When is a good time to open a new hotel in Milan? How about during the run-up to this month's Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games?
The Carlton Milan, which opened in November, is well placed to garner some of that Olympic luster during and after the Games, although fans of the city will note that Milan has plenty of attractions all its own -- notably art, cuisine, history and, of course, fashion.
The 71-room Rocco Forte property, with its tony location on Via Senato, is situated in the middle of all that, within walking distance of some of the city's most storied attractions, from the haute-couture shops along Via della Spiga to the Duomo and the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, with its more than four centuries of vibrant art.
The property itself, built in the 1960s as the Baglioni Hotel Carlton and renovated to the tune of about $70 million, was redesigned by architects Paolo Moschino and Philip Vergeylen in collaboration with Rocco Forte Hotels deputy chairman and director of design Olga Polizzi. The look draws inspiration from the neorealism of the 1950s as well as the 1980s, when Milan fully claimed its reputation as a global center of fashion.
At 1,216 square feet, the Carlton Presidential Suite is the hotel's largest. Photo Credit: The Carlton Milan
A chocolaty check-in
With all that in mind, you might think the vibe at The Carlton Milan would be intimidatingly snobby. In fact, my recent stay was anything but.
For example, I arrived on my birthday and found a box of Marchesi chocolates and a note from my family -- including the cat -- waiting for me, thanks to a long-distance collaboration between my husband, whom I'd left at home, and the hotel's guest-relations staff.
My guestroom featured a blend of traditional and art deco design elements, including a leather headboard, wooden objets d'art and circular mirrors; a luxe marble bathroom about the size of my New York apartment; and a massive terrace. After taking a moment to enjoy those surroundings, I made a beeline downstairs to the Cafe Floretta for cappuccino under the venue's domed glass roof and its botanical-inspired decor.
Other ground floor venues include a garden bar, where we spent a few hours that first evening being spoiled by friendly staff who brought us an outdoor heater to ward off the evening's chill as well as wine, signature cocktails and trays of beautifully presented canapes.
On another night, we visited the Carlton Bar for a selection of predinner aperitivos.
The Carlton Bar is the perfect spot for a predinner cocktail. Photo Credit: The Carlton Milan
The fine dining restaurant, Spiga, is overseen by the brand's executive chef, Fulvio Pierangelini, and serves seasonal menus amid artworks by Milanese artist Pierantonio Verga.
Amenities also include the Irene Forte Spa, a 900-square-foot wellness facility that features treatment rooms, a nail salon and a thermal relaxation suite with sauna, steam room, sensory showers and sound beds. There's also an all-day fitness center.
Among my favorite ground-floor features was the discreet door, accessed through the hotel's own flower shop, that opens onto Via della Spiga, where I indulged in some serious window shopping. Dolce & Gabbana, Roberto Cavalli and Moschino are just a few of the more recognizable names that jumped out, along with the Ports 1961 flagship store.
The view from the Presidential Suite terrace. Photo Credit: The Carlton Milan
Meanwhile, guestroom categories include 14 junior suites and 15 suites, the largest of which, the 1,216-square-foot Carlton Presidential Suite, features a private terrace overlooking Via della Spiga with lounging and dining areas; a separate living room and walk-in closet; a Carrera marble bathroom with separate shower and soaking tub; and optional adjoining guestrooms, including mine (hence my own private terrace -- not a feature of the rest of the property's guestrooms).
It was on this very terrace where I spent my last morning at the property indulging in a farewell cappuccino before my return flight to New York on the all-business-class La Compagnie airline, which offers direct flights from Newark to Milan and Paris.
Suite amenities include roundtrip airport transfers and complimentary in-room bar.
Accommodations start at about $1,600 a night, depending on the season.