Mandarin Oriental, Milan

Mandarin Oriental, Milan occupies a quiet side street between La Scala, the Brera district and the fashion boutiques of Via della Spiga and Via Montenapoleone. It is one of the city's most polished luxury hotels, combining the discreet service of the Mandarin Oriental group with a strongly Milanese sense of design. Its location on a side street gives it a sense of privacy unusual so close to the centre.

Accommodation ranges from rooms and suites to Signature Suites, and connecting and family rooms are available for those travelling with children.

Food is one of the main reasons to stay. Seta is the hotel's fine-dining restaurant, serving contemporary Italian cooking, and the Mandarin Garden offers a more relaxed setting for lunch, dinner and cocktails. The spa offers treatments, a fitness area and a salon, with memberships also available.

Rates are at the top end of the Milan market and rise sharply during fashion weeks, Design Week and the opening of the La Scala season. Book early for those periods, and ask about packages that include breakfast or spa treatments. Staff can arrange restaurant reservations, private shopping and tickets for performances.

The hotel's position works well for a first visit as well as for regular visitors to the city. You can walk to most of the central sights in a few minutes, return to rest in the afternoon, and then head out again in the evening for an aperitivo in Brera or a performance at La Scala. Business travellers appreciate the short drive to Linate airport. Milan charges a city tourist tax per person per night, which is usually paid at the hotel and is not always included in online prices, so check the total when you book. If you are visiting with children, ask the hotel in advance about family rooms and any services for younger guests.

The hotel suits couples, business travellers and families who want a quiet luxury base within walking distance of the opera, the galleries of Brera and the city's best shopping. La Scala is about five minutes away on foot, the Duomo about ten, and the Pinacoteca di Brera roughly ten. The nearest metro stops are Montenapoleone on line M3 and Duomo on lines M1 and M3. Milan Linate Airport is about 20 minutes away by car, and Malpensa around 45 minutes.