Sleep in beauty at Italy’s top design hotels

Byblos Art Hotel Villa Amistà – San Pietro in Cariano, Italy

Entering the Byblos Art Hotel feels a bit like falling down the rabbit hole. This eclectic 16th-century villa has an art collection to rival any contemporary museum. The walls are covered in neon paintings, golden statues of acrobats, and striking photographs. And the furniture is just as unexpected, as orange bedspreads and glittering rainbow chandeliers are mixed with classic fountains and loveseats.

Byblos is not just a feast for the eyes though – The Atelier restaurant uses vegetables from the hotel garden in a theatrical tasting menu, with wines carefully chosen from the 15th-century cellar. Then there’s the spa, its arched golden ceilings and mood lit mosaics a perfect expression of the hotel’s philosophy, ‘art is living, living is art’.

Armani Hotel – Milan, Italy

Everything about this hotel is sleek. When you enter the 1930s-era Enrico Griffini building, a signature scent hits your nose – and it’s most definitely Armani. Dashing bellboys take your luggage as you’re whisked away by a personal lifestyle manager to your room.

Inside, you’ll find a simple, modern layout, with warm brown fittings and marble bathrooms filled with Armani toiletries. Clean lines are everywhere, from the plush couches to the bathtubs – complemented by fun extras like an unlimited minibar and a tablet to control the lighting and floor heating. In between shopping sprees to the boutiques of Milan, you can indulge in a spa treatment or a meal at the Michelin-star restaurant.

Fendi Private Suites – Rome, Italy

Right by the Spanish Steps, these seven apartments are conveniently located above Fendi’s flagship boutique. The rooms are designed in a classic Fendi aesthetic – hardwood floors, leather couches, and velvet chairs creating a minimalist, yet inviting, vibe. The browns and jewel tones of the walls and furniture give the rooms warmth, as do the buttery-soft Makò cotton satin sheets and complimentary Diptyque hair products.

In the main lounge, you’ll find an impressive art collection lining the veined marble walls, not to mention Campana Brothers sofas, Lindsey Adelman lamps, and Gio Ponti mirrors. The Fendi-clad staff can also help book you a table at Zuma, the super-trendy Japanese fusion restaurant on their rooftop.