The Grand Hotel et de Milan, now part of The Leading Hotels of the World, opened on 23 May 1863, and was immediately a great success, thanks to its central location in via Manzoni, a few steps from Teatro alla Scala and via Montenapoleone. The first hotel to have a postal and telegraph service, it soon became a destination for every celebrity, artist or statesman passing through Milan.

At the end of the 19th century, it was taken over by Giuseppe Spatz who in 1931 completely renovated it, equipping it with modern avant-garde comforts. As a great opera lover, he forged even greater ties between the nearby Theater and its many artists who, at “al Milan”, as it was called at the time, became regulars.

We love to surprise our guests with a perfect combination of history and contemporary style.

(Bertazzoni family)

Starting from Giuseppe Verdi, the great composer, who lived here, in what is now suite 105, for 27 years, up to Maria Callas who used to stay in 114, or the great Caruso who here recorded the first vinyl of history, becoming a superstar of the music world.

At the end of the 1960s, a new chapter in history began with the acquisition of the hotel by Manlio Bertazzoni and his family. In 1969 he decided to renovate it and, with the collaboration of his children Gerry, Daniela and her boyfriend the fashion photographer Rocco Mancino, the Grand Hotel et de Milan became “the place to be”, the protagonist of the nascent Milanese fashion industry.

It is here that Gianfranco Ferrè will host his first fashion shows and always here that, thanks to an intuition of the couple, the custom of “renting” the suites to stylists and maisons for their events and press days will begin. It is also the principle of the “Milano da bere” vibrant era and Gerry’s Bar, the hotel’s American bar, becomes the preferred destination for local entrepreneurs and the international star system.

Now in its third generation with Daniela’s daughters, Alissia in particular, the Bertazzoni family is today still managing the 5-star hotel, strong in the same love for the art of hospitality and respect of its history that has distinguished the hotel since the first day of its opening.

To bring all the charm of the Grand Hotel et de Milan towards the third millennium, the Bertazzoni family has recently undertaken a new restoration which, while leaving the Liberty charm of the original structure intact, has led to the renovation of all the rooms as well as the Caruso Nuovo restaurant that has just opened to the public with the dishes of chef Gennaro Esposito and the style of Dimorestudio.

While the beautiful lobby, characterized by the typical late 19th-century boiserie on the walls and the original key rack (Grand Hotel et de Milan is one of the few hotels that has not, fortunately, succumbed to the charm of electronic ones and maintains the original hand-forged ones), the living room with the magnificent Art Nouveau ceiling and fireplace and the fine furnishings of its suites have been kept intact, including, a real rarity in the world of the hotel industry, all their most precious objects, witnesses of an important history.

Like the statue of the Indio in the foyer which commemorates when, in 1888, the Emperor Dom Pedro II of Braganza and the Empress Teresa Cristina of Bourbon, during their stay in the suite 123, had a law signed that put an end to slavery in Brazil, or the feather fan that belonged to Maria Callas and still hanging on the wall of the 114 dedicated to her, or the large wardrobe for storing theatrical costumes in the room where Luchino Visconti used to stay.

In fact, 21 of the suites pay homage to the creative genius of the great international personalities who used to occupy them and of which, despite the recent renovation of the bathrooms and all the modern comforts, they maintain a romantic trace.

In addition to the 95 rooms, the Grand Hotel et de Milan offers all the allure of the iconic symbols of 5-star grand hotels: from the 24-hour concierge service to the gym with a view over the roofs of the Quadrilatero, from the marvelous original Stiegler hydraulic lift to the porters in uniform, ready to satisfy your every wish.

The structure offers 2 restaurants, Caruso Nuovo, with its splendid winter garden, which has just reopened its doors in a new contemporary concept perfect for any time of day or night, and Don Carlos, inspired by Giuseppe Verdi with paintings and sketches from the Teatro alla Scala museum on the walls and in the background the arias of the operas and the songs of the most beautiful Italian music, which offers an excellent traditional cuisine.

Very few hotels contain so many luxuries, fantasies, stories and secrets behind the door of each room as the Grand Hotel et de Milan does.

The Secret

The gold book of the Grand Hotel contains more than 2900 names of celebrities who have stayed there and a truly exceptional collection of original autographs.

Useful Info

Grand Hotel et de Milan
Via Alessandro Manzoni 29
20121 Milano
Tel. +39 02 723141

Rooms: from 700 euro with breakfast, rate subject to promotions and seasonality