My Review of Hyatt Centric Milan Centrale Hotel
A hotel that I would have never chosen on my own.
I prefer to stay where I belong, without making compromises, but also without unnecessary efforts.
However, sometimes history is written without considering my opinion, so… I was here, it was good, therefore I tell others and recommend it (only to those who can afford it 😜).
We arranged to meet in Milan with a friend settled in the U.S.A., who has different standards than us — of course, she also has different incomes.
So, being a member of the Hyatt club and benefiting from certain advantages due to this status, she booked two rooms with breakfast at one of the two Hyatt hotels in Milan — at the cheaper one.
We paid 1000 euros, she covered the difference (the price in the box is the one I found on Booking for that period, I don’t know exactly how much everything was, in reality).
The room without breakfast, booked without the possibility of cancellation, costs at least 210 euros, but it can go up to 300 or even substantially more, during periods of high demand (Fashion Week, etc.).
We got there at such and such time, the week of the season’s closing at Scala and another smaller event; the hotel was quite full but not overflowing.
Breakfast is 35 euros per day per person; it is fabulous, as the booking platform says, but it costs something. It is not mandatory to take it: Via Giovanni Battista Pirelli, the street you come from the train station, is full of small cafes that open at 7 am and serve breakfast to those who work in the area (there are many office buildings) at prices below 10 euros.
How we get here: the Americans — by taxi directly from the airport, they don’t have to open their own door, because in front of the hotel there is always (7/7, 24/24) a member of the staff (P1), who quickly runs down the stairs and takes the new client’s luggage.
We— came by bus from Bergamo airport, drag our trolleys to the front of the Central FS station, cross, and, of the three streets that open like a trident, choose the one on the right (the one guarded by Pirelli Tower), on which we walk another two hundred meters.
We heard conversations in about five languages, probably that’s the hotel’s policy, every client to find a way to communicate with the staff. All those we interacted with were extremely kind and competent.
An example: the other room had a problem, one morning, around 6, the air conditioning failed, and it started dripping in the room. When we returned after breakfast, the situation was already resolved. Moreover, in the evening, they found a box of macarons and a letter on the table, beautifully handwritten, personally signed by the manager, apologizing.
At the reception, dinner reservations are made; even those who are not staying here can request a table. In fact, the hotel has three restaurants, all with open access: there is a bar on the ground floor, in front of the reception (Intermezzo, P3-P8), with a terrace for smokers (P9).
On the 4th floor, we find Rivington-Cucina New York, where lunch or dinner can be taken (I might come back to this). Also on the 4th floor is the breakfast lounge: as you come from the elevator, the restaurant is on the right, and the breakfast room is on the left.
In case it gets crowded in the morning, breakfast can also be served in the restaurant area. Finally, on the 13th floor, on the terrace, with a view towards the skyscraper district, there is The Organics SkyGarden@Cielo, open only in the evening until late at night; you can eat here, but people come for the view, music, and cocktails.
Breakfast is an experience, I must admit. The finest cheeses and sausages, a corner for English breakfast (with eggs, fried bacon, and beans with sausages), fresh or compote fruits, salty and sweet pastries, tarts, and cakes — a treat.
To drink: about five types of juices, milk, tea, still water with lemon & mint (this can also be taken from the reception downstairs), and, of course, champagne. Coffee is ordered from the waiters who roam the hall, it’s good and comes quickly. (This was a problem for me, I was embarrassed to order a second one, considering that I usually drink three or four.)
The room, at first glance, was a bit disappointing. We had a king room with a double bed: there was no more than half a meter around the bed. Nevertheless, it proved to be practical in the little time spent inside, we had space to move around.
The bed was exceptional, the pillows firm, the linens smelled fresh (they were changed after three days). We had enough outlets, but it seemed like not enough light — a problem I’ve been encountering lately, wherever I go.
After a long time, I used the TV in the hotel room: I watched one of the European Football Championship semifinals, Netherlands-England. The AC worked well, but we couldn’t get it above 23 degrees (I liked it 😈) and it was a bit noisy — but it didn’t blow directly over the bed, big plus. Strong WiFi, although I prefer to use mobile data.
I didn’t like that the wardrobe had only open shelves (P20), we had to leave dirty clothes in plain sight.
In the fridge, we found three small bottles of juice, included in the price, and daily, whatever was consumed was replaced. Also, four bottles of water (still and sparkling) and a coffee machine with capsules (four capsules per day).
The bathroom is large, with a bidet. The towels — huge and fluffy, quality toiletries. Everything was new and very clean. The only problem: the hairdryer didn’t work. Oh, and I find it annoying that access to the bathroom is from the room, it is clearly preferable to enter directly from the hallway.
Since I’m nitpicking: I found the soundproofing of the rooms to be poor, the walls are quite thin. Then, the elevators, two of them, can’t handle the “traffic” during “peak” hours. And the window lights (P2) are visible from the room if you don’t lower the blinds. We had green and blue at the two windows.
Rooms on the top floors with city views are substantially more expensive. There is also a spa center, but with an additional cost (30 euros per person per entry). We didn’t test it; even if it had been free, we had a very busy schedule.
In conclusion: for those who do not count every penny, it is well worth it. I have read other reviews: Americans find it quite cheap, saying it offers good value for money 😉.
