Room Mate Giulia

This chic and stylish property from the international Room Mate chain of boutique design hotels is situated in a lovely 19th-century building. Interiors feature a trendy design that mixes modern and retro style, with lashings of color, art, funky details, and stylish furniture that make for a hip and slightly quirky aesthetic. Art wraps around the walls of the lobby, where cool and colorful contemporary seating is paired with an artful collision of textures and patterns, including multi-hued rugs and stone, brick, and wooden wall accents. The breakfast room is a bit more subdued in style, but equally hip and stylish. Clientele here is largely composed of leisure travelers -- mainly young couples and individuals with an eye for design -- though business travelers, especially those in creative fields, stay here as well. 

The hotel occupies a convenient central location right around the corner from the city's main focal point, the Duomo. There are lots of dining options and bars nearby, plus plenty of shopping, including the impressive Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the world's oldest shopping mall, which neighbors the hotel. Several of the city's top attractions are within a five-minute walk of the hotel, including the the Teatro alla Scala, the Royal Palace of Milan, and the Museo del Novecento. Sforzesco Castle is a bit farther away but can be reached on foot in 15 minutes or via a 10-minute metro. The area is well connected by public transit; there's a metro station right by the Duomo as well as tram stops (a three-minute walk from the hotel). Milan's central train station is 13 minutes away via metro. Malpensa Airport can be reached in around an hour by car or public transportation. Linate Airport is a 20- to 40-minute drive depending on traffic, or 37 minutes by bus. Bergamo Airport is an hour to and hour-and-a-half by car, or a bit under two hours by public transportation.

Rooms feature a stylish retro-inspired design that's entirely hip and a bit quirky. The color schemes differ slightly between the different room categories, which include Standard, Superior, Deluxe, and Junior Suites, and range between chalkboard green hues accented by pops of red, to dusty blues paired with mustard and orange tones. Colored wall paneling matches padded headboards, while ceilings are covered in grid-patterned wallpaper. Colorful lamps, retro seating, industrial-style wardrobe/shelving units, and art/illustration prints on the walls add even more character and flair to the spaces. Standard amenities include flat-screen TVs, electric kettles, minibars, safes, and free Wi-Fi. Higher category rooms (Deluxe and up) add Nespresso machines. The Penthouse has a lovely terrace with chic seating and potted plants as well as a private outdoor bathtub with rainfall showerhead.

Bathrooms feature colorful tiling in shades like salmon and pale blue that are paired with shiny red and black sinks that sit atop white marble vanities. They're equipped with either walk-in rainfall showers or tubs (upper-category rooms have both), as well as heated towel racks, bidets, magnifying mirrors, hairdryers, and the hotel's own brand of toiletries. Deluxe Rooms and up also have "For Her" boxes stocked with make-up cleansing wipes, nail files, and nail polish remover pads. 

Features here a bit limited, but a handful of extras add convenience to a stay. The hotel has a small, but lovely, spa area where guests can indulge in massages and other treatments. The area features a sauna and a steam room. Other wellness amenities include a fitness room stocked with a handful of modern TechnoGym machines and free weights. Other features include two meeting rooms and a lovely breakfast room where a breakfast buffet is served in the mornings until noon (for an extra fee). Wi-Fi is free throughout the property, plus guests receive an internet-enabled portable device that they can use throughout the city.