Senato Hotel Milano

Senato Hotel Milano is a boutique hotel in a building that was once a family residence on Via Senato, a smart street on the edge of the fashion district. It has 43 guest rooms and junior suites, and its calling card is calm: the rooms are large and quiet by Milan standards, and several look onto the internal courtyard rather than the street, making it a good choice for light sleepers.

The interiors are elegant and understated, with handcrafted furnishings and accessories and installations in the hall by the green designer Rosalba Piccinni, which bring plants and natural textures into the public spaces. The overall effect is restful, a home-like contrast with the busy shopping streets a few minutes away.

Facilities are generous for a hotel of its size. The Senato Caffè serves breakfast and light meals, the Franciacorta Bar specialises in the sparkling wines of the Lombard region of the same name, and there is a rooftop and a garden for warm evenings. A small gym and parking are also available, the latter a real advantage in central Milan.

Prices are in the upper middle range, and like everywhere in Milan they rise during fashion weeks and Design Week, when the neighbourhood is at its busiest. Service is personal and friendly, and the small size means staff quickly get to know guests' preferences. Ask for a courtyard-facing room if you want the quietest stay.

The Franciacorta Bar is a pleasant place for an early-evening glass before heading out to dinner in Brera or Porta Venezia. 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.

The hotel suits couples, solo travellers and business visitors who want a peaceful base close to the centre, and it works well for longer stays. Via Senato runs between San Babila and Corso Venezia, so Via Montenapoleone and Via della Spiga are a few minutes' walk away, and the Indro Montanelli public gardens, with the Natural History Museum and the Planetarium, are close by. The nearest metro stops are Palestro and San Babila on line M1 and Montenapoleone on line M3, and the Duomo is about 15 minutes on foot.