Mandarin Oriental Milan

Milan is hardly uncharted territory for luxury brands. The world’s high-end hoteliers, in particular, are at the top of their game here, going out of their way to adapt their five-star offerings to the particular style and character of the city — to its 18th-century architecture as well as its status as a capital of contemporary design. Add Mandarin Oriental to this rarefied list. Spanning four classic buildings around the corner from La Scala, the Mandarin Oriental Milan went straight to the source: architect and designer Antonio Citterio, the man who’s responsible for far more than his fair share of Italy’s contemporary luxury interiors.

It’s hard to overstate just how excellent a location this is, equally close to the Duomo cathedral and to the shopping mecca that is the Golden Quadrangle. That sort of thing comes at a price, but you can trust Mandarin Oriental to ensure that you get what you pay for. The rooms are spacious and lavish, showcasing a level of attention to detail that fits right in to Northern Italy’s reverence for craftsmanship. And the suites very quickly ascend to extreme heights of luxury, with bathrooms that rival some hotel spas, and optional terraces that offer a rare perspective on a city that’s not known for open skies.

There’s a proper spa, of course, so you don’t actually have to make do with your massive bath. There’s plentiful meeting and events space, which is actually useful, as chances are the M.O. is substantially more impressive than whatever corporate headquarters you’re here to visit. And the starred restaurant, Seta, looks beyond the Lombard classics, incorporating influences from southern Italy, from France, and (fittingly) from all across the Pacific. It’s a hotel that’s eminently worthy of both its location and its name.