KCR Autumn 2023 FINAL low res - Flipbook - Page 54
Avani Palazzo M
The neoclassical facade smacks of a bygone - and desirable - era even
before you know that the building housing Milan9s Avani Palazzo
Moscova was constructed as the city9s 昀rst railway station in 1864. In
the intervening years, before opening as an Avani property in June, the
property housed Italian brand Moschino9s HQ. Both of these previous
incarnations - travel and fashion - are acknowledged in the hotel9s lobby,
which uses old suitcases and a dressmaker9s mannequin as decorative
props.
Mind you, you have to get past the terrace before being ushered into the
Avani - the global brand9s debut in Italy - and this may be a struggle.
Seeing the drinks, most of them an enticing shade of orange, that guests
are drinking, is like an amber tra٠恩c light: they urge you to 8wait9 and
enjoy one of your own.
There9s a lift to the upper 昀oors, where the hotel9s 65 rooms are housed,
but it9s worth taking the stairs, a square spiral with elegant pendant
lights dangling, at various heights, through the centre. The travel theme
is incorporated, again with vintage suitcases, but this time with trailing
plants tumbling from within them.
The presence of greenery hints at the Avani9s eco-credentials: not only
did the group sign to the UNESCO Sustainable Travel Pledge in 2022,
but the property swerves single use plastic and serves up food which is,
in the main, locally sourced.
Oh, and what food it is. The hotel9s restaurant, Forte Milano, is as
di昀erent as imaginable from the rooms, which are comfortable and
indulgent, but in a pared-back, contemporary way: this space, on the
other hand, pairs deep, luscious reds with distressed leather and maritime motifs. These - model ships, 昀shing nets, captain9s wheels - are
indicative of the seafood-heavy menu, which features ostriche (oysters);
gamberi (prawns); risotto seppie e carcio昀( risotto with cuttle昀sh and
artichokes); polpo e patate (octopus and potato); spaghetti alle vongole
(spaghetti with clams); fritto misto (a battered and deep fried medley
of seafood and vegetables) - as well as raw 昀sh options such as tartare di
spigola, avocado e lime (sea bass tartare with avocado and lime). Fresh
caught daily from the Tyrrhenian Sea, every mouthful is lip-smackingly
good.
The hotel excels with the included breakfast, too - essential fuel for a
day of sightseeing. Prepared fresh daily, guests can choose from a range
of juices and pastries, as well as Continental-style cheeses and meats,
accompanied by yoghurt, fruit and bread. Freshly cooked options, such
as eggs, are available to order - and this being Italy, the co昀ee is, unsurprisingly, sublime.
Although many of the temptations of the city - boutique shopping, the
Duomo di Milano (Milan Cathedral) Teatro Alla Scala and the chic Brera
quartiere (district) - are within easy reach of Avani Palazzo Moscova,
you9d be forgiven for wanting to while away many of your Milanese
hours in the hotel itself - not least because of the laid-back comfort of
the rooms, but also because of the well-equipped gym and the incredibly indulgent spa, where treatments range from 8emotional showers9 to
quick-昀re facials, manicures and pedicures.
If you9re undecided on how to best spend your time in Italy9s fashion
capital, the Avani has several curated guest experiences, each carefully
selected to enhance your connection with the city. Fancy a tour in a
beautifully restored 1971 Fiat 500, driven by a local with movie-star
looks? A homemade, multi-course dinner in the beautiful apartment
of two passionately foodie residents with exquisite taste? A 8nonna
approved9 pasta making class? The hotel can arrange all of these, and all
of them are incredibly fun, fruitful, and worthwhile.
Milan never used to be in the the Top 5 of my favourite Italian cities.
Now, after a stay at the Avani Palazzo Moscova, it is.
Fact Box
Avani Double Rooms at Avani Palazzo Moscova Milan start from ¬233
(approx. £199) per room, per night based on two sharing. Includes
breakfast and taxes.
www.avanihotels.com/en/palazzo-moscova-milan
By Sarah Rodrigues