Spice Hotel Milano

This independent boutique hotel is a great choice for those who prefer to avoid the big chains. It is housed in an elegant 19th-century building, with sleek, modern interiors. The compact single rooms are a very practical solution for solo travelers, and there are also spacious triple and quadruple rooms for groups. Some of the rooms have long, narrow balconies, which make for a lovely social space if you’re in town during the summer. The breakfast, made in-house by a pastry chef, is as authentically Italian as anything from a Milanese cafe. Illumined, a 24-hour cruise club, is 3 minutes walk down the road.