CHâTEAU MONFORT – ITALIAN FAIRYTALE HOTEL IN MILAN

April was an exciting month in the world of furniture and design. This is when the world’s biggest furniture fair, Salone del Mobile, is held in Milan, as part of Milan Design Week. It’s also the busiest time to visit Milan, so planning your stay and hotel well in advance is a must. This was my first time in Milan and at Salone. I wanted to book a hotel in the city centre but close enough to get to the exhibition centre Fiera Milano quickly. I also wanted something pretty special. I was determined to make my visit not all about work but also fun. My husband was traveling with me so we wanted to book a luxurious hotel with a perfect location, ambiance, and food (we were going to Italy after all!)

Château Monfort is not your typical Italian hotel. This urban chateau, designed by Paolo Mezzanotte, exudes Art Nouveau opulence. But in a very comfortable, fun way. The pastel interior caught my eye as I was browsing for hotels and the great reviews convinced me to book ahead (although I did have to pay in full before the stay as it was a busy time in Milan). As soon as I arrived through the grand glass doors I knew I had made the right choice as I was blown away by the interiors (yes I am easily swayed like that). It really does make you feel like you are living an Italian fairytale while staying at this exquisite boutique hotel. I also knew that the hotel was part of the Relais & Chateau group, which let’s face it, has never let me down to this date.

LOCATION

If you’re planning to visit Salone during your stay, you couldn’t have picked a better spot. Porta Venezia metro station is only an 8-minute walk away and the M1 red metro line takes you directly to the exhibition centre. The train journey took me 35 minutes but it was all very straightforward. The hotel is also located close to all the main Milan landmarks like the Cathedral and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. It’s only 10 minutes away from the main shopping streets and walking distance from all the main landmarks we saw. I love walking so it was a huge bonus that the city was so accessible on foot. We used Ubers too but the traffic was pretty bad so sometimes it wasn’t worth it. I quite liked that the hotel was tucked away in a peaceful location from all the hustle and bustle. There was a big construction outside but it didn’t take away from the hotel. The hotel also provides private parking for guests which is pretty rare in Milan.

INTERIORS

The interiors throughout the hotel were insanely beautiful as you can see. Pretty interiors are a must when staying at a hotel for me. I get so much pleasure and inspiration from looking at all the details that it would pretty much ruin my trip if I didn’t like the decor. The lobby looks like a ballroom with its stunning staircase, chandelier, and Italian art on its walls. The furniture was like something out of a dream. Velvet upholstered chairs and sofas were scattered around the bar area and lounge. They may look formal but they were some of the most comfortable pieces I’ve sat on (especially the long lounge chair).

OUR ROOM

I gave the hotel a call before our trip and asked for their Superior Del Duca room. I loved the Bridgerton vibes and the calming colour palette. It’s not a big room but considering the location it was totally acceptable. The room was beautifully decorated mixing antiques and modern pieces. I loved having the little balcony overlooking the courtyard. The bed was very comfortable and the bathroom spacious enough. The aircon was super easy to use and the Diptyque toiletries deserve some extra points too. The only negative is that there wasn’t much storage space so staying longer than 3 days would have been a problem for me but it was perfect for a short stay. You can always book a suite if you need more room or storage. We also got a bottle of Italian sparkling wine and a box of sweets as a welcome gift which was a nice touch.

SERVICE

Now this is where the hotel excels in my opinion. From the moment we walked in we felt like we were getting the 5-star fairytale treatment. Service was impeccable and very warm and welcoming. They even recommended and booked us restaurants before the trip. Room service was perfect and the staff at the bar and the restaurant were super knowledgeable and friendly. The hotel didn’t seem too busy either which was nice.

FOOD

I wasn’t expecting the food to blow me away but it did. I had the best burrata I’ve ever had at the lobby and my husband’s club sandwich also hit the spot. We were served Franciacorta, the Italian equivalent of champagne, on our very first night and we loved it so much that we brought a bottle home with us. We also dined at their signature restaurant Rubacuori and it was the best meal of our trip. It was pretty full so do make a reservation in advance.

VALUE

It’s not cheap but if you’re looking for a weekend getaway I’d say the hotel is definitely worth it. Double rooms start from £251 in the low season but coming from London we are well used to inflated prices. I’d also say the quality-price ratio is very good as 5-star hotels go. The hotel actually took some money off the bill at the end of our visit as we’d spent so much. I think we got all the drinks at the lounge pretty much for free for the whole stay which was very nice of them. Also, April is the most expensive time to stay in Milan so if you’re traveling for leisure pick another month.

TOP TIP!

If you’re a light sleeper like me, ask for a room in the quiet part of the hotel. Our room was on the third floor overlooking the courtyard and you couldn’t hear a thing. Oh and don’t forget to visit the Spa and the wine cellar.

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