Review of Mandarin Oriental Milan

Mandarin Oriental, Milan is sited just minutes from the art district of Brera, the famous opera house of La Scala and the world-famous Duomo at the crossroads of the city’s fashion, business and cultural districts. This former, rather discreet banking headquarters is located near the Via Montenapoleone and is also close to Sforza Castle, the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie - housing Leonardo’s famous Last Supper, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II Shopping Centre and Via della Spiga, the home of Milan’s luxury boutiques. 

The property is a 15-minute drive from Milan’s San Siro stadium, a 20-minute drive from Milan Linate Airport and a 45-minute drive from Milan Malpensa Airport. By train, Turin is an hour away, Florence an hour and 40 minutes and Venice, two hours’ distance. By car, Portofino is a two-hour drive and Valle d’Aosta, home to world-class skiing and the gateway to the Swiss resorts, is a similar journey time.

The 70 guestrooms at 40 – 45 square metres in area - are decorated in neutral tones that reflect classic Milanese elegance lending a residential feel. 

With natural materials, soft furnishings and wooden floors highlighting the positive energy of feng shui with handcrafted bespoke fittings and materials, tones of beige are delicately combined with black, white and vibrant purple in the colour scheme to give these private spaces a quiet, understated yet very modern feel. Soundproof walls offer plenty of privacy whilst the grand Italian marble bathrooms overlook the inner courtyard or city rooftops. In some rooms, walls dividing bathroom from bedroom are made of transparent glass which can become frosted with the click of a switch. 

Upholstered headboards and other custom furniture items in several shades of beige complement the purple velvet of armchairs, curtains and carpets. Each room has an innovative oval table on wheels which can be used as a moveable desk, room service dining table or for another purpose according to need. A special edition of black and white photographs by photographer Antonio Salvador for Mandarin Oriental, Milan decorates the walls of rooms, suites and corridors of the hotel. The utmost attention has been given to technology with each room offering “air play” televisions and a high-tech box complete with all types of plugs. 

The 34 junior suites and suites - 50 – 80 square metres in area - feature chic and contemporary décor for that sophisticated Milanese experience. Decorated with luxury materials and design masterpieces, many have private terraces or balconies with stunning Italian marble bathrooms and large living areas with comfortable sofas. The Signature Suites were created as a tribute to renowned Italian masters of design Piero Fornasetti and Giò Ponti while the Presidential Suite is the epitome of chic and fashionable Milanese design.

The Fornasetti Suite - 105 square metres in area - on the hotel’s second floor is furnished with original black and white Fornasetti pieces – “Ultime Notizie” table, the “Fly” coffee table, “Capitello” chairs, the “Guscio” sofa and the “Boss” black leather armchair - and is graced with lofty ceilings and abundant natural light. There is a living area divided by a pillar covered with a “Riflesso” Fornasetti print, a master bedroom with en-suite bathroom and a guest bathroom. The green walls of the lounge area are adorned with various mirrors and the “Nuvolette” wallpaper’s motif that covers the ceiling is reflected in the curtains. The bedroom features “Chiavi Segrete” wallpaper whilst the master bath has a “Spoon XL” bathtub from Agape.

The Premier Suite at 105 square metres is decorated in black walnut and features a pared back décor that reflects Ponti’s minimalist style. The space offers a living area, master bedroom with en-suite and a guest bathroom. There is a great marble table, lit by an iconic “2097-30/50” Sarfatti chandelier, which is complemented by the smooth lines of Citterio’s “Simpliciter” sofa, L.Caccia Dominioni’s “Monachella” floor lamp, the “Luisa” chair and Albini’s “Cicognino” table. An original console table by Giò Ponti himself is a central element to the room, accompanied by the “Dezza” armchair by Poltrona Frau and other ornaments such as the “Aero” teapot, the “Pompei” candelabra and the “Tubi” vase, all created by Christofle and based on Giò Ponti’s designs.

Finally, The Presidential Suite at 150 square metres features rich textiles and carpets with high ceilings and large French doors offering panoramic views of Via Monte di Pietà. With a room for entertainment as well as a spacious private master bedroom with en-suite, the suite showcases a grand Italian sophistication and stunning views. A delicate colour scheme completes the sophisticated environment that reflects Milanese style with a touch of the Orient. Its spacious showpiece bathroom has azure Brazilian marble floors, a large centrally located bathtub, a private steam room and scenographic lighting.

Six adapted rooms are available for guests with disabilities.

The 900 square metre Spa offers holistic treatments based on the five feng shui elements that blend the best of Western and Eastern therapies with signature therapies developed with Chinese Medicine specialists and aromatherapy experts. There are six treatment rooms including a Spa Suite, two couple suites and a dedicated Thai massage room. Other facilities include a serene, Zen-inspired heated indoor lap swimming pool, a state-of-the-art fitness centre with Technogym equipment and male / female saunas and steam rooms. There is also a beauty studio and world-class hair salon by celebrity hairstylist Massimo Serini for any nights out on the town.

