Nearby art museums include the Pinacoteca di Brera, which is about a 10-minute walk. The Milan Central Station is a 10-minute drive or a quick three minutes by Metro. It’s about a 45- to 50-minute drive to the Malpensa Airport, or an hour via the Malpensa Express.  

The 95 rooms and suites are filled with elegant antique furnishings and fabrics in soft colors, all set on beautiful herringbone wood floors. In some rooms, this is contrasted with modern geometric light fixtures. Some rooms have a more eclectic vibe -- like the Asian objets d'art that are clustered tastefully with Western vintage objects that we saw in the Deluxe Suite -- while others feel more restrained, like the Comfort Deluxe Room that we visited. Polished hardwood and high-end materials like marble make plenty of appearances, and Old World wall art lends a subtle homey quality to what might otherwise appear stuffy. 

All rooms have large flat-screen TVs, extensive minibars, air-conditioning, and safes. It's worth noting that many of the larger beds are simply two twin beds pushed together, which is disappointing in a hotel that claims luxury status. There's also a lack of extras like MP3 players or bluetooth sound systems. The marble bathrooms are a delight, though, and are exceptionally spacious, with long vanities and roomy shower/tub combos. The antique-style fixtures fit in nicely and the Etro toiletries are a bonus. 

Eight rooms are dedicated to the opera luminaries who have stayed at the hotel, such as tenor Enrico Caruso and soprano Maria Callas. Suite 105 is where Verdi reportedly stayed while working on “Othello.” Light sleepers should request a room away from the elevator and the street, as the walls are fairly thin. Small pets are allowed.

Given its city-center location, there isn't a lot of space for additional features here, though given the hotel's five-pearl claims, it's a bit surprising that extras like a spa are missing. Dining is a high point, though, and does draw guests from beyond the hotel. Don Carlos restaurant serves Italian cuisine in an upscale setting, while the Caruso Restaurant and Bar has a slightly more casual atmosphere, serving contemporary interpretations of traditional Milanese dishes with an outdoor veranda open in the warmer months. Gerry’s Bar serves drinks and food until late in an elegant setting. A generous breakfast buffet is available for a fee -- it includes made-to-order eggs as well as proper espresso-based coffees. The hotel also has a modern gym with floor-to-ceiling windows and a good selection of cardio and weight machines and free weights, and a personal trainer is available upon request for a fee. Car services can also be arranged. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.