Food, fashion and finesse at Radisson Collection Hotel, Santa Sofia Milan

FACT goes missing in Milano, Italy’s fashion capital.

A vibrant city of fashion and design, Milan offers an extraordinary blend of history, culture, and modernity, making it an enchanting Italian destination that continues to captivate visitors from around the world. 

Milan (or Milano as the locals call it) is renowned as one of the world’s fashion capitals, hosting prestigious fashion weeks and housing the headquarters of iconic fashion brands such as Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, Valentino and Versace. The city’s streets are filled with luxurious boutiques and trendy shopping districts like the Insta-worthy Quadrilatero della Moda.

The Northern Italian city is also home to a diverse gastronomic scene, ranging from traditional Italian trattorias serving homemade pasta dishes to MICHELIN-starred marvels. Yet Milan is much more than fashion and food. The city is an architectural gem with an impressive mix of historic and contemporary architecture. The majestic Duomo di Milano, a stunning Gothic cathedral, stands as the centrepiece of the city and the nearby Radisson Collection Hotel, Santa Sofia Milan, is our base for exploring the city.

City Chic

Now cast aside your aspersions regarding the Radisson brand, which has amassed over 1,700 hotels in 120 countries. While you may be familiar with the business-driven Radisson Blu airport hotels, Radisson Collection Hotel, Santa Sofia Milan, forms part of the new Radisson Collection Hotels, offering luxurious living inside one-of-a-kind spaces spanning the globe from Copenhagen to Riyadh. 

At Radisson Collection Hotel, Santa Sofia Milan, expect a stay anchored around Italian elegance and hospitality. The hotel’s collection of 159 rooms and suites has been thoughtfully designed to offer a home away from home where guests are encouraged to luxuriate away from busy city life. Our Suite on the third floor offers ample light, a comfortable bed, a curved red couch and a bathroom boxed in behind stunning glass panels. The décor showcases local artistry and embraces the natural beauty of Milan, while a colour palette of rich brown, sleek black, and dark navy leans heavily into the fashionable Milanese aesthetic. Luxurious amenities such as Culti Milano bath products, plush bathrobes, a Nespresso coffee machine and views onto the busy thoroughfare below enhance the elegance of a stay.

With its theatrical reception area draped in red curtains, this lifestyle hotel turns the perception of dining and destressing on its head. A charming albeit narrow rooftop swimming pool is flanked with pretty cabanas offering a quaint sun trap high above the city, while two distinctly different dining destinations will leave even the most savvy of diners satisfied. Issei on the seventh floor has become a staple for the Radisson brand, serving Nikkei cuisine in Dubai, Tallinn and now Milan. Signature dishes include Hamachi ceviche, Wagyu beef tartare with crispy rice, chargrilled eggplant with miso glaze and nori tacos with grilled lobster.

At the lobby level, Sofia Kitchen and Bar offers day-to-night dining amidst a charming setting that takes the green colour of the Milanese fountains and streetcars as inspiration for the upholstery and overall thematic. It’s a funky space by Milanese designers AtelierP and Alessandro Cesario, where images of Quentin Tarantino and Muhammad Ali line the walls and a floral ceiling installation from Berlin’s Studio Mary Lennox casts stunning shadows throughout the space. While the breakfast is good, the cocktails served from the central bar are better.

Marvellous Milan

Nestled in an exciting neighbourhood in the heart of the action, a brisk stroll brings guests from the fun and funky Radisson Collection Hotel, Santa Sofia Milan, to the Duomo di Milano, Sforzesco Castle, and Teatro alla Scala, where you can immerse yourself in the pulsating energy of Milan.

Milan is home to world-class museums and art galleries, including the famous Pinacoteca di Brera and the Santa Maria delle Grazie, where throngs of tourists gather to see Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper. For those searching for contemporary art, the Fondazione Prada on the outskirts of the city houses an impressive collection of works from Damien Hirst and Jeff Koons.

Yet much of the beauty of Milan lies in getting lost amidst the city streets, where you might stumble upon an architectural marvel such as the foliage-clad Bosco Verticale in Milan’s Centro Direzionale. Take time to explore the Giardini Pubblici Indro Montanelli, home to Milan’s Natural History Museum, gawp as painted frescos and graffiti, or stumble upon a quaint gelateria. 

Milan is a city veneered in an industrial glare where pockets of excitement can be found, though it may take some digging to find. However, more is more at Radisson Collection Hotel, Santa Sofia Milan, and the allure of a stay at this luxurious lifestyle hotel embraces the city’s unique fusion of fashion, architecture, art, and gastronomy. Whether you are a fashion enthusiast, an art lover, or simply a curious traveller, Milan is as memorable as it is magical.  

GO Visit www.radissonhotels.com for reservations and more information.