For tourists, it is a short walk to Milan’s major cultural attractions including the Palazzo Reale; Triennale Design Museum; Pinacoteca di Brera; Sforza Castle; Poldi Pezzoli House Museum; La Scala Museum; Leonardo’s Last Supper fresco in Santa Maria delle Grazie convent; the Navigli area and the Fashion District. It is a short drive to Milan’s Fondazione Prada, an art exhibition complex, and to sought-after destinations in Lombardy including Bergamo, Franciacorta, Lake Como and Lake Maggione whilst in Piedmont, there’s the truffle region of Alba.

As with any Mandarin Oriental property, the concierge can organise practically any activity you could ever want. They can be contacted via WhatsApp.

Mandarin Oriental, Milan is as chic as a Christian Dior Vespa: effortlessly stylish with a touch of Asian simplicity.

Taking inspiration from 1940’s interior design, the hotel recreates the ambience of a typical Milanese noble residence. Created by multi-disciplinary design practice Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel who were commissioned to create a look for the property to give a sense of the hotel brand’s visual richness within a Milanese context. The work of Italian design masters, ranging from Piero Portaluppi to Giò Ponti and Asnago e Vender, inspired the project, contributing to the strong Milanese “essence” of the interiors.

Combining four individual houses with differing characteristics and histories into one creates interesting and irregular layouts which are pulled together by the vintage muted colour palette. It also means every room is different from the next, giving each its own character and the property as a whole, its residential charm. 

The cornerstone of Mandarin Oriental’s brand design philosophy is to reflect the very best of the city in which they are located, illustrating “a sense of place” and I think this example showcases this in the very best of ways.

Two courtyards offer al fresco dining with award-winning cuisine by Antonio Guida at Seta Restaurant and a more casual menu at Mandarin Bar & Bistrot, the latter split into three distinctive areas: the bar bistro, an indoor lounge and an open-air courtyard with comfortable sofa seating, tables and soft lighting.

The two Michelin-starred Seta Restaurant is accessible from Mandarin Bar & Bistrot or via its own entrance at via Monti di Pietà and accommodates up to 50 guests. Located in the hotel’s second courtyard, it extends indoors on three of its four sides. Wide glass windows help inner and outer spaces merge into one harmonised whole. The kitchen is visible through these large windows so guests may see the chefs at work. The restaurant’s two indoor areas have a residential feel with wooden floors and ceilings with carefully crafted upholstered chairs whose subtle green colouring matches the marble tones of the doors.

With deep roots in southern Italy’s Puglia region, Chef Guida combines his experience of cooking styles with influences picked up from extensive stays in Tuscany and France. Seta’s menu features dishes prepared with impeccable technique combined with the finest of ingredients, highlighting the individual flavour of each element. Complementing the menu is a wine list which includes more than 1,200 labels with the emphasis placed on Italian wines and champagnes from historic and niche producers.

The Mandarin Bar & Bistrot is also open all day long and is the beating heart of the hotel. With outdoor spaces featuring lounge furniture, coffee tables and soft lights whilst indoors, the walls are strikingly covered with black and white geometric mosaic patterns, echoed in the smoked ceiling mirrors and other reflective surfaces. The menu ranges from Italian classics to salads alongside traditional sandwiches prepared with a modern twist. For Aperitivo and after-dinner, the Mandarin Bar & Bistrot becomes an evening hot spot with dimmed lights, music playing and expert mixologists on hand to create a wide range of classic and innovative cocktails. For Aperitivo, drinks are accompanied by a contemporary, gourmet version of the traditional Milanese appetiser selection with creatively prepared bits served on a slate. After dinner, try one of a wide selection of grappa and Amari.

The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has a guiding principle of “Acting with Responsibility” through their Naturally Better Plan. As well as embracing global sustainability initiatives such as eliminating single-use plastics, the group has established a programme for responsible procurement including coffee, tea, cocoa, vanilla, paper and seafood. In 2018, the group made a conscious decision to prioritise sustainability in the ways in which they operate, setting up an executive advisory panel for sustainability which guides and champions their initiatives. The UN Sustainable Development Goals serve as an important reference for the panel when deciding how to tackle the pressing issues of energy, water, waste and carbon emissions. 

Mandarin Oriental, Milan has an on-site Green Committee comprising 12 passionate individuals who define best practice to minimise their impact on the planet. Each department is called upon to make every effort to act responsibly. The Milan property only uses recycled aluminium bottles and are working on replacing all bathroom amenities with a range of high-end products available from dispensers rather than small bottles, wrapped in recycled FSC certificated paper and in recycled aluminium tubes. 

The hotel also works with several charitable associations to give opportunities for young individuals to pursue a fulfilling career in the hospitality industry, also employing a number of interns to inspire the future leaders of the world of hospitality. 

If a guest is an M.O. fan, they can select their sustainability preferences in their member profiles or by an in-room green card if they want to reuse their towels and refresh their bed linen less frequently during their stay.