Hotel Check: Baglioni Hotel Carlton Milan, Italy
HOW MANY ROOMS? 87 rooms and suites
Hotel Check: Baglioni Hotel Carlton Milan, Italy
PROPERTY HIGHLIGHTS Americans and international travelers alike appreciate the mix of styles at this Leading Hotels of the World property (rooms come in either Art Deco, contemporary, or original styles (with plenty of marble accents). Baglioni’s focus on being truly Italian adds to the overall effect.
PRICE Internet rates for a traditional room on the random dates we checked start at $524
CONTACT Baglioni Hotel Carlton, Via Senato, 5, Milan, Italy 20121, Phone +39-02-77077, https://www.baglionihotels.com/category/carlton-hotel-baglioni-milan/
WHERE IS IT It’s a 15-minute drive from beautiful Milano Centrale train station and located along the famous Via della Spiga where some of the city’s top fashion brands have boutiques. In fact, the hotel has its own private, unmarked entrance from the shopping street. The walk to the Duomo Cathedral takes about ten minutes making it a great location for both business travelers and tourists.
WHAT’S IT LIKE? Tucked behind a tree-lined entrance and gate, this hotel offers eclectic interior décor including music-themed artwork, sit-down reception area, and marble-lined public areas. As part of Baglioni’s focus on its Italian roots, it has launched the Assoluto Signature Program connecting guests with unique activities around the city like visiting a local menswear designer for private fitting and even a high-speed train ride to its production facility for a private tour and fashion day.
Another activity takes guests to a local boutique where a Milanese designer shows off her collection and can even set up a private fashion show for visitors. These are meant to be special ways for guests to truly connect with the local area and experience Milan in a deeper way than a traditional visitor. To take advantage of these activities, guests can book specific Signature Suites on the hotel’s website that include Assoluto experiences.
ROOM FACILITIES Guest rooms vary in style between traditional (think brocaded fabrics, marble bathrooms, and regal furniture) and contemporary with padded headboards and modern décor. Two Signature Suites show off Art Deco accents, which make them a favorite of repeat guests. A special feature of this hotel includes the many suite categories it offers. These include the Terrace Suite (previously used to be the owner’s apartment), which is where I stayed and is the only room to use an old-fashioned metal key. It benefits from an enormous living and dining area plus separate bedroom with palatial fabrics and a canopy bed. Like many other suites, it has a long, furnished balcony with an awning so guests can relax while enjoying the cathedral’s spires that peak through the surrounding neighborhood. Like all Baglioni hotels, bathrooms are stocked with Sicilian Ortigia toiletries, and housekeeping makes twice daily visits to refresh towels and toiletries. I was especially impressed.
RESTAURANTS AND BARS There are two restaurants here, Il Barretto al Baglioni with a more clubby atmosphere reserved for more formal service while Caffè Baglioni faces the garden and is casual. The latter is where breakfast is served. There is a separate smoking lounge in the restaurant that makes this eatery especially popular with locals. The bar and lounge features jazz music and an all-day cocktail and wine menu. The menu is rather lengthy with dozens of types of fresh seafood, pasta, and grilled meats. Service, like throughout the rest of the hotel, hits all the high notes.
LEISURE FACILITIES On the bottom floor, the hotel has a sizeable spa facility with modern workout room, changing areas, and numerous beauty and massage rooms (including options for couples). At the moment, Spanish Natura Bisséproducts are used for most treatments, but a new line of Italian products is soon to be introduced. Locals make up more than half the clientele at this well-regarded spa.
BUSINESS AND MEETING FACILITIES Free wireless Internet comes standard for all guests, and several meeting rooms can accommodate small groups. Reception is happy to assist with printing boarding passes.
VERDICT Baglioni Hotels are expanding across the globe with properties in Italy, France, London, and soon the Maldives. The family-owned company focuses on its Italian roots providing a quintessential experience that takes Italian hospitality to all of its properties. American, British, and Italian guests make up most of the clientele, but all travelers will find a room type and menu that works for them here.
By Ramsey Qubein
Ramsey is a regular contributor to Business Traveler across all print, digital, web and social channels. He travels more than 400,000 miles a year criss-crossing the globe to report on hotels, airlines, loyalty programs, and all things travel.
You can find more from Ramsey at http://www.ramseyq.com/, on Twitter – @dailytraveltips and Instagram – @dailytraveltips
