The Inspire List: The Most Stylish Hotels in Italy Right Now
- Andrew C.
- Jul 12
- 6 min read
The Most Stylish Hotels in Italy Right Now
Italy has always cast a special kind of spell: equal parts beauty, history, and feeling. As a seasoned travel expert and advisor, I’ve returned to its landscapes time and again, not merely in search of great hotels, but in pursuit of places that resonate where memory is shaped by light, scent, texture, and an ineffable sense of place.
"The Most Stylish Hotels in Italy" list isn’t built on trends or algorithms. It’s a deeply personal edit as each hotel here has been inspected, slept in, explored, and written about with intention. These are not suggestions from a distance, but reflections of lived experience. Of course, Italy is vast, layered, and ever-changing. There are regions I’ve yet to return to and new openings I’ve yet to explore. But what follows is a snapshot of the Italy I know now, a collection I would recommend without hesitation to a close friend, a valued client, or anyone seeking something unique with a real soul.
Each property on this list has been handpicked, vetted, and chosen for its design integrity, experiential richness, and timeless sense of style. It is, in many ways, a love letter to those rare places that feel both deeply grounded and quietly extraordinary.
Ready to plan your next Italian escape? Reach out to us or join MY CIRCLE for bespoke access to these one-of-a-kind stays and exclusive benefits. I hope these insider insights will help make your trip unforgettable.
Passalacqua — Lake Como
Passalacqua is where Italian hospitality ascends to poetry. Since its 2022 opening, this 18th-century villa has redefined luxury on Lake Como. Built by Count Andrea Lucini Passalacqua and lovingly restored by the De Santis family (also behind Grand Hotel Tremezzo), the estate now offers 24 suites of breathtaking refinement. Arriving by boat through an underground tunnel, one steps directly into history—greeted by a Murano-lit staircase, carved wood, and frescoes that rival museums.
Suite Bellini is the crown jewel—a neoclassical music salon where composer Vincenzo Bellini once wrote opera, now transformed into a palatial suite of soaring ceilings, quiet corners, and soft light. The Norma Suite is equally lush, with marble baths, hidden televisions, and Beltrami linens beneath painted ceilings. Every detail—engraved toiletries, glove-encased remotes, mirror-finish minibars—whispers quiet indulgence.
Days begin with an impossibly beautiful breakfast—pastry stands by every table, sun-drenched corners, and an open kitchen. By night, candlelit piano dinners transform the dining room into a romantic dream. The pool, surrounded by striped umbrellas and olive trees, is Lake Como’s chicest perch. Passalacqua is an aria of taste, soul, and timeless elegance.
Portrait Milano — Milan
Behind grand baroque gates in the heart of Milan’s fashion district lies Portrait Milano, a serene sanctuary built within the oldest seminary in Europe. The transformation of this landmark into a luxury hotel is both respectful and visionary. Its central courtyard—one of the city’s largest—is an architectural marvel of cloistered walkways and soaring colonnades. Designed by Michele Bönan, the interiors blend Milanese restraint with Ferragamo flair: cane-paneled walls, velvet headboards, and bespoke furniture echoing artisanal craftsmanship.
The suites are masterfully composed—layered, warm, and detailed without fuss. From 10_11, the lively piazza restaurant that feels like a stylish insider’s secret, to the subterranean spa with its vaulted stone pool, every touchpoint offers grace and modern comfort. Whether you’re here for Fashion Week or a quiet urban reset, Portrait Milano is a place of balance, beauty, and quiet glamour.
The Venice Venice Hotel — Venice
In a city of tradition and theatrics, The Venice Venice Hotel dares to be something else. Created by Golden Goose founders Alessandro Gallo and Francesca Rinaldo, this reimagination of 13th-century Palazzo Ca’ da Mosto pairs raw, historical architecture with radical, contemporary art. Velvet, concrete, Byzantine frescoes, and Arte Povera installations collide in unexpected harmony. It’s a living, breathing philosophy of imperfection, storytelling, and new Venetian identity.
Room 24—the Postvenetian Suite—is a masterwork: 300+ square meters of canal-facing privacy, a dressing salon, fitness space, and museum-quality interiors. Throughout the property, Venice M’Art serves as an art-meets-cuisine gathering space for creative locals and travelers alike. With unparalleled Grand Canal views, this hotel is where the city’s past and future meet in perfect contrast.
