Pros

  • Central location near the Duomo, public transport, dining, and shopping
  • Industrial-style rooms with flat-screen TVs and minibars
  • Some rooms have patios or massage armchairs
  • 24-hour fitness center with weights and cardio machines
  • Restaurant, bar, and 24-hour room service
  • Breakfast buffet included in rates
  • Meeting room and public computer
  • Free Wi-Fi throughout
  • Valet parking (for a fee)
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Cons

  • Small rooms with no coffee/tea-making facilities or dressers
  • Complaints of noise from bar
  • Reports of unreliable Wi-Fi
  • Industrial style may not suit all tastes
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Bottom Line

The 64-room, four-pearl Hotel Straf is known for its industrial-chic decor (which might not suit all tastes) and lively bar that attracts guests and locals alike. Its central location is a major draw, and some guest rooms have spectacular views of the Milan Cathedral. Though the rooms have flat-screen TVs and minibars, they’re small, stark, and lack tea/coffee facilities. Notable amenities include a small gym, a meeting room, and a restaurant that serves lunch and a free breakfast buffet in the mornings. Wi-Fi is free, but sometimes unreliable. Travelers seeking something a bit more luxurious and a quieter atmosphere might want to check out Hotel Milano Scala, which has a cozy bar and lounge as well as a stunning rooftop terrace. 

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Amenities

  • Cribs
  • Fitness Center
  • Internet
  • Pets Allowed

Oyster Hotel Review

STRAFhotel | a Member of Design Hotels™

Scene

Industrial-chic hotel with a lively bar that attracts a young, hip crowd

Situated in a historic building near the Duomo, Hotel Straf is a small, modern hotel with stylish, industrial-chic interiors that attract young couples. The small lobby has a burnished iron desk and intimately lit seating area filled with fluorescent lights, a small skylight, and colorful low couches and benches. Overall, the hotel lacks art or decorative items in most areas, making for a cold, minimalist style. Some dislike the stark, unfinished look of some of the common spaces, like the hallways with cement walls. The hotel’s restaurant features chic decor with textured cement walls and floors, streamlined black and white tables, and some abstract art. However, the backless stools might make for an uncomfortable meal. By contrast, the bar has a more relaxed vibe with a large comfy leather sofa, low-lighting, multiple bar areas, and a flat-screen TV. It's popular among both guests and locals, making for noisy evenings for those needing an early night’s sleep. 

See More Scene

Location

Central Milan, near the Duomo, shopping, and restaurants

The hotel’s location is one of its biggest draws -- it’s in central Milan and right by the iconic Duomo di Milano, or the Milan Cathedral. It’s surrounded by shopping, with lots of boutiques, shops, and department stores nearby, as well as restaurants and cafes. There’s a metro station a three-minute walk from the hotel, as well as several tram stops within a five-minute walk. Many top sights are within walking distance of the hotel, such as Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II (two-minute walk), the Teatro alla Scala (four-minute walk), Sforzesco Castle (15-minute walk), and Santa Maria delle Grazie (20-minute walk). Milan's Linate Airport is a 20-minute drive from the hotel, while Malpensa Airport can be reached in around 45 minutes. Orio al Serio Airport in Bergamo is also about 45 minutes to an hour away.

See More Location

Rooms

Rooms with stark industrial decor plus flat-screen TVs, minibars, and in some, massage chairs

Rooms vary in size and furnishings, though all feature industrial-chic decor in neutral, minimal hues. But there’s something off-putting to many guests about the stark nature of the spaces -- many rooms have unfinished cement walls with plaster or wooden two-by-fours affixed to them. Others have a more polished vibe with smooth walls and textured art pieces. Some of the rooms are quite small, but there are also three spacious suites with living areas and beautiful views of the Milan Cathedral from private terraces. Relax Rooms include massage chairs, while Well-Being Rooms have aromatherapy and chromotherapy. All rooms have modern flat-screen TVs, minibars, safes, air-conditioning, and work desks with short backless modern stools, but they lack dressers and coffee- and tea-making facilities. There’s free Wi-Fi, but there have been reports of a spotty connection. Noise from the bar is reportedly heard from many rooms. Bathrooms are generally small, and are all black (even the toilets and bidets) or decorated entirely in brandished iron. They are outfitted with shower/tub combos, large trendy vessel sinks, toiletries, and hairdryers. 

