Armani Milano
From city-center excitement to lakeside bliss, Northern Italy has so much to offer travelers who are looking to go beyond the traditional first-time hotspots! Our dear partners at Armani Hotel Milano and Villa d’Este Lake Como certainly showed us the bounty that the region has to offer which often goes overlooked (and maybe even underestimated) but should quickly be put top-of-mind. Albeit in their own very distinct ways, each of these special hotels provide guests with a true sense of place that quickly became our homes away from home. Warm welcomes, impeccable service, gastronomic delights, and luxurious comfort allowed us to relax and engage in an inspiring four days of discovery with our gracious hosts!
Sleek and sophisticated, yet welcoming and comfortable, our FAM began with a warm greeting of “welcome home!” to the Armani Hotel Milano. Clean lines, chic style, Armani scents in the air — you can’t be anywhere else other than the center of Milan. The hotel is designed much like the city itself, as a world filled with provocative intrigue begging to be discovered. (Even the room doors are without exterior handles!)
The Armani Hotel truly is about lifestyle. Whether lounging in your room or enjoying the public spaces, guests are free and encouraged to be relaxed — luxury and style do not mean buttoned-up here. And, the Armani lifestyle is woven into every aspect of your stay. The furnishings, bath and body products, flowers, chocolates, and so on are all branded Armani. The food and beverage offerings are also a true reflection of the overall experience. We had the opportunity to enjoy meals at the Bamboo Bar, Armani Ristorante, and, of course, Nobu; each experience was a culinary journey that – just like Milan – was filled with exciting moments of intrigue and revelation.
Our time in Milan was perfectly balanced between activity and leisure. In addition to meandering the streets of the surrounding neighborhood to shop and strolling around the center of town to see the iconic sites, we also enjoyed an incredible tour of the Pinacoteca di Brera. Our guide was a passionate scholar and art historian with the most engaging personality. One of the first things she mentioned to us was how people often perceive museums as “dead places,” but she was here to show us how alive they actually are! Her storytelling was powerful and emotional as we traversed the halls and galleries. Perhaps the most exciting, full-circle connection, however, was the limited-time Giorgio Armani exhibit: Milano, Per Amore. To see his life in fashion interwoven throughout centuries of artistic masterpieces highlighted how truly timeless he is. As our guide told us, “you don’t wear Armani to be seen, you wear Armani to be remembered.” There is no better realization of this statement than that exhibit – a perfect affair between Armani and Milan, forever synonymous with one another.
The Armani Spa, located on top of the hotel with floor-to-ceiling windows and spectacular views, offered a calming respite from the hustle and bustle of a day spent in the city and was a great way to unwind and replenish before the evening ahead. On our final evening we had an exclusive aperitivo in the Milano Suite with our own private mixologist and signature cocktails (complete with A-for-Armani ice cubes!). It was the perfect summation of our days spent in Milan and at the Armani Hotel itself, where as one advisor perfectly stated, “…real luxury isn’t just what you see, it’s what you’re invited into.”
Villa d’Este Collection
An easy and comfortable 45-minute drive from Milan, our FAM led us to the famed icon, Villa d’Este on Lake Como. For centuries people have been drawn to the romantic lake region of Northern Italy. Cardinal Tolomeo Gallio even built his private summer residence (read: palace) on the banks of Lake Como in 1568. Named Villa d’Este in 1815 under the ownership of Caroline of Brunswick, Princess of Wales, the property entered into its Golden Age. In 1873, Villa d’Este was transformed into a luxurious grand hotel and is now celebrating its 154th season! Why the history lesson? Simple. From the moment you step out of the car and into the storied lobby, you can feel the soulful heritage and almost half-millenia of tradition breathing life all around you. It was immediately apparent that the entire staff were polished yet warm, welcoming us home. Albeit quite distinct from Milan, we were quickly reminded that style and significance do not need to be stuffy and unapproachable; rather, quite the opposite – fresh, inviting, and dare I say cozy. Palatial opulence would be our home for the next two nights, and quite comfortably so!
While the lake-facing rooms are certainly special and provide you with the stunning views you wish for during your stay on Lake Como, I was equally charged by my room overlooking the garden (and famous Mosaic) with a partial lake view. For me it was the best of both worlds as I sat to soak up the fresh air on the spacious terrazza. It was also the perfect setting to enjoy the morning room service as the staff proudly demonstrated the art of Italian hospitality!
On the subject of hospitality and service, a dinner at Veranda is not to be missed. The menu was beautifully crafted and the service executed flawlessly, right down to the ballet-like timing of the waitstaff as the cloches were removed to present our entrees. (If the setting weren’t so elegant, I would’ve expected twirling napkins and fireworks!)
A 15- to 20-minute drive or a brief, stunning boat ride from Villa d’Este (in Cernobbio) sits the town of Como, the lake’s namesake. A bustling town filled with shops, restaurants, historic and religious sites (including the town’s iconic Duomo), museums, theatres, and public squares and gardens, Como provides access to everything tourists look for in Italy. For guests looking to be more in the center of the action, Villa d’Este La Collezione has recently opened their shiny new jewel, the Palazzo Venezia Hotel. During our FAM stay, we were ecstatic to tour this property, which breathes a fresh, contemporary life into tradition – a vibrant energy perfectly blended and balanced with the magical expectations of Villa d’Este. (The staircase and mosaic floors were one of my favorite features!). With only 18 residentially-styled rooms, this boutique gem is proudly the first 5-star luxury property in the town of Como to be a part of Leading Hotels of the World. Guests here will also have access to the grounds and amenities of Villa d’Este!
Chef Alessandro Rinaldi showed off his culinary prowess by delighting us with an incredible lunch at Palazzo Venezia’s Altariva restaurant. Much like the property, the menu offers a contemporary and innovative perspective on something classic — little spheres that burst in your mouth with an aperol spritz, homemade butter set in a provolone rind for the freshly baked breads, and a mind-blowingly delicious pasta al pomodoro, which the Chef is known for! This was a meal of both delightful surprises and comfortable familiarity, beautifully intertwined, never to be forgotten — a perfect reflection of our two days at Villa d’Este.
Home is Where the Heart Is
Our FAM concluded with a sumptuous dinner at Harry’s Bar in Cernobbio — a hotspot for locals and guests of Villa d’Este alike (including a host of celebrities looking for something more casual, yet special). The classic menu of regional specialties was the perfect conclusion to our journey together, leaving us with happy bellies and full hearts! Conversation and laughter flowed like wine — memories sealed and forever connections made. As we reflected on our four days visiting with partners in Milan and Lake Como, we were reminded that not all houses look alike, but with authentic heart and soul, a house (or hotel) becomes a home!
