Hotel Straf, Milan, Italy

The façade of Milan's Hotel Straf was built at the end of the 18th century, but what lies behind the boutique hotel is pure modern Italian design. This eye-catching boutique hotel was the creation of Vincenzo de Cotiis, designer for the prêt-a-porter fashion house Haute, and the constantly rotating artwork in the lobby has been chosen to reflect the most important events in the city – Women’s Fashion Week, Men’s Fashion Week and Design Week.

The facilities

This is a boutique hotel extraordinaire; its stylish design complemented by a superb location on Via San Raffaele, just yards from the steps to the Duomo. Throughout the hotel you'll find unusual materials such as rough and polished concrete, burnished bronze and quarried slate, all selected for their natural colours. Alongside the boutique hotel is the similarly stylish Bar Straf, a local favourite for lunch and aperitivo.

The rooms

The 66 rooms at Hotel Straf are surprisingly intimate, despite the industrial overtones. Décor varies from room to room at the boutique hotel, with unusual details such as sheets of pale gauze pressed between plates of glass – another of de Cotiis’s unique inventions.

Healing plays an integral role in the Hotel Straf experience and guests can book special “well-being” rooms, which have Japanese massage chairs and chromotherapy points in addition to the standard features. To complete the sensory immersion, order essential oils from reception using the conveniently provided Aromatherapy menu.