One wouldn’t imagine that a view of a train station would be particularly sought-after as far as hotel stays go, but then again, not all train stations are Milan’s Centrale Station. As the largest train station in Europe, its 1800s design—purposefully reminiscent of Parisian buildings—there is something beautiful about watching the transient nature of travellers come and go within the intricately designed stone palace from the juliette balcony of a room across the street at Milan’s Excelsior Hotel Gallia, A Luxury Collection Hotel.
I began my last Milan trip at Excelsior Hotel Gallia, arriving in the evening to the ornate hotel to check into my ultra-Italian glam room: gold accents, mirrored surfaces, a bathroom made almost entirely of luxurious brown marble, and the most comfortable king bed I’ve slept in for a while. The design of the hotel, reconciles contemporary aesthetics with the hotel’s original Belle
Époque style. The interiors are said to recall the Milanese lifestyle and timeless elegance of the Art Deco period, reflected in the sleek and luxurious furnishings.
There for Milan Fashion Week, functionality is everything, and the hotel being located just across the road from Centrale wasn’t only a nice visual touch, but a convenient one, too, since Milan’s rideshare and car services can be a little tricky to navigate and a lot expensive.
After a warm welcome, I settled into my room, which had ample closet space, multiple full-length mirrors (necessary) and tons of natural light, and headed out to a local osteria for a carbonara and glass of wine, all within walking distance. Upon my return, the concierge had collected and delivered all of my invitations for the week, which is always one of the biggest benefits of hotel stays while travelling for fashion weeks. Bath time included a long soak with bubbles in the ginormous tub, before wrapping myself in a robe and getting some needed sleep.
A good hotel breakfast is always one of my favorite parts of a stay. I love sitting at a table alone, sipping a cappuccino, catching up on emails and people watching other diners (which, during fashion week, can be quite fun). The breakfast at Excelsior Hotel Gallia’s Gallia Restaurant is perfectly decadent, offering a range of fresh buffet items as well as an a la carte menu. I will always order a bowl of fresh berries.
The other Hotel amenities are just as impressive. A 1,000-square-meter Gallia Health Club & Shiseido Spa Milan combines the prestige of the premier Shiseido brand with panoramic views of the historic city center, an indoor rooftop pool for a refreshing dip, and a gym that overlooks the city.
For the two nights I spent at the property, Excelsior Hotel Gallia became the perfect place to unwind at night and in-between shows. Quiet early mornings spent with the Milanese spring breeze filtering through the floor-to–ceiling balcony doors, followed by nights in the bath tub after too much pasta. Bliss!
