Hotel VIU Milan

Hotel VIU Milan: A Comprehensive Review of a Michelin Key Selected Property

Hotel VIU Milan, a Michelin Key selected property, consistently garners high praise for its contemporary design, exceptional service, and stunning rooftop amenities. Guests frequently describe it as a hip, elegant, and comfortable retreat in the heart of Milan.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for Hotel VIU Milan is overwhelmingly positive, with guests frequently expressing a desire to return. Review scores for cleanliness, comfort, and facilities are particularly high, often ranging from 9.2 to 9.5 out of 10. Many consider it a "super nice hotel" and "excellent quality accommodation" for a 5-star experience.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently rave about several standout features of Hotel VIU Milan:

• Rooftop Pool and Terrace: This is arguably the hotel's crowning glory, offering Milan's only hotel rooftop pool with 360-degree panoramic city views. It's a popular spot for morning dips, leisurely afternoons, and evening aperitivos.
• Design and Aesthetics: The hotel, designed by Milanese architect Nicola Gallizia, is praised for its bold, refreshing, and contemporary aesthetic. It features a striking vertical garden on its glass facade and interiors outfitted with sleek bespoke furniture, dark wood, and a sophisticated palette of natural beige, chocolate brown, and slate gray.
• Exceptional Service: The staff repeatedly receives accolades for being welcoming, helpful, professional, and attentive.
• Dining Experiences: The presence of a Michelin-star chef, Giancarlo Morelli, overseeing the hotel's restaurants is a significant draw.

3. Room Quality

The rooms and suites at Hotel VIU Milan are described as spacious, clean, comfortable, and very stylish. They are designed with modern, elegant decor, designer furniture, and often feature floor-to-ceiling windows that bathe them in natural light. Accommodations come with spacious marble bathrooms, often equipped with rainfall showers or tubs and high-end Grown Alchemist toiletries. Rooms are also well-appointed with amenities such as free WiFi, smart TVs, air conditioning, and soundproofing. Options include Superior King, Deluxe Double, Junior Suites, and even a Presidential Suite, with some rooms offering balconies or terraces.

4. Dining Experience

Hotel VIU Milan offers a diverse and high-quality dining experience under the guidance of Michelin-starred Chef Giancarlo Morelli.

• Morelli Restaurant: This gourmet restaurant offers a warm and elegant atmosphere, presenting sophisticated Milanese dishes and creative creations from Chef Morelli.
• Bulk Mixology Food Bar: An informal Italian bistro serving both traditional Italian and international dishes, alongside perfectly crafted cocktails. It's also a popular spot for locals.
• Rooftop Terrace Bar & Lunch Restaurant: Breakfast and Sunday brunch are served on the eighth floor, offering fantastic views. The rooftop also functions as a bar, ideal for aperitivos with impressive city views.
• Breakfast: While generally good, with an a la carte selection and an unparalleled rooftop location, some guests have found the quality and variety of the breakfast buffet to be below expectations for a 5-star hotel.

5. Service & Staff

The service at Hotel VIU Milan consistently receives outstanding reviews. Guests frequently highlight the staff as being "excellent," "very welcoming and helpful," "friendly," "professional," and "impeccable." Many cite personalized touches, such as surprise birthday cakes, as examples of the hotel's warm hospitality. The service level is widely considered top-tier and worthy of the hotel's five-star rating.

6. Location & Accessibility

Hotel VIU Milan is situated in the up-and-coming Porta Volta/Garibaldi neighborhood, a trendy area between Milan's new financial district and the city center. It's a 10-minute walk from Piazza Gae Aulenti and the fashionable Corso Como area. While not in the immediate historical center, the location is considered good, away from tourist crowds, and offers excellent accessibility:

• Public Transport: The hotel is a short walk from Monumentale Metro station (656 feet) and has great tram links to the Duomo Cathedral. P.Ta Garibaldi Subway Station, Milano Lancetti Train Station, Gioia Subway Station, and Garibaldi FS Subway Station are also easily accessible.
• Attractions: It's within a 10-minute walk of Milan's Sempione Park, and attractions like Castello Sforzesco and the boho streets of Brera are also within reasonable walking distance or a short ride away.
• Airports: Linate Airport is a half-hour drive, and Malpensa Airport is approximately a 45-minute drive.

7. Value & Pricing

Hotel VIU Milan is often considered a "best value for money in Milano" for a 5-star property, with guests finding it "quite cheap for 5 stars" given its quality. Prices for a one-night stay for two adults can start from around $356.21, excluding taxes and fees, though prices are subject to change. While some guests note the pricing can be slightly high, particularly for parking (€40 per night) and breakfast (€40 per person), many still feel it's worth the cost for the overall experience.

8. Common Complaints

While overwhelmingly positive, some minor criticisms have been noted by guests:

• Breakfast Variety/Service: A few guests have expressed that the breakfast quality and variety did not meet their expectations for a 5-star hotel, and service by the pool/restaurant on the 8th floor during breakfast/lunch sometimes lacked attentiveness.
• Location (Perception): Although well-connected, some guests initially perceive the location as "a bit far off" from the city center, requiring a short tram, taxi, or a 25-minute walk.
• Noise: Isolated instances of noise from AC vents have been reported.
• Lobby Perfume: One reviewer mentioned an "unbearable house perfume" in the lobby.
• Parking Fees: The €40 per night parking charge is noted as a potential additional cost.

Sources

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