In a city where fashion sets the pace and design sets the tone and history keeps everything grounded, Milan’s Michelin-acclaimed tables (and rooms thanks to the new Michelin key) are not-so-quietly redefining Italy’s second city. Embracing nonna-influenced heritage, sensational Mediterranean produce and exciting culinary innovation across a dining scene that rewards curiosity, confidence and a well-timed reservation, visitors today can embark on an epicurean adventure of epic proportions. Samantha Ready was ready to indulge…

Hotel Principe di Savoia

Any food-led adventure, especially one that would involve six Michelin recommended or star holding offerings in a mere 60 hours, needs to begin with the perfect base from which to explore and of course reset in a post-taster menu slumber. Rippling with post-Winter Olympics and Milan Fashion week excitement, the city’s accommodation offerings are notably vast, yet none are as woven into the city’s fabric quite as much as Hotel Principe di Savoia.

Dominating Piazza della Repubblica since 1927, this is where Edward VIII stayed, where Maria Callas held court, and where international royalty have been discreetly accommodated for nearly a century. Now part of the Dorchester Collection, it remains what Milanese affectionately call “Il Principe”, a neoclassical masterpiece that has witnessed Milan’s transformation from industrial powerhouse to global style capital.

Designed by architect Cesare Tenca, the building’s neoclassical façade commands attention without arrogance, its honeyed stone and soaring proportions speaking to an era when grand hotels were palaces for the modern age. Step through the revolving doors, where sharp suited (well this is Milan darling) concierge make luggage disappear and check in a breeze, and you’re immediately struck by the sheer theatrical quality of it all: ornate stained-glass domed ceiling filters light across marble floors, while crystal chandeliers, antique furniture, sumptuous velvet and bold framed photographs create an atmosphere that manages to feel both gallery-worthy and genuinely welcoming.

The hotel originally opened to serve business tycoons drawn to its proximity to Stazione Centrale, but by the 1930s had become the natural home for international celebrities and artist performing at La Scala, Milan’s iconic opera house. That dual identity, serious business by day, glamorous refuge by night, persists beautifully and it all hums with cosmopolitan energy.

Our room was a masterclass in how to honour heritage while providing contemporary luxury. The design, overseen by talents including Thierry Despont, draws from the hotel’s Art Deco and Art Nouveau elements while maintaining an airiness that feels utterly current. The marble bathroom, accessed by the generous walk-thru wardrobe and dressing room, was generously proportioned, stocked with signature Dorchester toiletries and framed by handmade mosaic artwork. The bed was supremely comfortable, the linens impossibly soft, the pillows generously plump and the whole space quietly radiated quality.

Presidential Suite Pool

Aside from luxurious adobes, guests also have access to the hotel’s wellness centre, a stunning space occupying the 10th floor, moving from high-tech gym to swimming pool to rooftop terrace with incredible views to sumptuous treatment rooms. It was here that my therapist, Giorgia, worked with the sort of intuitive precision that comes from genuine expertise, kneading away months of accumulated tension with a full body massage that was both vigorous and profoundly relaxing. I emerged feeling rebuilt from the inside out, muscle loose and mind wonderfully clear.

And of course that’s not all Il Principe offers.

The bar is stunning. Moody, atmospheric yet still welcoming, with live pianists setting the mood while bartenders curate signature serves. There are stunning boutiques offering just a taste of the designer goods the city is so well known for. And there is also Acanto, the hotel’s stylish signature restaurant which takes guests from breakfasts of plentiful buffet proportions, signature a la carte eggs and an early morning cappuccino (just don’t order one after 11am!) to taster menu Michelin Guide-recommended dinners with a side order of crystal chandeliers, tableside theatrics and a great wine list (you can read more over the page).

Set further out of the city, a stay here offers welcome respite and grander charm. The service was faultlessly warm without fuss. The finish sophisticatedly glamourous. While the hotel’s complimentary chauffeur shuttle service neatly bridges the gap for easy city exploring. 

In a design-forward city that is edging closer to sleek minimalism, Il Principe remains gloriously, unapologetically itself, and that’s no small achievement.

Explore Milan with YesMilano

The YesMilano Pass is a smart companion for first-time visitors: one digital ticket unlocking public transport, priority access to major attractions (including the Duomo), and curated itineraries all with savings of up to 70%. Ideal for maximising a short stay, especially when paired with the hotel’s shuttle into the city centre. 

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