The Bulgari Hotel in Milan proves that luxury and comfort have no boundaries

The first Bulgari hotel opened in Milan at Via Privata Fratelli Gabba on May 18, 2004. This event marked the entry of the Bulgari Group - one of the largest players in the luxury segment - into the hotel sector.

Ten years later, the hotel celebrated its anniversary with the opening of renovated rooms and relaxation areas, a new SPA, and culinary delights.

The classic yet modern design by renowned architects such as Antonio Citterio and Patricia Viel was refreshed with cream linen wallpapers, new furniture from Antonio Citterio's Flexform and Maxalto collections, draperies by Enzo degli Angiuoni, modular B&B bookcases, and plush carpets from Altai. All rooms are adorned with Bulgari jewelry sketches, and the suites feature a new collection of art and design books.

Archival sketches of the famous 1950s "Jardinetto Reale" spire are displayed on all stair landings, along with images of celebrities such as Monica Vitti, Sophia Loren, and Anita Ekberg.

One of the most extensive renovations took place in the SPA, where a treatment room, sauna, and outdoor jacuzzi were added. The hotel also started collaborating with consultants from "La Mer" to create skincare spa products.

Three key aspects that set the hotel apart from others are its unique location, modern design, and variety of services, the highest quality of which has always distinguished Bulgari. The hotel is situated in one of the most prestigious areas of Milan, rich in cultural heritage and offering ample opportunities for luxury shopping. Located in the beautiful Brera district, the hotel is set within a private garden spanning 4000 m2, adjacent to the Botanical Garden.

The hotel consists of 58 rooms and suites, most of which offer splendid views of the garden. Impeccable service standards for every guest are maintained by a staff of over 100 people under the management of General Manager Attilio Marro. The restaurant, terrace bar, garden relaxation area, banquet hall, cigar room, and SPA have been designed to make them places for leisure, including for local residents. Two conference rooms accommodating up to 35 people and a banquet hall are available for meetings or private gatherings.

DESIGN

Bulgari Hotel is a delicate balance between the strict design of the space and the richness of the atmosphere, achieved through heavy and solid materials such as black marble from Zimbabwe and bronze. The building located on Via Gabba dates back to 1950. The design sensations of that era, combined with the modern design of the street built over the last thirty years, accentuate the graphic composition of the hotel. The facade made of white marble creates a refined and light mood that contrasts with the massive design of neighboring stone buildings. The windows, framed by a cornice of black granite and outlined with painted oak, represent a visual play of contrasts of the restored part of the 18th-century facade.

As guests approach the building, the garden can be seen through a wall of greenery. The vestibule's narrow and tall windows offer a view of a high sliding door protected by a massive bronze console roof. Mirror window glass reflects the decorative garden, while transparent ones reveal the majestic sequence of five-meter interiors. The use of black granite and Burmese teak wood creates an elegant, albeit informal atmosphere that blends perfectly with the garden, which is an extension of the interiors. In addition to the transparency of the facade achieved through a combination of bronze and glass, the blackness of the granite lends a monumental style to the interiors. The living room fireplace is adorned with images from Bulgari's archives.

Located at the end of the garden, the restaurant impresses with its unusual dome-shaped ceiling suspended above a large oval balcony of black resin that overlooks the terrace and garden.

In the SPA, one can see the golden stone from the city of Vicenza, laid out in random patterns, green glass in window frames, and an enthralling bath adorned with golden and emerald mosaic. The result of the renovation is a modern and sleek design, creating an atmosphere of Eastern idyll and well-being, ideally suited for the SPA.

In the hotel corridors, white and black colors are repeated, and graphite oak and soft fabrics are used on the walls. The room doors are thick and heavy; they create an acoustically insulated and perfectly private environment, offering views of the quiet garden, which is almost unreal for the center of Milan.

All rooms are organized in a logical sequence of spaces, from the perfectly proportioned entrance to the bathroom overlooking the garden. The bathroom features a pale color of bleached oak, while lighter shades of natural fabrics provide warmth. The bright bathroom, where the dominant features are a bathtub made of black granite, a sink, and a shower, stands in stark contrast to the light paleness of the bedroom.

Located on the top floor is the "luxury" suite, which is the most open yet at the same time the most exclusive area in the hotel. An almost three-meter gallery fully shields the transparent facade and creates an open space in the garden with breathtaking views of the city.

The idea of an urban villa is enhanced by the use of natural teak on the floor, laid in a way to connect the space inside and outside. The living room features a monumental neoclassical fireplace made of Brera stone, and the bathroom with a bathtub carved from a single block of Turkish stone resembles open bathrooms at Eastern resorts.

