A lot of our favorite things in Milan happen near via Manzoni—exhibits at Palazzo Reale, walks through the Galleria to the Duomo, macchiatos at Cova, small cakes at Marchesi, telefono pasta at Bice. But some of the best happen right on via Manzoni—visits to the Dante inspired study at the Poldi Pezzoli Museum, a performance at La Scala, a shopping afternoon at Pennisi, and a stay at the Armani Hotel, Milano.
The Signature Suite at the Armani Hotel in Milano is full of clean and comfortable minimalist elegance and artful, striking lines. Double height ceilings let in more light.
The hotel officially opened in 2011 inside the palazzo at Via Manzoni 31, originally designed by Enrico A. Griffini in 1937. The Armani signature is evident from the moment you walk through the doors—the cooly neutral palette, the subtle lighting, the curves and the smooth surfaces of Armani Casa furniture and fixtures. “I have concentrated all my efforts,” said Mr. Armani, “on delivering my personal aesthetic vision within a precisely defined ambiance of total comfort.” That aesthetic and standard of taste and comfort still holds over a decade later. Like an Armani suit, it remains both timeless and timely. The elegant linear sofas are still there in the rooms, the backlit wooden bed frames, the Armani robes in the bathroom, the vestibules in every room that make each feel like your own private apartment in Milan. Speaking of, every guest is connected with their own Lifestyle Manager, a personal concierge of sorts that greets everyone when they arrive before escorting them to the check in on the seventh floor. From that moment on, wishes are granted.
A peak into the dining room of the Milano Signature Suite at the hotel.
One of those wishes should be drinks at Bamboo Bar inside the hotel, with that excellent view of the city and one of Milan’s best martinis. And if your stay in Milan is long enough to make you yearn for something other than pasta and risotto, there is also always Nobu Milan downstairs. And of course, the hotel spa (with its own relaxation pool) to reflect on it all after.
Editor-in-Chief Stellene Volandes is a jewelry expert, and the author of Jeweler: Masters and Mavericks of Modern Design (Rizzoli).
