Milan Welcomes a New Chapter in Family-Owned Hospitality
Few cities embody a dialogue between tradition and innovation more boldly than Milan; fittingly, the newest hotel opening to splash onto the city’s scene has positioned itself perfectly into the spirit of the dynamic capital.
After several years of meticulous construction and design work, The Carlton, a Rocco Forte Hotel has opened its doors just in time for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics (February 6th-22nd, 2026) and Salone del Mobile Milano (April 21st-26th, 2026). But even with global events aside, based on our 2026 Travel Trends Report in which we highlighted all eyes being on Northern Italy, our latest booking data shows a clear pivot north, where fashion, design, and alpine adventure are stealing the spotlight.
While this is Italy’s fashion capital, it’s also an engine of reinvention.
Known as the design capital of the world, Milan acts as a hub for creativity and increasingly is setting the bar for metropolitan locales around the globe. From grand palazzos housing avant-garde galleries to centuries-old ateliers coexisting with concept stores and cutting-edge design studios, there are endless sides to this city begging to be discovered. While this is Italy’s fashion capital, it’s also an engine of reinvention. Worldly and walkable, Milan blends historical gravitas with modern edge, ensuring it remains both deeply rooted in its culture and endlessly evolving.
Location, Location, Location
A modern homage to a legendary name, The Carlton aims to reintroduce Milan’s most elegant thoroughfare to a new generation of travelers. The property occupies an enviable position in the heart of the Quadrilatero della Moda, bridging the pulse of the city with the intimacy of a private residence. Guests enter through dual entrances—Via Senato or the discreet Via della Spiga—arriving to a world where Italian artistry and quiet modernity coexist in balance.
Set within the city’s fashion district, The Carlton sits mere steps from La Scala, The Duomo, and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Its location allows guests to experience Milan as insiders: worldly yet walkable, creative yet composed. Ten minutes from Milano Centrale Station and under an hour from both Malpensa and Bergamo airports, the hotel offers seamless access while feeling like a sanctuary.
The surrounding neighborhood epitomizes Milan’s duality with heritage ateliers and modern concept stores, grand palazzos and minimalist galleries all within reach. From its terrace overlooking Via della Spiga, The Carlton reveals the city’s softer rhythms: aperitivo hour stretching golden, footsteps echoing on cobblestones, the hum of design studios carrying through open windows.
Family-Owned and Design-Led
Recently, we were able to check in with the Rocco Forte family to learn more about how this family-owned brand has created its collection of exquisite European hotels. Sir Rocco Forte and Olga Polizzi grew up learning the hospitality ropes from their father, Lord Forte at Trust House Forte, which later became Forte Hotels. For Sir Rocco, The Carlton’s opening represents more than an expansion—it’s a homecoming to Italy’s creative capital. It channels the brand’s ethos of authenticity and sense of place, joining icons like Hotel de la Ville in Rome and Verdura Resort in Sicily under the same familial care.
“With every family member involved in the hotel’s creation from the room design to the spa menu, the opening has been a great exercise in collaboration and another exciting step in the evolution of our family brand.” – Sir Rocco Forte
We had the opportunity to check in Sir Rocco to learn first-hand about how long it took for The Carlton to take from the acquisition of the property to opening, as well as what makes The Carlton a milestone for the family brand. He shared, “Milan has long been a city we wanted to be part of, but finding the right property took patience. We looked at several over the years and lost one or two along the way, but when we discovered this building—so central, full of character and potential—we knew it was the right one. It had the energy and spirit that make a great hotel, and we saw immediately what it could become. Every new hotel carries our family’s name and therefore its values—The Carlton will be no different. With every family member involved in the hotel’s creation from the room design to the spa menu, the opening has been a great exercise in collaboration and another exciting step in the evolution of our family brand.”
The Carlton was designed by Olga Polizzi in collaboration with Paolo Moschino and Philip Vergeylen, the hotel’s seventy-one rooms and suites reinterpret Milanese sophistication with contemporary ease—soft palettes, refined materials, and a pervasive sense of light. Olga Polizzi, Deputy Chairman and Director of Design at Rocco Forte Hotels, carefully considers the history and culture of each hotel’s location as the brand expands in service of that legacy. The design reflects a dialogue between tradition and innovation—where gilded mirrors meet modern art, and light plays across textured fabrics. Every element, from the curve of an armchair to the hue of a marble vein, reflects Milan’s devotion to design. The result is a hotel that feels collected, not decorated; expressive yet understated.
“Our inspiration came more from the city itself—the Milanese sense of elegance and restraint, that quiet confidence that doesn’t need to shout.” – Olga Polizzi
Polizzi’s design ethos is rooted in her belief that design must reflect not just sophistication and discerning taste, but the genuine warmth of the welcome offered to guests. Knowing how thoughtful she is in the approach to each property, we checked in with her directly to learn why she decided to collaborate with Paolo Moschino and Philip Vergeylen for this project. She shared, “All our hotels have a strong sense of place, and that must come through in the design. Anyone I collaborate with needs to understand and respect that. What The Carlton lacked in architectural distinction, it made up for in promise. Having worked on many projects already with Paolo and Philip, I had no doubt their imagination and collaborative approach would enable us to create something new and exciting. Of all the projects we’ve worked on together, this is where we had to really reinterpret the building’s legacy and strengthen its sense of heritage. Our inspiration came more from the city itself—the Milanese sense of elegance and restraint, that quiet confidence that doesn’t need to shout.”
