Review: Park Hyatt Milan, Italy (Stellar, Central Hotel, But Missing Desks)

"I’d argue it’s without a doubt the best Milan property that belongs to one of the major hotel groups..."

Does that mean it's 'without a doubt' better than the Avani Palazzo Moscova, or is it just that GHA are an Alliance rather than a 'group'?

(having said that, my curiosity is rather academic as I'm not exactly planning to pay 4-figure sums for a night in a city hotel, and certainly not in Italy where prices get dramatically cheaper the moment you leave the centro storico)

@ Throwawayname -- I'd consider GHA to be a hotel marketing alliance, rather than a hotel group as such. People are free to disagree, but that's my take, and it's not intended to be a knock on GHA (which is awesome).

Looks lovely! I am weird and prefer luxury European hotel breakfasts to Asian. I don’t eat very much and I find the ones I had in Thailand overwhelming and definitely led me to over eating

Fair enough!

First, you describe the hotel as both luxury and boutique. Those are not the same thing. Boutique hotels are generally not luxury, and true luxury hotels are rarely boutique. Using both terms just muddies the waters.

Second, the decor is simply bad. Hyatt desperately needs a new design team for Park Hyatt. Whoever is overseeing the brand seems obsessed with low tables and bland blonde and brown woods—the aesthetic looks like the bastard offspring of IKEA and Japanese minimalism. What, exactly, was renovated in 2022? Because the interiors read early-2000s.

Third, look at the bathroom. In 2025, at a luxury hotel, it’s reasonable to expect a Toto-style bidet integrated into the toilet—not a separate, standalone bidet that feels dated and awkward.

Fourth, the welcome amenity is underwhelming. Prosecco? That’s cheap. A Park Hyatt in Italy should be pouring Trentodoc or Franciacorta. Both sparkling wines are made from the same traditional method as champagne. Some would argue Trentodoc or Franciacorta is better than champagne. Then again, this is consistent with Hyatt’s broader weakness: among the major hotel chains, it has the least compelling food and beverage program.

Eliminating desks and dressers - isn't that the new trendy approach by hotels to appeal to young people who want to just lay on the coach and play on their phone or tablet and leave their clothes in the suitcase? Only older people and business travelers want a desk and dresser - but this is not their intended market.

Small comment on the bidet; As this is Italy, they’ve chosen for a European bidet style. Although a Toto is more stylish and better in my opinion too, it’s just a region thing. In the middle east it’s mostly a hand shower, much less easy to use.

Honest question. Do people really like rain showers? I do not want to shower with water going down my head and face. So I ate it when the only other option is hand held without a hook high enough to shower. Like this one appears to have.

Am I alone?

I'm bummed they changed out the toiletries! The old hair products had one of my most favorite scents of all time (I think they were Laura Tonatto?). Do like that they stayed Italian though.

I'll take your word that the renovation looks better in person, as I think the pre-facelift rooms had more character. Looks sleek but generic now.

Overall a fond memory of this hotel and glad it's still highly recommended. I woke up at the very very tail end of breakfast one day and the staff went out of their way to ensure I still got everything I wanted from the buffet or otherwise.

I was walking by the hotel few days before Christmas and I was thinking about how it must be a nice hotel inside but what a terrible location it is, lol. You basically walk right into the most touristy crowds out there with no way to avoid it, and you have to travel for at least 10-15 mins to get anywhere even remotely local. Reminds me of Hilton Budapest. But judging by the review this product is very much worth the inconvenience 🙂

I hate rainshowers but I equally hate any kind of fixed-position shower. Handshower is the way to go as far as I'm concerned, I never understood how am I supposed to clean myself thoroughly without it.

This is a great location. The Duomo, the galleria and not to be overlooked La Scala. ( you can visit ) making the most of Milan's architectural highlights in a short trip. This adds a lot of value. ( I stay in a WWII tiny hotel, near the train station. Not fancy but an interesting thrift that I love)

No, you’re not alone. I don’t even like them when they’re an option with a wall mounted or hand held wand as invariably drops of cold water drip out of them on to you.

The whole remove-the-desks trend peaked around 2015 at Marriotts, Sheratons and the like -- mediocre 4-star hotels. For the most part, I believe it was reversed because the pushback from customers was significant.

I’d reckon the lobby has no seating is to not temp outsiders from coming in to sit for free since it’s a crowded area.

I stayed there earlier this year and felt very much the same, I somehow came without a lot of expectations and was very pleasantly surprised! I stayed in the same room as you, and you're right it looks way better and high end in person. I thought the bathroom was oddly gigantic, almost absurd? I also found the breakfast to be spectacular, the amount of options and the quality are some of the best in Europe. As much as I prefer hotels that aren't right smack in the middle of the touristic center, I'd 100% go back next time!

We were there in November in a Park Executive Suite and were very happy with the hotel. I'd worried about the decor since the renovation, but thought it was fine. I didn't miss a desk. The table with couch and chairs was fine. On a rainy day when we were tired we had room service dinner (which was quite tasty) and had no problem eating from the cart - no need for a dining table.

There were many many people taking pictures of the Christmas decorations at the entrance, but easy enough to walk through the crowd. No worse than the Four Seasons around Christmas with massive shopping crowds.

We stayed there in July for three nights in a junior suite and had a similar experience as you Ben. As another noted, I thought the bathroom was huge. Could have reutilized some of that space for the room. I know some aren't fans of the location, but we really appreciated how central it was and easy to access the metro.

Breakfast was great each morning and felt the staff there were attentive but not intrusive...and to a fault friendly. We enjoyed our time in Milan and would definitely stay there again if we come back.

Beautiful menorah LOL

I get it, the rooms and service were amazing.
My concern is the area. While proximity to the Duomo is great I spent many weekends nearby while on business trips. I often felt uncomfortable being harassed by the non Italian immigrants in the Duomo square. This issue is not only recent, it was a legitimate concern 20 years ago as well.

Perhaps it’s the photos as you say -
But the decor in the room and fit out of the hotel in general looks tired and drab.

I hate fixed wall showers.
If my husband would not have had a handshower in our bathroom I would not have moved from Europe to California.

?mdande7
I completely agree with you.

I read that it is a legal requirement for a bathroom in Italy to have a bidet.
Presumably that applies to hotel rooms as well as apartments?
Does a Toto-style seat meet the wording of the regulations?

Desks: In Europe I am still coming across removed desks (and other space on which to put things, including in the bathroom)
Now on the screening list before I book any hotel.

Wardrobes/dressers: Rarely is there anywhere to leave two bags open, so I think their imagined target market is supposed to never change clothes.

Thanks for the extensively detailed review, tremendously helpful in convincing me to finally try the PH Milan out after long hesitation.
As to the shortcomings you highlighted, while I'll leave the lack of desk up for debate, for the love of god am I grateful that "There wasn’t even any sort of a dining table or space to properly eat"...! I can only assume this must be intentional given the Milanese dining scene, as no property would, or should, in good faith ever encourage a sad in-room hotel meal in Milan, let alone a Park Hyatt!

Um what...
Personal bidets are so much better and not dated at all. Hotels and houses are actually REQUIRED to have them by law in Italy.

TOTO bidets are not the same and cannot substitute a real bidet.

This is Europe, deal with it.

Avani Palazzo Moscova is a former NH 4-star hotel. No comparison with the PH.