B&B Central Hostel Milano

The entrance of the hostel is easy to miss as its only indication is a tiny plaque on the wall of a bleak building. By contrast, the interior has a homey vibe thanks to its colorful decor. The walls of the entryway are painted gold and are made more cheerful with numerous potted plants. However, it lacks the camaraderie of most hostels, as its only common spaces are the bright kitchens, two of which have striped walls, floral wall paintings, and plastic tables and chairs with vibrant tablecloths. The third has more subdued, simple decor with parquet floors and a softer color palette. Reception isn’t available 24/7 and early or late check-in is only available with prior arrangements (which has been problematic for some past guests). Most guests are younger solo travelers and friends looking for a basic, cheap place to stay.

The B&B Central Hostel Milano is located in an area loaded with restaurants, bars, and shopping, a four-minute walk from Corso Buenos Aires. There’s a bus station a one-minute walk away and a metro stop four minutes away on foot. Milano Centrale Railway Station is a 12-minute walk away. The only main point of interest that can be reached on foot is the Indro Montanelli Public Gardens, which is 21 minutes away, and popular attractions such as Sforzesco Castle and Duomo di Milano are best reached by metro (both take under 20 minutes to reach). Linate Airport is a 16-minute drive away. 

This hostel offers mixed and female-only dorms with as few as four beds; private bedrooms are also available with single beds or two twin beds. Each room differs in style, though they often have loud, mismatched colors, various prints, striped or single-colored walls, and random decorative pieces such as squiggle-shaped mirrors or London-themed curtains. Dorms have simple metal bunk beds (though some are unstacked) and storage lockers. There’s an attempt at providing a homey vibe, with clothes racks and hangers, a chair or two, and sometimes storage racks or drawers. Bed linens, towels, and daily housekeeping are included in room rates. Rooms have air-conditioning, but there's a penalty for forgetting to turn it off when leaving the room. Certain rooms have balconies and the Quadruple Room is outfitted with a kitchenette with a microwave, a dishwasher, a kettle, a sink, and cutlery and plates. Private en-suite bathrooms are found in some rooms, though many have shared external bathrooms. Like the rooms, the bathrooms differ in style; some have kitschy colorful designs, while others are basic with single-colored tiles. They have bidets, walk-in showers or shower/tub combos, and hairdryers, but no toiletries.  

Despite the “B&B” in the title of the hostel’s name, it actually doesn’t offer breakfast. It does, however, provide a communal kitchen with a refrigerator, a microwave, an oven, a stove, a kettle, and a coffeemaker. There are also a few tables, chairs, and a small couch for lounging. Other amenities include bike rental and luggage storage. Laundry can be done for a fee. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property, though there have been some complaints about connectivity issues.