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.

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.

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).

Breakfast
Breakfast is served from 7am until 10:30am

Room service
Available 24 hours a day



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.

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.

Diary 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

ESSENTIAL INFO

Rates guide
EUR 200 – 1,200

Open/closed
Open all year

Check-in
2pm

Check-out
12 midday

Minimum night stay?
No

Children
Kids are welcome and under-12’s stay for free

Pets
Small dogs are welcome.

Air conditioning
Yes – all rooms

Wedding license?
No