Housed within a building that’s as beautiful and intricate as its interiors, if you love unusual architecture and stays with pizazz, it’s time to discover NH Milano CityLife for your next Italian escapade
Located in one of Milan’s most fashionable districts, a mere 100 metres from Portello station, NH Milano CityLife is the ideal juxtaposition of old and new. Housed in a former cathedral, this beautifully stylish four-star hotel converges modern interiors with an archaic exterior and high end amenities to create a city stay that’ll satisfy every leisure and business guest.
Opened in November 2022, NH Milano City Life joins NH’s exciting existing family of three Milanese hotels. The latest sibling is housed in a former church – visible for miles around thanks to its stark white exterior and towering 13 floor tower, complete with rooftop pool and bar. I spot it as I navigate through the city on several occasions, leading me home like a gleaming white beacon from the surrounding neighbourhoods.
Walking up the stone steps leads visitors to an ‘outside in’ entrance, where an array of lounge seating awaits before one even steps over the threshold. In the hot days of spring and summer, I can already picture groups of guests perched upon the chic furniture, cocktail or coffee in hand.
The lobby is gleamingly new – flooded with mesmerising natural light that creates a palatial-like feel, featuring a sleek check-in concierge on one side and a small bar area on the other. The latter leads in to the main restaurant, Tailors, where the majority of all meals are served with earthy interiors reflecting Milan’s tailoring history in the fifties and sixties.
The reception team are friendly and welcoming, even handing me a small chocolate after I complete the check-in process (yet another sign you’re in Italy, when you’re literally surrounded by food). As my room’s already ready, I drop my bags and head out to collect a package that’s recently arrived in the city (it’s my brother, who caught a different flight and has headed to a nearby subway station), feeling settled and at ease within the first ten minutes of entering the space.
The Room
The hotel comprises of 185 rooms, all located in the main 13-story tower – including 10 duplex suites built above the central nave with exceptional city views. Aiming to deliver the ideal dose of Italian elegance, the door to my own room opens to reveal warm and inviting interiors, showcasing muted browns and soft cream colour schemes that create a calm atmosphere – with the occasional pop of luxurious rich colour. The stylish abode looks out across the sweeping city, showcasing Garibaldi’s peppered skyline of towers and ‘look at that one’ buildings.
The small but suave bathroom comprises of a powerful walk-in shower and grey speckled stone walls. As well as eco-friendly toiletries, there’s also a number of self-care extras to explore – including a shower cap, additional soaps and a tooth brush kit – everything the modern traveler could need when enjoying a city break.
The sense of luxury is woven into the details here – royal blue arm chairs, ambient floor lamps and leather headboards all conjure a comforting meets contemporary space. Small details bring it to life – think coffee machines, minibars and an extra pillow menu to help personalise a stay straight down to your beauty sleep. Even the doors, decked out in glossy pine, give the space a high quality feel.
The Food & Drink
Head to the top floor in warmer months for the exclusive rooftop, complete with shimmering pool (non-heated, FYI) and The District cocktail bar for a sip with serious ambience.
Back on the ground floor, Tailors restaurant serves up a variety of dishes courtesy of Head Chef Gabriele Grisolia – think pastas, pizzas and Italian meats galore. Breakfast, a hallmark of the NH Collection brand, is also not to be missed. Guests can devour counter after counter of breads, pastries, cereals, hot plates, fruits, smoothies and more – after all, it wouldn’t be an Italian adventure without a chocolate croissant and a frothy cappuccino to start the day.
The Wordrobe Verdict
When it comes to a modern stay that’s both ultra comfortable and simultaneously sleek, NH Collection Milano CityLife seriously delivers. Housed within a building that’s as beautiful and intricate as the interiors, if you love unusual architecture and buildings with pizazz, this recent opening is an absolute must-stay for the modern bon vivant.
Make it happen
Where: Via Bartolomeo Colleoni, 14, 20149 Milano MI, Italy
How: Find out more and make a booking via nh-hotels.com
Words by Sophie Ritchie, editor
