Palazzo Parigi Hotel & Grand Spa Milano

Character and identity

A large-scale boutique opened in 2013 on Corso di Porta Nuova, Palazzo Parigi is owner-architect Paola Giambelli's blend of Parisian polish and Milanese tailoring, set within a ten- to fifteen-minute walk of the Quadrilatero, Via Monte Napoleone and Villa Necchi Campiglio. The interiors run to hand-painted ceilings, wood flooring and neoclassical furnishings hung with 17th to 19th century art. There is a leather-and-wood lounge, a neoclassical dining room frequently used as a fashion shoot backdrop, a garden bar, and a 15,000-square-foot Grand Spa staged like a Bedouin palace with hammam, Finnish sauna, steam bath and panoramic relaxation room.

Who's it for

Bottom line

The defining draw here is the combination of a walk-everywhere Porta Nuova address, an unusually competent concierge bench, and one of central Milan's largest hotel spas, all wrapped in a deliberately theatrical neoclassical interior. Spend the money if you want a grown-up, design-forward stay close to the shopping. Book sixth floor or above for the quieter inner courtyard view.