Excelsior Hotel Gallia, Milan

Excelsior Hotel Gallia, Milan
L’Officiel Arabia discovers the unique blend of history and exquisite hospitality behind one of Milan’s landmark hotels.

The art of hospitality is a skill not easily mastered, even by the most renowned hotels. Yet, in our society, with an overwhelming number of luxury hotels, few truly stand out for delivering service that matches their esteemed category. One of these is, at least in my experience, the Excelsior Hotel Gallia, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Milan (Marriott Bonvoy).

You could write a book about this hotel, but let's start in order. First of all, its location is exceptional; situated merely 100 meters from Milan Central Station, the hotel boasts an absolutely strategic position for travelers.

Secondly, the structure of the hotel captivates at first glance with its imposing Art Deco spirit, yet its history is equally compelling. The hotel, founded by Carlo Gallia, was inaugurated on February 29, 1932, although it was actually ready two years earlier. However, the Italian Government, to prevent the hotel from opening before Milan Central Station, forced Mr. Gallia to delay the opening by two years. From the very beginning, the hotel was appreciated by the elite of the time and renowned for its grandeur and majesty, which was only brought up to date in 2015 thanks to a major renovation by architect Marco Piva.

Upon entering the grand entrance, two elements immediately catch the eye: the grand marble staircase and the imposing chandelier that majestically descends from the seventh floor to the ground. And while the ground floor is characterized by the Gallia Lounge & Bar, a library, the Cigar Room, and the breakfast room, the Gallia Restaurant (in the morning, I highly recommend a freshly made juice!), as well as countless meeting rooms including the over 1000 sqm Duomo room, the real difference is made on the upper floors.

First and foremost are the accommodations: the hotel boasts 235 rooms, including 53 suites, all of which are exceptionally spacious and bright. Each room is equipped with expansive bathrooms and stocked with customized and unique luxury amenities exclusively for the Excelsior Hotel Gallia. One of the stand out features is certainly the service: from 6 to 8 p.m., the staff, with the guest's permission, enters the room, prepares the bed, and ensures that the pillows and everything else are perfectly arranged to allow the guest to enjoy the best possible sleep.

Notably, the seventh floor houses the Katara Royal Suite, one of Europe’s largest suite at €20,000 per night, sprawling over 1000 sqm. An architectural marvel where privacy and Italian design reign supreme, along with a whirlpool adorned with mosaics and a rotating bed that adjusts according to the client's preferences.

Among the other marvels of the Excelsior Hotel Gallia, the panoramic Wellness center on both the 6th and 7th floors that allow natural light to flood inside the ambiances, includes a 15-meter pool connected to the Shiseido SPA Milan (the only one in Italy) and a fitness room equipped exclusively with Technogym machines. This area invites guests to indulge in an oasis of well-being. 

Finally, on the 7th floor, the Terrazza Gallia Bar & Restaurant invites guests to savor exquisite in-house cuisine created by the Lebano brothers (Antonio and Vincenzo) under the consultancy of the Cerea brothers from the 3-Michelin-starred 'Da Vittorio' restaurant. Guests can enjoy their meals in complete privacy while admiring the breathtaking view of Central Station and Milan's financial district, with its ultra-modern skyscrapers just a few hundred meters from the hotel.

However, the things that surprised me the most about the hotel are mainly three. The first is the extremely high quality of the service; second, the hotel’s structure which provides a sanctuary of comfort and relaxation amidst the hustle and bustle of one of the world’s most vibrant metropolises; the second is the hotel structure that allows you to feel pampered and relaxed even while being in one of the most vibrant metropolises in the world.

For more information: marriott ; excelsiorhotelgallia