Château Monfort

Château Monfort, part of the Planetaria Hotels chain, is a luxury five-star hotel in Milan based on a unique concept: a magical setting reminiscent of a romantic castle, where your stay becomes something fabulous, in the sense of fables. It is located on Piazza Tricolore, in the Monforte district, close to Piazza San Babila and all the monuments of the city centre, such as the Cathedral, Teatro alla Scala, and the top fashion district.

The hotel is in a refurbished building dating back to the early 20th century, designed by Paolo Mezzanotte (who also designed the Stock Exchange building in Milan). The renovation has created 77 rooms and suites, and other spaces, on five floors plus two basement floors.

The public areas, such as the lounge bar, restaurant and event rooms, feature links to opera and ballet, so important in Milan. This was in part due to the contribution of Sofia Gioia Vedani, Managing Director of Planetaria Hotels; her training as an architect enabled her to provide specialist supervision to the design.

The Lounge Bar Mezzanotte features a glass dome, which provides views onto the adjacent church also designed by Paolo Mezzanotte. The bar is beautifully decorated, and includes an Eberhard & Co watch made specially for Château Monfort.

Ristorante Rubacuori

The restaurant (in Sala Rubacuori, shown above) presents haute cuisine by chef Pasquale D'Ambrosio, who blends regional Italian traditions with contemporary style and experimentation, ensuring that ingredients are all authentically local. The name could be translated as "heart-stealing," and the hotel's concept is that the restaurant will "borrow your heart and endow it with emotions," in an experience that will remain unforgettable.

Cella di Bacco

On the first basement floor, Cella di Bacco is a wine bar in an evocative setting with red brick vaulted ceilings. The bottles kept here are a selection from the finest vineyards of the world. It is a lovely location in which to enjoy informal dinners with food by chef D'Ambrosio, or impromptu snacks based on cheese and ham. Bacchus himself watches over proceedings from a fountain at the entrance dating back to the late 19th century.

Meeting halls

The basement floor offers two halls for meetings. Le Segrete (in the photo above) is a large space with vaulted ceiling, and it is ideal for conferences. Even more evocative is Sala dell'Incantesimo (below), an oval room that, with its lovely furnishings and lighting, is like something out of the fables. For particularly important events, both halls can be used, and in the future, the Spa and Fitness Centre, which will open soon.

Rooms and suites

The majestic staircase leading to the upper floors (there are also lifts, of course!) is worth a look, with its authentic period design, and the threee large chandeliers at the centre, creating sophisticated patterns of light and shadow. Each guest room is an oasis of charm and imagination, designed right down to the tiniest detail. They are perfectly sound-proofed, with efficient air-conditioning, and all the amenities typical of a modern five-star hotel. Classic beauty is accompanied by high technology, with hi-fi systems that can be used with your own smartphone or MP3 player, and 40-inch Philips TVs that also provide web access. The Junior Suites and Suites are on the third and attic floors, and they are inspired by opera, with elements that suggest Turandot, La Traviata, Madame Butterfly and La Bohème. The Suites can be compared to stage sets, with furnishings and decorations that add fascination. Skylights provide natural light during the day, and enable you to sleep with an enchanting view to the stars during the night.

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