The Carlton embodies Rocco Forte Hotels’ enduring commitment to craftsmanship and family-led design. Inside, each space tells a story: suites layered with hand-selected marbles and silks; terraces framing the Duomo’s spires; salons filled with Italian art. The Manzoni Suite balances contemporary artistry with residential comfort; the Galleria Suite celebrates sweeping views; and the Presidential Suite (pictured below) offers an opulent terrace overlooking Via della Spiga.”
Wellbeing, Milanese Style
Culinary experiences on property are led by Fulvio Pierangelini, whose menus reinterpret Milanese classics through a lens of joyful simplicity. Expect delicate saffron risotto elevated by subtle citrus, or a perfectly crisp cotoletta that feels at once nostalgic and new. The Carlton Bar channels the city’s social heartbeat, from morning espresso rituals to aperitivo hour, where the low hum of conversation mingles with the clink of crystal glasses and the faint aroma of Campari. Every dish, every pour, reflects Milan’s ethos of beauty in precision—artistry disguised as ease.
“For the Milan guest, wellbeing means the ability to pause amid the pace—to experience something deeply natural, restorative, and Italian in spirit.” – Irene Forte
Downstairs, the Irene Forte Spa infuses Sicilian botanicals and advanced technology, offering wellness rituals that restore balance amid the city’s energy. Treatments draw on nutrient-rich ingredients from the family’s organic farm in Sicily, pairing Mediterranean ingredients with modern science to create a serene refuge beneath the bustle of Via della Spiga. We chatted with Irene to better understand her approach to what defines wellness for the Milan guest at the Irene Forte Spa. “Milan is a fast, creative city—full of energy, design, and fashion—but that also means people live at a constant pace. At the Irene Forte Spa, I want to offer guests a space that allows them to slow down, to ground themselves, and to feel genuinely well, not just pampered for an hour,” Irene shares. “Wellbeing should be available at every touch point of a hotel stay—not just the spa, but in the room, in the restaurant, throughout the guest experience. For the Milan guest, wellbeing means the ability to pause amid the pace—to experience something deeply natural, restorative, and Italian in spirit. It’s a moment of stillness in the most vibrant city in Italy.”
The Art of Milanese Dining
At The Carlton, culinary expression becomes an extension of the city itself—elegant, stylish, and quietly confident. Under the direction of Fulvio Pierangelini, the property’s restaurants celebrate Milan’s appetite for authenticity over artifice. His menus reflect the city’s tempo: fast yet thoughtful, refined yet never ostentatious. Expect dishes that honor Milan’s culinary heritage through simplicity and soul—like a saffron risotto brightened with citrus or a cotoletta that recalls tradition while feeling entirely new. Each bite mirrors the brand’s philosophy that true sophistication lies in restraint and that the best flavors speak for themselves.
“He’s not interested in trends or overcomplication—he believes in simplicity, in honesty, in flavour. That’s very much the essence of Italian hospitality, which sits at the heart of who we are as a family and as a brand.” – Lydia Forte
As Lydia Forte explains, partnering with Pierangelini was a natural choice for a city that thrives on both creativity and integrity. “In Milan, we wanted to create something that feels true to the city—elegant, stylish, but never pretentious,” she shares. “Milan is fast, sophisticated, and creative, yet people here really appreciate quality and authenticity. Fulvio has been part of our family for many years now, and there’s a very natural alignment between his philosophy and ours. He approaches food with soul. He’s not interested in trends or overcomplication—he believes in simplicity, in honesty, in flavour. That’s very much the essence of Italian hospitality, which sits at the heart of who we are as a family and as a brand.” This alignment of vision defines The Carlton’s dining experience: where conviviality meets craftsmanship, and every plate tells a story of Italian hospitality distilled to its purest form.
Built For the Modern Milanese Traveler
The Carlton appeals to travelers who move through the world with intention—those who appreciate beauty not for its grandeur but for its craft. Here, design lovers, culinary enthusiasts, business travelers, and culture seekers converge over espresso or a Negroni, trading notes on galleries, architecture, and the latest restaurant openings. It’s a place for couples rediscovering Milan through an insider’s lens, families weaving design and discovery into their days, and locals seeking a stylish sanctuary for lunch or aperitivo. Whether you’re arriving from a morning at La Scala, an afternoon of gallery hopping in Brera, or a day of meetings in Porta Nuova, The Carlton offers a space that feels both worldly and distinctly personal. The Carlton’s Milanese spirit lies in its balance: bold yet refined, glamorous yet grounded—an address where craftsmanship meets contemporary life, and where every stay feels like a masterclass in the art of living beautifully.
