At a Glance

• Location: Mayfair, London
• Number of Rooms: 144 suites
• Room Stayed: Grosvenor Junior Suite
• Dates of Stay: June 2026
• Rates: From £1,400 per night
• Value for Money: Fair. The suite size, service and spa justify the rate, but food and beverage reduce the overall value.
• Best For: Travellers wanting a grand central London hotel with generous accommodation, excellent service and substantial wellness facilities.
• Would I Return? Yes. It is a particularly strong option for a London staycation, although there are several excellent alternatives at this level and it wouldn't be my first choice.

What It Does Well

• Generous suite sizes
• Warm and attentive service
• Excellent house car offering
• Substantial spa, pool and gym
• Prime Grosvenor Square location

Areas for Improvement

• Food and beverage needs greater consistency
• Breakfast and room service require better execution
• Bar spaces lack atmosphere
• Pool service needs a lighter touch
• Spa treatments should feel more considered

First Impressions

The Carlton makes a modest first impression but a much stronger case once guests reach their rooms. The lobby and communal areas are compact, and it quickly becomes clear that this is not a hotel designed around grand public spaces or extensive facilities.

For the right traveller, that is unlikely to matter. Most visitors to Milan will spend much of the day away from the hotel. If the priority is a fresh, beautifully designed room in an excellent location this is a strong option.

The staff were friendly and welcoming from the outset, creating a positive first impression.

Setting

The Carlton sits within the Quadrilatero della Moda, Milan’s fashion district. Entrances on Via Senato and Via della Spiga place guests within steps of the city’s best luxury shopping.

The location is particularly useful for business travellers with meetings in central Milan, as well as leisure guests planning to spend their days shopping, dining and exploring the city. It is easy to return between appointments without allowing transport to dominate the schedule.

One entrance passes through a floral space connected to the hotel. During our stay, it felt more like an attractive passageway than somewhere guests would choose to linger, but it provides a pleasant approach from the pedestrianised Via della Spiga.

Arrival

A small driveway allows guests to arrive away from the street rather than stepping directly onto the pavement. Staff collected our luggage and escorted us to reception, making the process easy and unfussy.

Our room was not ready, so we went through for lunch. Approximately ten minutes later, the team advised that it was available. The arrival lacked ceremony, but it was friendly and efficient.

The Room

The Deluxe Junior Suite was the strongest part of our stay. Our room had windows on two opposite walls, one facing the street and the other an internal courtyard, giving it an unusually good amount of natural light for a city hotel, rather than the single-aspect layout most city rooms have.

The accommodation is generous, well appointed and genuinely fresh. The Carlton opened in November 2025, and the room still had the immaculate quality of a new hotel. There were no scuffs, worn edges or signs of heavy use, and every element worked as intended.

The design is contemporary, feminine and warm. It feels polished without becoming generic, with carefully selected colours, materials and furniture creating a comfortable residential character.

Some room categories include balconies or terraces overlooking the surrounding streets. I would consider booking one of these if returning, particularly for a longer stay in the warmer months

For a business traveller, the room provides the space and comfort needed to work, prepare for meetings and relax at the end of the day. Leisure guests who expect to spend most of their time exploring Milan will find it equally suitable.

Dining

Dining did not match the standard of the accommodation.

We had lunch shortly after arriving, and neither dish encouraged us to return. The artichokes were chewy and insufficiently trimmed. As they were served simply with oil, the quality of the principal ingredient needed to be much better.

Breakfast was inconsistent. The buffet was modest but attractively presented, and the food quality was generally good. On the first morning, however, a cooked breakfast arrived in stages, with toast followed by eggs and bacon much later. We sent it back and asked for everything to be served together, but the resulting delay forced us to cancel a scheduled appointment.

The second morning was considerably smoother, demonstrating that the kitchen and service team can deliver a good breakfast when operating properly.

The dining room remained very quiet throughout our stay and lacked atmosphere. This may improve as the recently opened hotel becomes more established, but Milan has many more compelling places to eat and drink.

Facilities

Facilities are limited. There is no swimming pool, while the spa and gym are relatively small. Guests seeking an extensive wellness offering or somewhere to spend most of the day should choose another hotel.

For many visitors, this will not be a meaningful disadvantage as resort style facilities are rarely essential for city stays.

Service

Staff were friendly and professional throughout our stay, and the overall service was good.

The only practical frustration was a request for a hair straightener that required chasing. This was a minor issue, although requests should be completed without guests needing to follow up.

At turndown, the hotel left a sample from Irene Forte, the beauty brand owned by a member of the Forte family. A gift should feel chosen for the guest. This felt more promotional than personal and added little to the experience.

Overall, the team made us feel welcome, and the small operational issues should improve as the hotel becomes more established.

Would I Stay Again?

Yes. The Carlton is an excellent option for a business trip or short leisure stay where room quality and location matter more than facilities.

I would not choose it for a holiday centred around spending time at the hotel. For guests planning to be out in Milan throughout the day, however, its limitations are unlikely to matter.

Final Thoughts

The Carltom delivers what many travellers genuinely need from a luxury city hotel: a fresh, comfortable and beautifully designed room in the right location.

The public spaces, facilities and dining are less compelling, but the hotel is not trying to provide a resort experience. Business travellers and short stay visitors are more likely to value comfort, efficient service and easy access to the city than a swimming pool or extensive spa.

For that purpose, Carlton Milan works extremely well. It is a smart and polished base for experiencing Milan, particularly for guests who understand exactly what it offers.

If you wish to have us assist with any bookings email us at bookings@stripetravel.com or contact us here. By booking with us, you will likely receive the following additional benefits:

• Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
• Daily breakfast for up to two guests per bedroom
• $100 USD equivalent food and beverage credit to be used during the stay
• Early check-in and late check-out, subject to availability
• Complimentary Wi-Fi