I gasped audibly when I entered my room at the NH Collection Milano President Hotel. The view that greeted me through a wall of glass (and beyond which, to boot, there was a sliver of a cozy terrace) was of a gleaming Duomo, sparkling in the sunshine, its gingerbread spires arching toward for the sun. The vista was so spectacular that had the hotel forgotten to put a bed in my room, it would not have mattered!
Perfectly situated in the heart of the Quadrilatero d’Oro (Golden Quadrilateral or Gold District) of Milan, the hotel is a stone’s throw from the glamorous Via Napoleone, known for its luxury boutiques, along with the buzzy, chic streets of Via Manzoni, Via della Spiga, and Corso Venezia. Nearby is the glorious Duomo; the celebrated Peck, one of the world’s grand temples to gastronomy, opened in 1883, as a mere grocery store and today, a sprawling 21,000 square feet of tempting delices, spread out on three floors; the illustrious Teatro alla Scala, home to legendary opera; and the awesome retail emporium, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. The latter is Italy’s oldest active shopping gallery, constructed in 1865-77, and consisting of two impressive and imperial-looking, intersecting, glass-vaulted arcades. A classic landmark in the city.
My room was graciously appointed (little touches, like the frosted motifs—swirls, fleurs, flares—on the glass doors and mirrors in the bathroom add to the swank feel) and had a fully stocked bar, the most impressive item being a house-made gin, Verzee, which is also the name of the hotel’s restaurant.
Negroni mix is present, as one could argue that the Negroni has its roots in Italy. (A moot assertion, needless to say, as the Negroni’s origin is a bit murky, its birthplace claimed by many.) But here, with the recipe supplied by the hotel, you can make yourself a nice stiff drink!
Head down to Verzee Restaurant for dinner, and you can feast on an appetizer of cream of Gorgonzola cheese with walnuts, garnished with crispy rice chips and a main course of garganello fresh pasta with pumpkin cream, crispy bacon, and slices of Roman pecorino. I chose an amazing appetizer, special at certain times of the year, when the earth is redolent with funghi. It was a panoply of micro greens, zucchini, and curlicues of celery, all floating in a glass- lidded carafe-bowl, on ice, under an umbrella of smoky wisps of clouds . It was both a sight to see and a symphony to taste.
The buffet breakfast is also a delight with surprising and delicate touches, including honey from a honeycomb!
NH Collection Hotels are under the umbrella of Thailand-based Minor International, a multi-national hospitality conglomerate, the parent of Minor Hotels, which owns or operates a diverse portfolio of over 550 hotels in some 55 countries, across Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, the Indian Ocean, Europe, and the Americas. Perhaps best known are the luxurious Anantara Hotels and Resorts, less established in the States, but widely known in the Pacific Rim and beyond. Among the company’s hotel brands is NH Hotels, comprised of the illustrious NH Collection properties (each a jewel in its own way, with just under 100 in 13 countries) and the more youthful, edgy nhow properties, in addition to the classic NH hotels. Additionally, Minor oversees Avani Hotels and Resorts; the Elewana Collection; the Oaks Hotels, Resorts, and Suites; and the Tivoli Hotels and Resorts.
For me, the treasures are the NH Collection Hotels, since I never know what to expect architecturally, as the company is a magician at buying a castle, say, and then turning it into a five-star property, so that each guest room is unique. Two wonderful properties that come to mind are the NH Collection Firenze Porta Rossa, an astonishing hotel; the property is arguably the first hotel in Italy! It features hand-painted frescoes on the ceiling in some of the rooms/suites! Another is the NH Collection Madrid Palacio de Tepa. The original palace was built for the Earl of Tepa, the last viceroy of Spain in Mexico; it was designed by Juan de Villanueva, the royal architect at the period, who also designed the Prado Museum and the Plaza Mayor.
Of course, I do know that at NH properties I will always get polished, professional, and prompt service, and find toothsome and delicious meals in the diverse hotel restaurants, and an accommodating, knowledgeable staff…but the “look” and feel of the hotel will always surprise, delight, and charm me. Here, in Milan you’ll find service impeccable and the staff eager to please. I look forward to a return visit, all the more so, because within the next year, the hotel will be announcing a surprising update…stay tuned! Additional information: NH Collection Milano President.
