Rocco Forte House, an 11-Room Luxury Hotel, Opens in Milan

MILAN — Italian luxury hotel operator Rocco Forte Hotels has unveiled the second iteration of its Rocco Forte House concept, located in the heart of Milan’s Quadrilatero shopping district. Eleven apartments located inside a 19th-century building on Via Manzoni 46 were designed by award-winning London-based designers Paolo Moschino and Philip Vergeylen, in collaboration with Rocco Forte Hotels director of design Olga Polizzi.

Inside the carefully curated homes, the contemporary is harmoniously imbued with the past. Lacquered wall accents, upscale Italian fabrics, bespoke furniture, kitchens by Italian design firm Poliform and poetically sculpted Venetian glass lighting are a testament to Italian design. In one of the main suites, refined stucco and frescoed ceilings with sculpted cherubs and a couple in an embrace are a sentimental nod to the artistry of the 1800s.

A rooftop terrace and designated bar area afford guests a privileged view of the golden Madonnina statue perched at the top of the Duomo Cathedral’s spire. Some apartments are outfitted with terraces, planted with flowers already in bloom.

The first Rocco Forte House concept was built in Piazza di Spagna with five palatial private apartments within an 18th-century palazzo situated with a view of the Spanish Steps. Those have access to the spa, the bars and restaurants of the nearby Hotel de la Ville.

Rocco Forte Hotels management told WWD that Milan is lacking luxury residences with five-star concierge service to accommodate a growing wave of international visitors and business to Italy’s financial and fashion capital.

“There is an increased demand for more intimacy and privacy from people and the Rocco Forte House concept offers exactly that. We opened the first one in Rome with great success and now have a consolidated pipeline of such projects, mainly in cities where we already have hotels. In Milan we already have huge demand,” said Charles Forte, the hotel chain’s director of development and acquisitions. Forte, who is the son of Sir Rocco Forte, the group’s cofounder, added that services include a private chef, a personal trainer or even a dog walker.

Rooms are available for short or long stays and prices starting at 1,400 euros per night.

Sir Rocco Forte established the company with his sister Olga Polizzi in 1996.

Rocco Forte Hotels said it will cut the ribbon on a five-star hotel under the The Carlton banner, with entrances on Milan’s Via Senato and Via della Spiga, in 2025. The Carlton Milan was originally expected to open in 2024. It was announced in 2020 that Moschino and Vergeylen were tapped to design the interiors of the unit, which will include around 70 rooms and suites, a restaurant and a lounge bar, in addition to a wellness center and a rooftop bar.

Rocco Forte Hotels operates a collection of 15 locations including hotels, resorts, apartments and luxury villas throughout Europe, including the Verdura Resort and Villa Igiea in Sicily; Brown’s, the oldest hotel in London, and the historic Hotel de Russie in Rome.