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Masseria Moroseta — Puglia
On a hill above Ostuni, Masseria Moroseta is an architectural poem. Designed by Andrew Trotter, the whitewashed farmhouse balances monastic calm with Mediterranean soul. Surrounded by ancient olive groves and the blue of the Adriatic, this six-room hideaway captures Puglia’s spirit in contemporary clean lines and raw textures.
Each suite is a meditation in simplicity with walled gardens, stone floors, and handcrafted ceramics. The saltwater pool, nestled in silence, feels like a secret sanctuary. Every meal, crafted from the on-site organic farm, is a sensory embrace of the land’s bounty. Sustainability is a quiet cornerstone here, woven into the experience through solar energy, local sourcing, and considered minimalism.
Masseria Moroseta is simply a slower, richer way of seeing the beloved Puglia region. For lovers of design, food, and quiet contemplation, it’s a place you’ll want to return to again and again.
Six Senses Rome — Rome
More than a hotel, Six Senses Rome is a meditative restoration of history itself. Housed in the 15th-century Palazzo Salviati Cesi Mellini and just moments from the Pantheon, the property weaves Rome’s past into every element. Designed by Patricia Urquiola, it layers travertine, soft curves, and biophilic textures atop marble staircases and coffered ceilings.
The rooms radiate warmth and sustainability, with artisanal ceramics, natural linens, and serene palettes. A Roman bath-inspired spa lies below—a subterranean sanctuary echoing caldarium and tepidarium traditions. Upstairs, NOTOS rooftop serves panoramic views of the Eternal City, while BIVIUM downstairs blends trattoria vibes with zero-waste innovation.
Hidden beneath the hotel is an ancient baptismal font—one of the many quiet wonders that root the experience in heritage. A place of wellness, history, and contemporary comfort, Six Senses Rome is a deeply Roman reverie.
Casa Brera — Milan
A new design favorite in the heart of Brera, Casa Brera redefines understated Milanese elegance. Located just steps from Teatro alla Scala, this discreet haven is housed in a 1950s Rationalist building, now reimagined by renowned designer Patricia Urquiola. Her signature approach—tactile, sculptural, refined—unfolds through curved silhouettes, warm walnut woodwork, soft stone accents, and burnt-orange Cassina furnishings. The interiors are confident and comfortable, never imposing, inviting guests to experience contemporary Italian design in a quietly luxurious way.
The 101 rooms and suites feel like serene design capsules, effortlessly marrying Poliform cabinetry, mid-century forms, and modern touches rooted in Italian craft. Every corner, from the open-plan lounge to the private balconies—whispers intention and intimacy. Crowning the experience is Etereo, the rooftop restaurant-bar that bathes in Milan’s golden hour, flanked by a slender pool and skyline views. Whether you're here for art, fashion, or simply to exhale in good taste, Casa Brera is a refreshing, elegant new chapter in the city’s story.
Villa Sola Cabiati — Lake Como
Set along the storied edge of Lake Como, Villa Sola Cabiati is not just a residence—it’s a preserved world of neoclassical romance. Once the summer retreat of the noble Serbelloni family, this 18th-century villa dazzles with frescoed ceilings, hand-painted silk walls, Murano chandeliers, and original parquet floors. The interiors are theatrical yet intimate, brimming with ornate stuccowork and carefully curated antiques that tell stories of empire and art.
The six suites each carry their own character and heritage, combining Italian opulence with quiet, contemplative luxury. Hidden within its wings is the preserved chamber where Napoleon Bonaparte and Joséphine stayed on their final visit to Como, complete with original furnishings and textiles. The gardens, shaped in arabesque patterns, cascade to the lake’s edge, framing a pool beneath cypress trees.
Perfect for weddings, private events, or simply for those who want to experience Como in absolute privacy and grandeur, the villa includes a full staff, private chef, and exclusive access to the Grand Hotel Tremezzo nearby.
La Gemma Hotel — Florence
In the heart of Florence, La Gemma Hotel is a boutique sanctuary wrapped in velvet and emerald tones. Just steps from the Duomo, the hotel reimagines Renaissance intimacy through a design lens. Think tropical wallpaper, mirrored arches, and staircases swathed in jewel-tone velvets. Every space—from book-filled lounges to curated art alcoves—invites slow wandering.
The rooms are decadent yet composed, with rich palettes, statement bathtubs, and tactile materials that feel indulgent without excess. LUCA’s, the rooftop restaurant, serves up Tuscan flavors with candlelit elegance, while the Allure spa below—curated in partnership with Biologique Recherche—offers a moment of calm indulgence. For the design-conscious traveler, La Gemma is a stylish, soulful way to rediscover Florence.
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