Hotel Principe di Savoia, Dorchester Collection

The Principe is a classic — the Milanese hotel against which all other Milanese hotels are measured. Though the amenities are modern, there’s a sense in which the atmosphere of the place has stayed the same for the last hundred years — crystal chandeliers in the lobby, ornate antique chests of drawers in the bedrooms, and bathrooms with many bidets. Room service is wheeled in by a waiter who is the essence of courtesy. Think white linen tablecloths, silver trays and a single flower in a bud vase. Ultimately, however, this is not some fraying old hotel that’s stuck in the past. One look at the perfectly of-the-moment crowd makes that clear, from the fashionistas at the hotel bar to the jetsetters and local celebrities getting their laps in at the gorgeous indoor pool.

You will sleep well at the Principe. The four-poster beds boast some of the softest linens in Europe. Hungry? The restaurant downstairs, Acanto, stays open until the wee hours of the morning. Though it’s a cab ride away from the sights and the shopping, the Principe is nonetheless considered to be one of the most central places in the city to rendezvous. Stunning locals rub shoulders with young families having supper with their priests.

And then there are the celebrities — from Sophia Loren on down through the generations. Hang out by the concierge desk, especially during fashion week, to catch the gossip, and keep an eye out for which ridiculously enormous bouquets of flowers are arriving for whom. It also makes working out here a treat, since you can check out Gwyneth Paltrow’s time on the treadmill. If you pay enough attention, you may even scoop the latest breakup or business deal. Venerable as the Principe may be, the people who come to visit are a living Page Six.