Blending beautiful heritage with contemporary design, take a glimpse inside NH Collection Milano CityLife, now open in the heart of Milan
Italian escapades are calling. NH Hotel Group – part of Minor Hotels – has just opened its 12th hotel in the Meneghino capital city: the extraordinary NH Collection Milano CityLife. Located in the futuristic CityLife district in the heart of Milan and once a former church, the new 4* hotel is a masterful mix of old and new.
Built from the structure of the Church of Christ the King, the imposing building was designed to preserve the artistic heritage of the original 1934 building, which was deconsecrated in 2017 and later acquired by the company CLH srl, part of Gruppo Igefi and rehabilitated by the architectural design firm QuattroAssociati, under the management of NH Hotel Group.
The property is located just 100 metres from Portello station – step off the train and you certainly can’t miss the imposing building, which stands out with its optical white colour and 13-story tower for miles around.
A large part of the church building – with a Latin cross floor plan, original wooden doors, round arches and aisles of the side naves – has been maintained and now serves as a spectacular entrance to the hotel. That verticality is also evident in the gilded organ-like rear wall of the reception, the details of the cocktail bar and restaurant, the unexpected cascade of light in the lobby and in the Venetian seminato flooring – a further example of old meets new.
The significant features of the new hotel – order, measure, composure and elegance – reflect the Milanese cultural tradition and fit into the neoclassical architectural landscape of Milan in a coherent and authentic way.
Prime Location
Guests can check-in to 185 rooms, including 10 duplex suites built above the central nave. Six of these suites also feature terraces with stunning views across the city.
The remaining 175 rooms are in the 13-story tower, all of which share the spirit of ‘Made in Italy’ excellence. Design details include 100% Italian lighting and the photographs of models in elegant 1950s and 60s dresses in the public areas of the hotel. The outstanding hospitality and many services offered also demonstrate typical Italian savoir-faire, synonymous with quality.
The hotel’s location is also noteworthy, with a view of the Three Towers of the City Life complex, just a few metres away, and, just beyond, the skyscrapers of the Garibaldi district, which can also be seen from the 9th-floor terrace.
NH Collection Milano CityLife is located in what, until a few years ago, was the city’s trade fair district. And although it has now been transformed into one of the new fashion districts, where you can spot many celebrities, its soul remains that of a deeply commercial district – and thus makes an excellent spot for business.
For this reason, the NH Group has incorporated 6 spacious meeting rooms into the structure, which can be set up in 11 different configurations and have a maximum capacity of 520 people. These make it the perfect place to experience Milan in its full glory as a city of art and tourism, but also as a business centre, with its proximity to the MiCo halls, Europe’s largest convention centre, also of great importance in this respect.
Visitors can also enjoy a large private garden, located directly right next to the meeting rooms. The hotel is also equipped with a large garage, a rooftop solar power system and an exclusive gym, open 24/7, equipped with Technogym machines.
Delectable culinary offerings
Head to the top floor for the star of the show – an exclusive rooftop, complete with pool and The District cocktail bar. When the sun sets, it transforms into a real place-to-be of Milanese nightlife
Tailors restaurant features a photographic narrative reflecting Milan’s tailoring history in the fifties and sixties, which is also evoked by the earth colours, the Pianca furniture and Flos lighting. Tailors is a space in which you can breathe in the essence of the district, while Chef Gabriele Grisolia expertly combines traditional, new and avant-garde cuisine that celebrates Italian tradition.
The restaurant’s speciality mainly lies in its finest quality, home-made pasta and meat dishes, always with a strong focus on sustainability through the use of locally-sourced ingredients wherever possible. Breakfast, a hallmark of the NH Collection brand and of all of the NH Hotel Group hotels, can be enjoyed in the large hotel garden.
