A New Hotel Just Opened in Milan’s Fashion District in Time for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games

As I was checking into The Carlton, the second Milan property from Rocco Forte Hotels, a cheer went up behind me. Upon investigation, I found a group of staff applauding the inaugural opening of The Carlton Bar. As I soon discovered on the very first day of the hotel’s operation, there’s much to celebrate at this chic, centrally located gem.

It’s been a long time coming. Rocco Forte acquired the former Casa Baglioni Milan hotel five years ago and embarked on a $70 million top-to-bottom renovation, even adding two additional floors. Lady Olga Polizzi, Rocco Forte’s deputy chair and director of design, led the revamp, which brought the vision of architects Philip Vergeylen and Paolo Moschino (not related to the fashion house) to life. Now, as the group’s 10th Italian outpost, the hotel offers 71 guest rooms and suites, plus two restaurants, two bars, and a spa right in the heart of Milan’s fashion district.

The hotel boasts two entrances—one on Via Senato and the other on busy Via della Spiga, one of the district’s four major shopping thoroughfares. Throughout, residential design elements harken back to the building’s former life as a palatial noble home. Paintings and sculptures by notable artists, along with antiques sourced from Polizzi’s global travels, lend a curated vibe to the spaces. “Paulo and Phillip have really captured the essence of the city throughout the entire hotel. It has a traditional feel, yet it also features modern colors,” Polizzi says. “It’s sophisticated, young, and vibrant, just like Milan has become in recent years.”

No detail was overlooked as thoughtful touches abound. Public spaces are scented with a bespoke fragrance crafted by prestigious artisan perfumery Campomarzio70, custom graphic rugs designed by Paolo Moschino cover the hallways, and carved doors open to palatial guest quarters. A fresh bouquet of roses and anemones (the hotel houses a flower shop at the Via della Spiga entrance) and a bowl of fragrant mandarin oranges welcomed me in my 375-square-foot Deluxe Room. The peaceful abode came with a whopping five sets of floor-to-ceiling double windows, overlooking the baroque Church of San Pietro Celestino and the hotel’s interior courtyard.

Every detail felt intentional, and that’s by design, according to Moschino. ‘”Milan is undoubtedly Italy’s fashion and design capital. But the real Milanese culture is so much more. It is based on supreme sophistication, restraint, and curation of the way of life as well as the interiors,” he says. “That is what we wanted to achieve with The Carlton.”

Below, my full review of Milan’s newest, and arguably chicest, hotel.

The Rooms

The hotel has 42 guest rooms and 29 suites. While the layouts and decor vary within the room categories, they all have a residential feel. Color palettes include creamy neutrals accented with sage green, garnet, and gold, while furniture accents comprise leather headboards, art deco-inspired settees, thick rugs in vibrant colors, and fringed decorative pillows. Cloud-like king beds feature Simmons mattresses and linens by Pedersoli Milano. (Twin beds are available upon request.)

All rooms are equipped with high-tech touches, such as smart TVs, high-speed Wi-Fi, built-in USB charging ports, and discreet reading lights. Marble bathrooms come with spa showers, deep soaking tubs, and built-in Bose speakers. Bath amenities—hibiscus-scented soap and prickly pear shampoo—are from natural Italian beauty brand Irene Forte Skincare.

The largest suite, the 1,216-square-foot Carlton Presidential Suite, features a living room, sitting area, Carrara marble spa bathroom, king bedroom, and an outdoor terrace nearly spanning the length of the building. Guests hoping to dial up their privacy can book this sprawling suite, along with the adjacent guest rooms, to create a private wing complete with its own elevator. Some of the other signature Forte Suites come with views of Milan’s most famous attraction: the Duomo.

Food and Drink

The Carlton has four distinct spaces dedicated to the Italian art of eating and drinking well. Each of their seasonal menus is curated by Fulvio Pierangelini, Rocco Forte Hotels’ creative director of food, who highlights local ingredients.

The greenhouse-inspired all-day Caffè Floretta sits at the heart of the hotel, festooned with lush greenery. By day, the inner courtyard is bathed in natural light, thanks to a glass-domed ceiling, and is the perfect setting for a breakfast of carbonara omelette with pancetta from Lombardy or baked rice pudding with Amarena cherries.

The Carlton Bar is primed to become a hangout spot for Milan’s fashionable crowd. Bar snacks, such as bites of crispy rice topped with red prawn tartare and oysters accented with martini-inspired sorbet, are served from late afternoon until 10:30 p.m. They are the perfect pairing for the inventive cocktail menu designed by award-winning bartender Salvatore Calabrese, aka The Maestro. Beginning in the spring, a second bar in the outdoor garden will invite guests to enjoy an al fresco aperitivo.

For cozy, upscale dinners, Spiga hosts up to 40 guests in a dining room clad in tufted leather, emerald velvet banquettes, and blush accents for a throwback vibe to 1970s Milan. The restaurant exclusively displays works by Milanese artist Pierantonio Verga, a student of celebrated Italian painter Lucio Fontana.

Activities and Experiences

For now, the hotel’s prime location within the fashion district is the main attraction. However, the team plans to add curated guest experiences, such as personal shopping sessions.

The well-connected concierge staff can assist with reservations at Milan’s top restaurants, activities, and appointments at nearby ateliers.

The Spa

The subterranean Irene Forte Spa is a terra cotta-hued retreat designed for relaxation and aesthetic services. The 3,000-square-foot space features three treatment rooms for facials and massages. Some of the treatments use products from the proprietary Irene Forte Skincare line, with ingredients sourced from the brand’s organic farm in Sicily.

High-tech therapies such as microcurrent, LED, and radiofrequency facials and body contouring are also offered. Spa guests are invited to indulge in a thermal area that includes a sauna, volcanic cave-inspired steam room, ice fountain, and showers. Alternatively, they can decompress in a relaxation suite outfitted with vibration sound beds.

The Carlton is the third Rocco Forte hotel, after Hotel de Russie in Rome and The Balmoral in Edinburgh, to introduce the Forte Vita Bar for express facials, hair blowouts, and nail services.

Lastly, guests can stay in shape at the hotel’s gym outfitted with Technogym equipment.

Family Friendly Offerings

Families and multigenerational groups can book connecting rooms.

The Rocco Forte Kids program is designed for babies, children, and teens. Some amenities for the youngest guests include teddy bear turndown service, complimentary baby meals, baby cots, nightlights, and changing mats. For kids, coloring books and bath robes, and a turndown service of milk and cookies will make them feel welcome and pampered.

Round-the-clock babysitting services can be booked with advance notice.

Accessibility

The hotel’s upper floors are accessible by elevators. Guests with mobility issues may request rooms on the main hallways to avoid encountering stairs.

Location

Anyone who wants to stay in the thick of fashion, design, and cultural action while still enjoying some peace and quiet will find a posh home at The Carlton. Boutiques by Christian Dior, Miu Miu, Longchamp, and Vivienne Westwood are all within minutes. 

Guests are a 15-minute walk to the Duomo and a 12-minute walk to Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Milan’s oldest shopping arcade.

Keep in mind there’s no on-site parking for guests, but the staff can recommend nearby car park options.

Book Now

The Carlton is part of the Rocco Forte Friends loyalty program. Members receive perks like early check-in, late check-out, special rates and packages, welcome treats, and 15 percent off dining. 

Nightly rates at The Carlton start from $1,629 a night.

Every T+L hotel review is written by an editor or reporter who has stayed at the property, and each hotel selected aligns with our core values.