Meet Hotel Calimala, Fashion's Favorite Milanese Hotel
Designed by architect Alex Meitlis.
If you find yourself in Milan, for fashion week or otherwise, Hotel Calimala is the perfect spot to stay. Following its success in Florence, Hotel Calimala touched down in Milan, claiming a historic corner of the Porta Venezia district. The second outpost from the boutique brand offers a 88-room retreat that trades traditional hospitality tropes for a deep dive into Milanese artisan culture. Conceived by architect and designer Alex Meitlis, the property is a “Total Design Project” where every element, from the custom furniture to the bespoke lighting, was created specifically for this site.
Guests are greeted by oversized black marble terrazzo floors, which were cut on-site from local materials, and walls finished in high-gloss walnut wood. The aesthetic is a deliberate departure from the Florence original, opting instead for a color palette of clay pink, citrus orange and minty blue that reflects the city’s fashion-forward identity. Plus, each space doubles as a gallery, featuring stainless steel-framed photography by Dafna Arnon that captures the fleeting, day-to-day beauty of Milanese architecture.
The social heartbeat of the hotel spans from the ground floor to the clouds. A street-accessible espresso bar serves the local Porta Venezia community, while the upper levels house a rare Milanese luxury: a sixth-floor rooftop swimming pool with panoramic city views.
The crown jewel of the hotel is its signature restaurant, FIVE led by Chef Moshiko Gamlali. The menu is set to focus on Mediterranean small plates, emphasizing crudo, fresh pasta and seasonal fish in a open-kitchen setting. For Meitlis, the project is deeply personal, designed as a tribute to his late husband and longtime Milanese resident, Ivo Bisignano.
Whether you’re grabbing an espresso at the street-level bar or heading up to the Salon for a cocktail, the hotel aims to be a community hub rather than just a place to sleep. This is evident in the fashion week parties it hosts, the kindness of the staff and the welcoming environment in which it boasts.
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