A €60-million transformation brings new life to The Carlton Milan, where mid-century influences, bespoke craftsmanship and a confident palette define a distinctly Milanese sense of style.
Milan’s reputation as Italy’s fashion capital is well established. With houses such as Prada, Dolce & Gabbana and Versace all headquartered here, the city carries a certain authority when it comes to style. That influence extends beyond the runway, with Milan’s street style scene also famously self-assured – an ease with tailoring, texture and proportion that sets the tone year-round. It’s hardly surprising then that the family-run Rocco Forte hotels, co-founded in 1996 by Sir Rocco Forte and his sister, Rocco Forte Hotels’ creative director Lady Olga Polizzi, have chosen the city’s Quadrilatero della Moda fashion district as the location for its 10th Italian address – a €60 million, five-year renovation of the former Baglioni hotel, which opened its doors at the end of last year.
Home to 71 rooms and suites, two restaurants, a bar and spa, The Carlton Milan – which unfolds across two combined buildings – is the brainchild of renowned interior designers Philip Vergeylen and Paolo Moschino in collaboration with Polizzi. Grounded in a distinctly Milanese sense of style, it steps away from the overt exuberance often associated with Italian hotels, offering a more restrained, quietly confident aesthetic defined by clean lines, refined materials and a simple colour palette.
“The palette, the bespoke furniture, the leather elements and the hand‑painted wallpapers were all conceived to reflect Milan’s sartorial heritage and its architectural sophistication.”
Lady Olga Polizzi, creative director, Rocco Forte Hotels
“We wanted the spaces to feel elegant and timeless, but also warm and personal, rooted in the city’s remarkable design and sartorial heritage,” Polizzi tells Cultural Union. This involved blending mid‑century influences with rich textures, bespoke furniture and beautifully crafted details in a bid to capture the city’s unique balance of sophistication and creativity. “The idea was to design a sanctuary of style in the heart of the fashion district, where guests feel both inspired and completely at ease,” she adds.
In fact, The Carlton’s location in Quadrilatero della Moda played a key part in shaping the design direction, with interiors conceived to echo the sensibility of the neighbourhood. “It is refined, tailored and rich in detail, much like a beautifully made garment,” continues Polizzi. “The palette, the bespoke furniture, the leather elements and the hand‑painted wallpapers were all conceived to reflect Milan’s sartorial heritage and its architectural sophistication.” Craftsmanship is also at its heart – Rocco Forte once again teamed up with inhabitants of the San Patrignano Community, a centre for the rehabilitation of drug addicts and alcoholics, to create various elements of the design. “Their community has deep ties to Milan, and over the years they have cultivated artisanal techniques that are increasingly rare – exactly the kind of expertise a project like this requires,” she explains.
This is exemplified by their hand-painted wallpapers, emblazoned with oversized black-and-gold leopard print, which take pride of place in the washrooms. “Collaborations like this are what make a hotel feel rooted in real craftsmanship and in the human stories behind it,” adds Polizzi.
Guest rooms range from Superior Rooms, which look out onto the interior courtyard, to a selection of five Forte Suites – the most impressive being the 113sqm Carlton Presidential Suite, which pairs city views from its private terrace with a lounge area, walk-in wardrobe and Carrera marble bathroom (complete with Irene Forte amenities, the B-Corp-certified skincare brand launched by Sir Rocco’s daughter).
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Throughout the hotel, all rooms and spaces are defined by bespoke furnishings and Italian artistry. “The hand‑painted wallpapers inspired by Anni Albers bring a subtle geometric rhythm that nods to the city’s textile tradition,” explains Polizzi. “At the same time, mid‑century Milanese influences – particularly the refined lines and proportions associated with Gio Ponti – guided the bespoke furnishings and overall balance of the rooms.” Suites project warmth and sophistication, leaning into deeper tones including greens, blacks and bronzes, layered with leather and textured fabrics. “These colours echo the city’s mid‑century heritage and its sartorial precision, bringing depth and character to each room,” she adds.
The culinary scene at The Carlton is as considered as the design, with three distinct venues. With its entrance on Villa della Spiga, the more casual Cafe Floretta marries botanical-inspired interiors with natural light that floods through the domed glass roof – “It was conceived as a bright space for open, inviting and ideal for social moments,” explains Polizzi – while Spiga, the hotel’s main restaurant, is more intimate and refined, with a palette of deep greens and muted pinks.
The menu is devised by chef Fulvio Pierangelini, Rocco Forte’s creative director of food. Described as a “reverential reinvention” honouring Milan’s culinary heritage, it translates to a selection of starters including burrata with broccolini and white truffle, red mullet and veal tenderloin salad, and Fassona beef tartare. Pasta course options include ossobuco ravioli and pea tortelli – finished simply with butter and parmesan. Mains include pan-fried sole with lemon and capers, monkfish with green peppercorn sauce and a particularly impressive take on beef Wellington, served with potato gratin layered with black truffle.
The Carlton Bar nods to Italy’s aperitivo tradition, with a cocktail list by the celebrated mixologist Salvatore Calabrese inspired by the Milan of the 1960s to 1980s. The space is framed by a counter inspired by the mid-century sculptor Fausto Melotti and Murano glass ceiling lights moved from 1960s-era guest rooms – “It was our way of honouring the building’s heritage while allowing these pieces to shine within a fresh, contemporary context,” says Polizzi.
The hotel’s Irene Forte Spa is a 280-square-metre retreat rendered in burnt sienna, moss green and petrol blue. “We wanted to create a space that feels deeply restorative and aligned with the philosophy of Irene Forte Skincare,” says Polizzi. “Every detail reflects a holistic, nature‑led approach to wellbeing.”
In a city with a strong claim to being the home of design and fashion, The Carlton is an entirely natural fit. Confident and refined, it’s a hotel that reflects the city at its best. “We hope guests leave with the feeling of having stayed somewhere genuinely Milanese, defined by an understated sophistication,” says Lady Polizzi.
“Above all, we hope The Carlton stays with them as a hotel shaped by style, authenticity and considered design – a true reflection of the spirit of the city.”
The Carlton, Via Senato, 5, 20121, Milan