At Bulgari hotels, the design of every detail has been carefully considered. The hotel in the center of Milan is an example of diverse design, where every element has been studied: from door handles to the entire facade, from each piece of furniture to desk accessories, from architecture to glass and fabrics. The logical design makes the hotel's atmosphere understandable and meticulously planned down to the smallest details. Everything you can see or touch is part of a unified concept based on meticulously considered technical details, so the form and essence of the service seamlessly integrate into uncompromising quality.

GARDEN

The Bulgari hotel's garden reconstruction project provided an opportunity to rediscover one of Milan's few historical gardens.

Previously, the garden belonged to a monastery. Over the years, it was divided into small plots before becoming a hospitable and tranquil garden lounge in the 19th century, a period followed by its inexorable decline into botanical wilderness.

The restoration project emphasized the Milanese-Lombard style of the garden and its surroundings. The goal of the restoration was to restore a vast number of the gardens of historical villas in a contemporary manner.

Based on this, a selection of trees and shrubs characteristic of such historical parks and gardens was made. Some of the trees were already present in the Bulgari hotel garden. Trees and shrubs were arranged to create a series of open-air rooms in a unified layout.

In front of the restaurant, there are four small terraced platforms, three of which are planted with grass.

In the first teak relaxation zone, twenty-five decorative trees are planted in large pots. In the second zone, there is a lawn shaded by ancient horse chestnuts. The third relaxation area offers five "rest areas" shaded by umbrella-shaped palms with white wisteria vines twining around their trunks. The fourth zone consists of camellia bushes alongside magnolias and bamboo.

The journey through the garden ends at the private Dom Perignon bar, surrounded by a tall living hedge of red beech.

A path winds among hydrangeas between annual and perennial flowers under three weeping willows.

Architect: Sophie Agata Ambroise.

RESTAURANT

Italian traditions, based on sharp flavors and textures of dishes, combined with excellent seasonal ingredients and refined techniques, are the key features of the cuisine at the Bulgari hotel restaurant, where original interpretations of classic dishes are offered with a modern twist.

The menu is characterized by harmony and contrasts, whimsicality, and constant aesthetic exploration of colors and volumes. The hotel offers a variety of dishes for different times of the day, ranging from fresh, quick, and light lunches to more elaborate dinner options. Food is served either at tables with Bulgari cutlery or in the bar overlooking the beautiful garden.

Breakfast includes various options: from the lavish Bulgari breakfast with a choice of juices and jams, eggs with Iranian caviar, champagne and lobster, to a very fresh Mediterranean breakfast based on olive oil, tomatoes, and fresh fruits.

Classic Italian appetizers and cocktails are interesting and captivating in their variety. Room service is available around the clock.

The wine selection is diverse: from wine tastings of the best Italian brands to exploring interesting and new varieties at different wineries. The offer is completed with an excellent selection of champagnes and sparkling wines, as well as strong alcoholic beverages from elite brands, such as rum from Saint James in the Caribbean Islands, dating back to 1885.

All year round, the chef selects the finest ingredients for the dishes at the Bulgari Hotel in Milan, embodying all the freshness and colors of the season.

SPA

The recently renovated SPA of Bulgari Hotel was conceived as a sanctuary for the mind and soul within the bustling city. The new spaces include luxury rooms with mosaic steam showers, a marble hammam, a Swedish sauna with eucalyptus aroma, and a jacuzzi. Alongside renowned cosmetic brands, the hotel has developed three exclusive lines of elite products for the SPA: "La Mer" with its legendary Miracle Broth elixir, 100% certified Amala, and the Sothy's men's cosmetics collection.

The reconstruction only enhanced the elegant architecture of the SPA, offering a unique atmosphere that invites guests to rest and relax. At the same time, the modern design of the SPA creates a captivating variety of ancient wellness philosophy, which underlies modern healing methods.

To slow down the fast pace of the city and create a pleasant atmosphere for relaxation, the SPA specialists at Bulgari have created exclusive procedures and products with pure and completely natural ingredients, such as essential oils and plant extracts.

Among the main guest products, an exclusive face cream from "La Mer" is offered. The procedure using Joanna Czech's facial cosmetics transforms the face and décolleté, softens and prepares the skin with Miracle Broth - a priceless extract, coveted worldwide and exclusively available at this SPA. Individual treatment methods are aimed at vulnerable areas of the face to help restore skin energy, regain its former elasticity, and noticeably renew it.

INTERESTING FACTS

• The first mentions of the original plan of the Bulgari hotel garden date back to the 1300s. The garden is first mentioned in the 1305 treatise De Ruralium Commodorum by Piero de Crescenzi.
• Twice as much marble was used in the construction and renovation of the hotel compared to what is usually used by hotels of the same category.
• The fireplace in the living room is made of black granite from Zimbabwe and weighs 15 tons.
• In the relaxation room, guests have access to a small library with exclusively recommended books.