HOTEL STRAF
Ubercool statement-making mood hotel in downtown Milano
RAW, ELEMENTAL, TACTILE – Hotel Straf will appeal to those who like their comforts in an expensively stripped-down sort of way. Step from the street through a 19th century facade into a
Japanese-calm space of low sofas and low lighting. Not a frill, flounce or frou-frou in sight; instead, swathes of dark slate, burnished brass, bare cement, textured glass, bold artworks and sober but handsome colours.
Black, white and red bedrooms have been
pared down to their most seductive basics at The Straf: a large but simple bed, unobtrusive furniture, mirrored walls, cleverly hidden lights. Decoration is limited to a piece of abstract art, an artfully displayed bamboo twig, a single red apple, and a carelessly tossed throw. It’s the perfect, peaceful cocoon.
Bathrooms at The Straf are sumptuous with
glittering bronze or gunmetal walls, sculptural white or black basins and huge mirrors. After a hard day’s shopping, slink – it’s that sort of place – into the Straf Bar, a studiedly cool space of industrial art and retro ’70s furnishings. One of Milan’s classiest hang-outs.
Hit the Spot
You're yards from Milan's famous Duomo.
Bedtime
Opt for a Wellbeing room, with a Japanese massage chair and aromatherapy oils.
Be Savvy
The vibe is retro-industrial.
Be Smitten
Design slaves will be in overdrive.
Minimum fuss
Bedrooms are a case of minimum fuss, maximum pleasure. We adored our Wellbeing room, complete with Japanese massage chair, and mood lighting. Won’t say what we did with the fab aromatherapy oils.
Milan’s twin temples of designer stores and culture are right at The Straf's door, and sleepy lovers can dip their croissants in cappuccino in the breakfast room – a sepulchrally calm space in white and black – before heading out for the inevitable full-on Milano shopping experience.
Hotel Straf was reviewed for Room for Romance by
Helen Pickles
Click on any picture to enlarge it and move through the gallery.
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Dining in
In the minimalist and strikingly lit surrounds of the restaurant (done out in shades of deep espresso and cream), chef Filippo Espositi serves inventive Italian dishes such as
involtini di spada con zucchini al pompelmo rosa (swordfish roulade with aubergine and grapefruit) and
risottino alla Milanese con crema di tartufo bianco d’alba (risotto with white truffle sauce).
Dining out
Milan has some of Italy's top dining spots. Try Da Giacomo, Ristorante Da Ilia or L'Angolo di Casa for great Mediterranean fish dishes.
Where?
The Straf
What’s cooking?
The menu is a cool mix of Italian and international cuisine, with an innovative twist.
Dress the part
This place is one of Milan's style icons.
Top table?
It's a place for stylish, rather than intimate, dining.
See & Do
There is more to Milan than shops. Look around the Duomo, and climb up to the roof for wall-to-wall vistas of the city. There is also the medieval fortress Castello Sforzeco and the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie with Leonardo’s Last Supper as well as the famous La Scala opera house.
Shop
Where to start? Milano's famous fashion
quadrilatero is the last word in chic and ostentation: minimalist stores seduce with dazzling window displays of clothes, jewels and accessories. Streets jostle with designer names: in Via Montenapoleone you'll find the atelier-showrooms of Gucci, Versace, Salvatore Ferragamo and a dozen others. Turn into Via Sant'Andrea and you'll hit on Fendi, Armani and Moschino. Be sure to wander down the lofty and imposing Galleria Vittorio Emanuele for a taste of old-time elegance.
Spa
After a hard days shopping, just collapse into one of The Straf's massage chairs in the chromo and aromatherapy rooms. There's also a fitness room.
After dark
Limber up with happy hour in the bar – this is one of the happening places for an
aperitivo among young Milanese. Dine out then head off to La Scala for a night's opera, or just make like the Milanese and
fare una passaggiata (getting glammed up to see and be seen). Milan is full of ultra-trendy bars and discos where you can party till the early hours.
Dates
Early December
The opera season commences at La Scala.
February
Rub shoulders with models, buyers and beautiful people at Milan Fashion Week.
GETTING THERE
Location
Via San Raffaele, 20121 Milano
Parking
There is garage parking close by.
Trains
Milano Centrale station – 7km
Taxis
EUR 15 from the station, EUR 20 from Milan Linate Airport.
Airport
Milan Linate – 8km, and Milan Malpensa – 45km
Rooms and suites
64 rooms, two suites and one executive suite
Special features
All three suites have a private terrace, while every room has satellite TV, movies and music on demand, a laptop-size safe and voicemail. Bathrooms are brilliant.
Also…
Wellbeing and Relax rooms have a massaging armchair.
ESSENTIAL INFO
Rates guide
EUR 200 – 1,200
Open/closed
Open all year
Check-in
2pm
Check-out
12 midday
Minimum night stay?
No
Breakfast
Breakfast is served from 7am until 10:30am
Room service
Available 24 hours a day
Children
Kids are welcome and under-12’s stay for free
Pets
Small dogs are welcome.
Air conditioning
Yes – all rooms
Languages
Italian, English and French
Wedding license?
No
Your contact
Marco Soli – general manager