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Features

Restaurant serving breakfast and lunch, popular bar, small fitness center, and a meeting room

As a relatively small boutique hotel, Hotel Straf has no space for a swimming pool, nor does it have a steam room or sauna. It does, however, offer many top-notch facilities, including a small 24-hour fitness center with cardio, weight machines, and free weights. There’s an on-site restaurant where a breakfast buffet (included in room rates) is served in the mornings and a lunch is offered during the day. The restaurant’s bar is especially popular in the evenings, attracting a young, hip, and loud crowd of locals and guests alike. Room service is offered 24/7, but a light menu is offered late at night. There is a fully equipped meeting room available, as well as a computer for guests' use and free Wi-Fi throughout the property. Valet parking is offered for a fee.  

See More Features

Oyster Hotel Review

STRAFhotel | a Member of Design Hotels™

Scene

Industrial-chic hotel with a lively bar that attracts a young, hip crowd

Situated in a historic building near the Duomo, Hotel Straf is a small, modern hotel with stylish, industrial-chic interiors that attract young couples. The small lobby has a burnished iron desk and intimately lit seating area filled with fluorescent lights, a small skylight, and colorful low couches and benches. Overall, the hotel lacks art or decorative items in most areas, making for a cold, minimalist style. Some dislike the stark, unfinished look of some of the common spaces, like the hallways with cement walls. The hotel’s restaurant features chic decor with textured cement walls and floors, streamlined black and white tables, and some abstract art. However, the backless stools might make for an uncomfortable meal. By contrast, the bar has a more relaxed vibe with a large comfy leather sofa, low-lighting, multiple bar areas, and a flat-screen TV. It's popular among both guests and locals, making for noisy evenings for those needing an early night’s sleep. 

See More Scene

Location

Central Milan, near the Duomo, shopping, and restaurants

The hotel’s location is one of its biggest draws -- it’s in central Milan and right by the iconic Duomo di Milano, or the Milan Cathedral. It’s surrounded by shopping, with lots of boutiques, shops, and department stores nearby, as well as restaurants and cafes. There’s a metro station a three-minute walk from the hotel, as well as several tram stops within a five-minute walk. Many top sights are within walking distance of the hotel, such as Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II (two-minute walk), the Teatro alla Scala (four-minute walk), Sforzesco Castle (15-minute walk), and Santa Maria delle Grazie (20-minute walk). Milan's Linate Airport is a 20-minute drive from the hotel, while Malpensa Airport can be reached in around 45 minutes. Orio al Serio Airport in Bergamo is also about 45 minutes to an hour away.

See More Location

Rooms

Rooms with stark industrial decor plus flat-screen TVs, minibars, and in some, massage chairs

Rooms vary in size and furnishings, though all feature industrial-chic decor in neutral, minimal hues. But there’s something off-putting to many guests about the stark nature of the spaces -- many rooms have unfinished cement walls with plaster or wooden two-by-fours affixed to them. Others have a more polished vibe with smooth walls and textured art pieces. Some of the rooms are quite small, but there are also three spacious suites with living areas and beautiful views of the Milan Cathedral from private terraces. Relax Rooms include massage chairs, while Well-Being Rooms have aromatherapy and chromotherapy. All rooms have modern flat-screen TVs, minibars, safes, air-conditioning, and work desks with short backless modern stools, but they lack dressers and coffee- and tea-making facilities. There’s free Wi-Fi, but there have been reports of a spotty connection. Noise from the bar is reportedly heard from many rooms. Bathrooms are generally small, and are all black (even the toilets and bidets) or decorated entirely in brandished iron. They are outfitted with shower/tub combos, large trendy vessel sinks, toiletries, and hairdryers. 

See More Rooms

Features

Restaurant serving breakfast and lunch, popular bar, small fitness center, and a meeting room

As a relatively small boutique hotel, Hotel Straf has no space for a swimming pool, nor does it have a steam room or sauna. It does, however, offer many top-notch facilities, including a small 24-hour fitness center with cardio, weight machines, and free weights. There’s an on-site restaurant where a breakfast buffet (included in room rates) is served in the mornings and a lunch is offered during the day. The restaurant’s bar is especially popular in the evenings, attracting a young, hip, and loud crowd of locals and guests alike. Room service is offered 24/7, but a light menu is offered late at night. There is a fully equipped meeting room available, as well as a computer for guests' use and free Wi-Fi throughout the property. Valet parking is offered for a fee.  

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Babysitting Services

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Basic Television

  • Business Center

  • Cable

  • Children's Pool

  • Concierge

  • Cribs

  • Dry Cleaning

  • Fitness Center

  • Free Breakfast

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Laundry

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Mini Bar (with liquor)

  • Pets Allowed

  • Room Service

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

  • Swim-Up Bar

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.