Designed to Travel: An Inside Look at Bulgari Hotel Milano
Interiors maven Christine Gachot and her husband, John, open up their travel diaries and share little-known secrets about a spectacular getaway
As we turn onto a quiet residential street in the heart of old Milan, the iconic Rick Owens store appears on our left. A cluster of tall, exotically dressed devotees lingers outside; a sign that we are only steps from the Bulgari Hotel Milano, a private urban retreat where we have the privilege of staying during Salone del Mobile.
The discreet approach leads along a cobblestone drive to the hotel’s understated entrance. While the scene during Salone hums with an unmistakably stylish energy, the property’s tranquility is palpable. Surrounded by a secluded garden and the neighboring Brera Botanical Garden, the hotel feels like a hidden sanctuary in the middle of this bustling city. The scent of wisteria drifts through the air and John’s favorite horse chestnut tree is lush with foliage.
I have been a guest since 2004, when the hotel first opened, drawn initially by the brilliant design of Antonio Citterio. In the many years and many visits to Milan since, I have never felt compelled to stay anywhere else. There has simply never been a reason to.
Making an entrance…
The modern hotel, partially housed within a renovated 18th-century palazzo (once a convent), welcomes us back with a familiar warmth. Danielle at reception greets us with an infectious smile and a gracious hug. At that moment, the fatigue of travel disappears, and I no longer feel far from home. I simply feel home.
Inside, the interiors are contemporary yet inviting, sleek, and quietly seductive. Black-and-white architectural contrasts are softened by bronze and blush tones in the furnishings. Like the hotel bar and many of the guest rooms, the lobby overlooks the courtyard garden. Its perfectly framed views and the dramatic black marble fireplace give the space the atmosphere of an intimate Italian residence.
Rest your head…
Our first stop at the Bulgari is always the subterranean spa. While our luggage is whisked up to the suite, John and I unwind with massages, followed by a dip in the gold-and-emerald mosaic pool—a glamorous nod to Bulgari’s jewelry heritage. Our room is perfectly Italian: sexy, elegant, and thoughtfully composed. An oak-paneled vestibule leads into the living area, furnished by Citterio. French doors overlook the joyful garden, with John’s beloved chestnut tree visible just beyond the windows. The bathrooms are exquisite, with slabs of black granite framing the wet room, a generous vanity, and a separate water closet. Double bronze doors with diffused glass panels connect the rooms, while the walk-in closet is exactly what I would want at home. No detail is left undone, a true testament to Milan’s devotion to fashion, craftsmanship, and design.
I often pause to reflect on how many years I have been a guest here, and how the hotel has never lost its sense of style. Remarkably, it never feels dated.
Don’t miss…
We are just a three-minute walk from Via Monte Napoleone, one of the world’s great luxury shopping streets. Yes, I live in New York City and have access to global luxury, but there’s something about shopping in Milan that feels undeniably provocative. Perhaps it’s the effortless style of the people or the sultry backdrop of the city that makes the experience so alluring. After a glass of wine in the garden, surrounded by the animated chatter of Milanese locals who treat the hotel as a social hub, I coax John to stroll around the corner for some shopping. I entice him with a stop at his favorite family-run leather shop, Pettinaroli, before we wander into Italian classics like Prada, Loro Piana, and Brunello Cucinelli. The newly redesigned Tiffany & Co. flagship, featuring a stunning art installation by our dear friend Nancy Lorenz, is not to be missed. And then, a pleasant fashion surprise, the new bag I’ve been coveting, unavailable in my hometown, is front row center in the window of Bottega Veneta. Score!
Come hungry, come thirsty…
Bulgari Bar and Il Ristorante—Niko Romito are filled with design icons, Philippe Starck, Vincent Van Duysen, Joseph Dirand, and, of course, John Gachot. The hotel is buzzing with energy. This is my kind of celeb watching! Even by Milanese standards, the food is exceptional. John and I take our preferred spots at the bar and reconnect with the lovely bartender Freida, whom we haven’t seen since this time last year. John orders the spaghetti with the chef’s signature tomato sauce, while I savor the sea bass. The bread? The wine? This is Milan!
That extra mile…
Though our schedule is full, we make time for a leisurely Sunday brunch, as do many locals and visitors. Friends in town for the show join us in the garden, where Negroni follows Negroni under the warm spring sun. What begins as a party of four quickly becomes ten, and the Bulgari team effortlessly accommodates everyone, keeping glasses full and trays of appetizers arriving, compliments of the chef. Thoughts of extra-large Negroni Sbagliatos at Bar Basso are postponed until tomorrow. For now, the garden is ours, the most vibrant hospitable hub of Salone life.
The takeaway…
The interior design is pure Italian modernism at its finest. The sense of place is unmistakable, the atmosphere quintessential Milan. This is a classic, one of the very best in the world. A hotel you return to again and again because it is perfect. Want to feel glamorous? Go!
Next time…
Though the city pulses with inspiration and community, I find myself dreaming of returning to Milan outside of design week. How magical it would be to wander down to the spa each afternoon, then linger in the garden with a book and a glass of wine, letting the city’s elegance unfold around me.