Andrea C.
Yelp
My stay was 3 weeks ago for 3 nights.
To get out of the way: if you have a euro rail pass, are planning a lot of side trips on the train, plan to mainly stay and hang around the duomo for 3 or more days... location isn't recommended.
Me: I am a frequent traveler to Milan (once a year) & I've stayed in over 15 hotels in Milan in the past 6 years. Because my main purpose is to shop I stay on budget. I try to spend less than $150/night on my hotel (also bc I travel solo) so I can spend more on shopping and food. My default spot is a modern four star near the train station bc I'm able to get to/from airport & tourist spots quicker; but that area def isn't fun & unsafe at night for a female traveling solo- so when I chose this hotel it meant giving up those conveniences for a real, safer neighborhood & change of scenery. It was the height of tourist season & I averaged $100/night after taxes (couples probably pay more), I don't regret this choice & was willing to add 22 euros/day to my budget for taxi travel (as this hotel isn't near a Metro & it's impossible to learn the bus route).
Overall: If this hotel was charging double what I paid I'd be on the fence about giving a full 5 stars due to location. But because an equivalent hotel room (with this decor, cleanliness & service) would be at least 2.5x the cost near the duomo, it's great for the price where the difference is the extra 18-20 minute walk.
Staff: I read the earlier & poor reviews re hotel staff from over a year ago. The staff must have improved bc overall they were likable. Milan hospitality has room for improvement (although it's excellent when you get to the $700/night & up range ie: Four Seasons - a hotel I like very much in Milan, but def you pay the hefty price for the A-list service in the city). Milan hotels under $250/n rarely make an attempt to improve rudeness. BUT my experience at this hotel was opposite, staff was pleasant- they even made compliments (honestly that's not a Milan hospitality trait so it was duly noted and appreciated) - thus, perhaps this hotel made attempts to improve since last year - which is great! They even asked and called me a cab right away when they saw my suitcase (I know that's expected, but it's Milan).
Room: Layout utilizes the space; clean and modern with a rustic touch. In particular, I like the spacious bathroom and shelves for towels and toiletry. It's more on the modern side and rooms def have a specific style (art deco sconces with washed green walls and modern wood closet). So if you are traveling with kids the rooms itself don't scream family-friendly when you get into your room (which I think the images on site may lead you to believe) but the outdoor space is nice to have when you are traveling with family.
Room service: Part of the perk I learned of staying at a neighborhood hotel is the food/wine is cheaper and so the room service bill was very kind to me. The big bottle of white in room I believe was 8 euros - nice. The only thing that sucked was my fridge wasn't working so I couldn't chill my water, but that was the only thing wrong with my room.
Breakfast: I really enjoyed the "legit" breakfast - much better than the last 12 hotels I've stayed at in the city, (and def worth choosing this option when you book your room - it's only $8 more) which was large (Italian deli meats, Italian cheeses, bread, cereal, eggs, the barista makes a great cappuccino, salads and fruit), there were great gluten free options (bread and cereal) for me as I am GF.
Nearby/Apertivo: Staying at this hotel I was able to discover one of the best Apertivo in Milan and that is Globe, at the rooftop of Coin (has great outdoor dining) which is basically down the street from the hotel. The Apertivo starts around 5:30pm and gets super busy around 8pm. (If anyone knows of a better apertivo, please DM me I would like to check it out).
Location: Def not near tourist places: duomo & main shopping area. If you want to see the duomo etc, only stay here for price and pay about 10-12 euros each way with taxi or walk the extra 20 minutes. Most taxi drivers know this hotel (Uber is more expensive). I walked to Via Bigli to my favorite shops & it was a 22 minute walk. A decently rated hotel at this price closer to the duomo gets you a much smaller & tired room with no service - you def must spend 2-2.5x to get the equivalent. For three nights I was happy to save $400 staying at this hotel vs an equivalent one next to Via Bigli.
In short this hotel is worth to stay on budget, you are getting a clean, modern room that feels updated; great selection of wine for cheap, satisfying breakfast & staff is amicable.