Hotel Cavour

Opened in 1959, Milan's Cavour Hotel takes some influence from the mid 20th-century "Brutalist" architectural school and has boxy exteriors with a lot of vertical rectangular windows. At one time this style was the height of elegant minimalism, but now it looks more like an office building. The lobby's lemon chiffon walls, Oriental rug, and flower-covered fabric chairs similarly suggest a glamorous era gone by. The marble floors, beautiful spiral staircase, and polished-wood reception desk still uphold an urbane, continental aura, but not enough to outshine the more dated elements. Conte Camillo, the on-site restaurant, has similar elements, namely a polished parquet floor, smooth wood buffet, and sculpted chairs. The Cavour Hotel's meeting room also has charming, albeit dated, decor, with a flower petal-covered green carpet and large, wood-panel doors. This property attracts business travelers and tourists alike with its convenient location. 

Among the Cavour Hotel's biggest advantages is its location in central Milan, near several tourist sites and upscale boutiques. Piazza Cavour, where several buses and a light rail line stop, is one minute away. Quadrilatero della Moda (fashion square) is eight minutes away on foot and includes designer flagship stores such as Versace, Hugo Boss, Armani, and Jimmy Choo. For culture-minded tourists, the Duomo di Milano (Milan Cathedral) -- an ornate Gothic cathedral built over the course of six centuries -- is a 14-minute walk away. Teatro Alla Scala, an opera house that has hosted many of Italy's best singers and ballerinas since it opened in 1778, is 10 minutes away on foot. The Unicredit Tower, Milan's highest skyscraper, is a six-minute drive. The Milan railway station is a nine-minute drive. The Milano Malpensa Airport is about 45 minutes away by car, while Linate Airport takes half an hour by car or just 40 minutes on public transportation.

In 2012, the architectural firm of Studio Simonetti, which works on a lot of Italian hotels, redesigned the executive-level rooms and suites. The firm created a fresh take on mid 20th-century design, with polished, dark-wood side tables and lounge chairs covered in brightly colored brushed cloth. Unfortunately not all 125 rooms were redone, and guests who books an Executive Room will have a very different experience than one staying in a Classic Room. The older-style rooms have caramel-colored wood and gold curtains that capture a type of elegance that was popular when the hotel first opened, but now seems out of style. All units have comfortable beds, minibars, coffeemakers, safes, and slippers. Bathrooms have tan- or cream-colored marble and shower/tub combos, plus bidets. Wi-Fi is only included in some room rates.

The Cavour Hotel doesn't give guest a lot of reasons to linger. The free breakfast buffet gets good reviews, but beyond that, time is probably better spent out on the town. The Conte Camillo restaurant serves traditional fare such as risotto with Castelmagno cheese and a port reduction and beef tenderloin with gorgonzola sauce. In addition to drinks, the hotel bar serves afternoon tea and light meals and snacks. There are also two computers in the lobby with Internet access plus a meeting room that can accommodate up to 100 people. Free Wi-Fi is available in public spaces.