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Welcome to Vogue’s first-ever spa guide—a compendium of the 100 best spas worldwide, pulling from the expertise of our global editors. There is a lot out there in the world of wellness, and we are here to sort the cryo from the cold plunge, the infrared light treatment from the IV infusion. Or if your path is a more holistic one—there’s something for you here as well.
Why go here?
Amid the hustle and bustle of Milan, the Bulgari Hotel Milano spa exists as a rare slice of subterranean serenity—and one of the few wellness havens of its kind in the beating heart of the city center. A modestly sized (but perfectly formed) jewel box of a spa, its dazzling centerpiece is the underground pool: lavished from one end to the other with glittering green and gold tiles, and surrounded by elegant loungers set against down-lit embossed stone walls. You could quite happily spend the best part of an afternoon down here, sipping on a cup of herbal tea and flicking through a magazine with Bulgari incense wafting through the air. (You might want to punctuate your idyll with the occasional visit to the nearby mosaic-lined hammams, the Swedish sauna, or the private outdoor Jacuzzi, which is surrounded by sleek wood paneling and looks out onto the gardens beyond.)
But then you’d be missing out on one of the top-tier treatments on offer. Thanks, in part, to its opulent trappings, the spa has attracted some of the very best therapists in Milan to deliver its extensive menu of facials and massages, or “journeys,” as the team here likes to call them—and they’re not kidding about the voyage-like experience of undergoing one. After having spent a week in the city on a work assignment, I opted for a Bulgari signature massage that left me all but transformed; despite the much-welcomed pressure, I even managed to squeeze in a short snooze. Yet the real draw is the spa’s Augustinus Bader facials, which blend the renowned German professor’s science-led skin care know-how with a touch of Bulgari “more is more” flair, and include dedicated treatments for eyes or décolletage. It’s little wonder to discover that the spa is a firm favorite among Milan’s high-society women. (And, I suspect, the men too.)
What’s the vibe?
Thought it may be centrally located, the Bulgari Hotel Milano is just the right amount of tucked-away. A five-minute walk from Teatro alla Scala and the ritzy boutiques of Via Monte Napoleone, it’s hidden down a side street right next to the oasis of the 18th-century garden and arboretum that is the Orto Botanico di Brera. Yet despite its leafy surroundings—it’s nestled within a 43,000-square-foot private garden—the hotel hovers like a glossy spaceship, with a contemporary minimalist edifice of white marble, bronze, and polished dark glass.
Breeze through its doors and you’ll find a more relaxed—if still ravishingly luxurious—vibe: Linen-paneled walls and glossy wood surfaces frame a lobby filled with plush cream sofas and side tables stacked high with art and design coffee table books. It’s an air of calm that extends to every guest room, which feature light, bright bedrooms and moodier bathrooms with enormous, opulent tubs crafted from granite and travertine marbles, lavishly stocked with Bulgari’s lotions and potions. The food here is uniformly excellent too, with contemporary Italian fare—and plenty of Milanese classics, including a fantastic Piedmont Fassona beef ravioli in asparagus sauce—served on Ginori porcelain at Il Ristorante on the ground floor, alongside a bar extending into the garden that becomes a buzzing hot spot for well-heeled locals once aperitivo hour rolls around.
The history?
When it launched all the way back in 2004, the Bulgari Hotel Milano was the first jewel in the Italian luxury house’s hospitality crown—there are now nine city hotels dotted around the world—and two decades later, it has lost none of its shine. You can chalk that up to the timeless design, or the fact that its restaurant and spa are as popular with locals as they are with guests. During its 20 years in business, the hotel has become a hot spot for the crème de la crème of visitors attending Milan Fashion Week and the Salone del Mobile.
What should you try?
If you have the means to do so—and you’re traveling in a pair—splash out on the spa suite, which can be booked by the hour and features a steam shower, side-by-side treatment beds, as well as an oversized hydromassage tub and dedicated relaxation area. Decorated in Vicenza stone and green and gold leaf mosaics, it’s Bulgari opulence, dialed up to the max. And while you’re there, get a treatment or two in too. Why not combine one of those previously mentioned Augustinus Bader facials with an LED light therapy session? You’ll emerge with a visage as sparkling as a Bulgari necklace.
How environmentally friendly is it?
Across both the spa and the hotel, there are a number of measures in place to reduce environmental impact, from low-consumption light bulbs, to organic and ethically sourced linens and towels, to biodegradable packaging. Smaller details within the spa include candles made from recycled wax and the sole provision of reusable containers.
Anything else you should know?
Given the volume of guests in town for glamorous events, there’s a full-service hair and beauty salon here too—whether you need a blowout ahead of a gala dinner, or a glossy manicure to match your new Prada bag.
Who can go?
Appointments at the Bulgari spa can be booked by hotel guests and non-guests alike.
Booking details for Bulgari Hotel Milano
Address: Via Privata Fratelli Gabba, 7B, 20121 Milano MI, Italy
Read more from Vogue’s Global Spa Guide.
