Located in the heart of Milan, where the city’s fashion, cultural and financial centres meet. A few steps away from the hotel are Milan’s most precious heritage sites, Teatro alla Scala, via Montenapoleone and Duomo. Mandarin Oriental features 104 guest rooms, including 32 suites. The hotel is housed within four 18th century buildings overlooking two parallel streets. While the hotel’s Mandarin Bar and Seta Restaurant are accessible from Via Monte di Pietà, its main entrance is on quiet via Andegari, a side street of fashionable via Manzoni. According to legend when the Romans first set foot in Milan they found a Celtic settlement completely surrounded by thick hawthorn hedge. A section of via Andegari (“andegavium” means hawthorn in Latin) follows that ancient hedge line.

Originally built as a luxurious manor house, Palazzo Confalonieri, the building later housed the city’s tax office, “Esattoria Civica Milanese”, between the 1930s and 1950s, and a bank, “Cassa di Risparmio delle Provincie Lombarde”, from the 1960s. Original coats of arms of historical “Lombard provinces” are visible on walls above the arched colonnade, reflecting the building’s illustrious past.

Architects, Antonio Citterio and Patricia Viel Interiors, were commissioned to create a design for Mandarin Oriental, Milan that gave a sense of the hotel brand’s visual richness within a “Milanese” environment. The result is “classic” Milanese style that coexists with strongly decorative materials and intense colours, with the overall look nuanced by Citterio’s typical design language, neutral and rigorous.

The work of Italian design masters, ranging from Piero Portaluppi to Giò Ponti, and Asnago and Vender, inspired the project, contributing to the strong Milanese “essence” of the interiors.

The entrance area’s grey stone floor links the hotel physically and aesthetically with the courtyard leading to via Andegari outside, and hints at its historic role as a cart entry. An inside-outside relationship is established between this transition space, with its connection to the outdoor courtyard, and Mandarin Bar, the adjacent bar bistro. As the beating heart of the hotel, Mandarin Bar’s lively atmosphere filters out to other ground floor public areas, making the premises an attractive place for holding events. The bar bistro’s black and white marble mosaic covered floor and walls combined with its large central bar counter and mix of furniture is an eclectic touch to the overall hotel design.

In contrast to the exuberance of ground floor public areas, the atmosphere in the hotel’s guest rooms and suites upstairs reflects the other side of “classic” Milanese style, calm and neutral. Tones of beige are delicately combined with black and white in the colour scheme to give these private spaces a quiet, understated feel, which is enhanced by superb acoustic damping. Upholstered headboards and other furniture items in several shades of beige are complemented by the purple velvet of armchairs, curtains and carpets. Each bed is “embraced” by its arched headboard to create an intimate feel, with the bed immersed, yet separate from the rest of the room, and sofa backrests feature this same bended form. Each room has an oval table on wheels, which can be used as a moveable desk, room-service dining table or for another purpose, according to each guest’s individual needs.

Bathroom walls are covered entirely with white Italian marble, with nuances and patterns varying according to room category. Some bathrooms boast distinctive features, such as a separate ‘wet room’ of bathtub and shower located within a single ‘box’. In all rooms, toilets and bathrooms are separate.

Every piece of furniture is custom-made, and conforms to colour schemes and choice of materials used throughout the hotel. In guest rooms and suites, each furniture piece is made according to an original design. In public areas, many items are customised in terms of dimensions, finishing and materials.

Grand, Italian marble bathrooms with large windows overlooking the hotel’s inner courtyard or surrounding city rooftops, give a sense of space in the surroundings. In some rooms, walls dividing bathroom from bed area are made of transparent glass that can be frosted when desired with a single touch.

Suites

Located on the ‘noble’, second floor is the Presidential Suite, which is distinguished by high ceilings and large, French glass-doors that offer occupants a fabulous vista of via Monte di Pietà, and allow natural daylight to flood expansive interiors. A delicate colour scheme, rich textiles and splendid carpets combine to form a sophisticated environment that reflects Milanese style with a touch of the Orient. Featuring a relaxing bedroom, large living area and private kitchen, the suite has wooden floors and is filled with bespoke furniture, including black oak wardrobes, and state of the art technology, making it one of the most beautiful suites in the city. Its spacious, showpiece bathroom has azure Brazilian marble floor, large, centrally located bathtub and scenographic lighting.

Both Suites overlook the hotel courtyard and picturesque Vicolo Giardino, and each is divided into three sections: lounge, sleeping area with large bedroom and Italian marble bathroom with separate bath and shower.

The Premier Suite is a tribute to the Milanese rationalism and to the minimalist style of which Ponti is a key forefather; his style has been taken up by many artists since the 1950s. The space is 100 square metres in size and is made up of a living area, a bedroom, a master bath and a guest bathroom and is decorated throughout with black walnut.

Mandarin Spa

A temple of wellbeing, The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Milan offers a holistic experience that results in long-lasting regeneration of mind, body and soul.

By applying the five key elements of Chinese Feng Shui philosophy, Fire, Earth, Wood, Metal and Water to the design, the architects have harmonised the interiors of the 900 square metre spa masterfully creating a welcoming environment that encourages relaxation and rejuvenation.

The Spa has six treatment rooms, including two couples suites, two retreats for individuals, one Thai massage room and a VIP suite with its own vitality pool. A fitness centre equipped with the latest Technogym machines and a beautiful, heated, indoor swimming pool that invites contemplation of its refined design and convenient and charming setting are among other facilities. Spacious male and female changing rooms with saunas and steam baths complete the relaxation and detox experience.

Every visit to The Spa begins with a traditional welcoming ritual, followed by private consultation with a therapist who will ensure treatments are tailored to the individual needs of each guest.

At the end of each treatment, guests receive lifestyle recommendations from the therapist while being offered organic juices that have been specifically designed to accompany treatments and prolong their benefits.

A hair salon headed by celebrity hairstylist, Massimo Serini, and beauty studio for make-up, manicures and pedicures complete the range of services offered at The Spa.