La Favia Milano

A Once Derelict 19th-Century Wine Factory Exudes Vintage Glamour as a Small Hotel

Discovered by chance by two avid world travelers, this 19th-century wine factory in central Milan has been painstakingly restored and reimagined by its hosts as a personal place where tradition, design, craftsmanship and the joy of travel converge. Native Milanese, Fabio and Marco have injected the building with sophistication and eye-catching design, collecting and showcasing several decades of modernist design and furnishings, from 1960's Canovas wallpapers and 1970's decor, to Paolo Buffa, Gio Ponti and Le Corbusier vintage modern furnishings. All this mixed with handwoven Darjeeling carpets and early 20th-century Spanish pieces and presided over by the intriguing 18th-century Neapolitan portrait of Serafina Albertini, Princess of Cimitile, who is the patron grande dame of the property.

The space has grown to include four rooms with two large terraces, the veranda and breakfast area in the original "headquarters" building, two rooms in a renovated building across the street called Ca' di Facc, and two apartments, La Favia Suite and Cola Montano 8.

In the main building, you'll find:

La Barceloneta/Room 1: A double cityscape room with private bath featuring floral wallpaper and original 1950s lamps. Breakfast included.

La India/Room 2: A double, interior garden view room and private bath with a limestone floor and handpainted tile shower.

Oaxaca/Room 3: A double room with private bath and small kitchen on the terrace garden with original, 1940s wicker chairs and vintage Manuel Canovas wallpaper.

La Palmera/Room 4: A double room with private bath and small kitchen on the terrace garden with Gio Ponti Superleggera and vintage Manuel Canovas wallpaper.

In Ca' di Facc, the "House of Faces" building directly across the street:

Baia Rose/Room 5: Second story (no elevator) room for two with a private bath, original 19th-century cement tile floors and Art Nouveau decor. Coffee/tea station in room.

Baia Yellow/Room 6: Beautiful, bright yellow room with private bath and coffee/tea station on the second floor (no lift) overlooking old Milan decorated by an oversized photo portrait of the Maharaja of Pondicherry.

Apartments La Favia Suite: A 40sqm space on the fourth floor (elevator to the third) of the original building with a kitchen, double bedroom, lounge with sleeper sofa and private terrace for four. Breakfast included.

Cola Montano 8: Found in a different location, a five-minute walk from the two original buildings in the vibrant Isola district, the 30sqm second-floor (with elevator) apartment for two has a kitchen, bed, bath and balcony.

The original building offers a traditional veranda that leads up to two expansive rooftop decks, great spots for al fresco dining and lounging above the city. The terraces are a relaxing oasis with camellias, weeping willows, lemon and orange trees and where in the summer months you can enjoy the tomatoes and zucchini that are shared with guests. Stylish and complex in tone and design, there is nevertheless an ease and simplicity of living here that's uplifting and refreshing. 

Around

Located in Milan's buzzy, often pedestrian Garibaldi district, right at the heart of the city, the property itself dates from the late 19th century and is sheltered by the so-called “Spanish” city walls, just a stone’s throw from Corso Como, Brera, the Parco Sempione, Via Paolo Sarpi (Milan’s Chinatown) and the neighboring Isola district.

Upscale boutiques, vibrant sidewalk cafes, fashionable and energetic galleries, shops, museums and restaurants line the streets that showcase a mix of contemporary and historical architecture, and the neighborhood is home to Italy's tallest skyscraper. The pedestrian zone known as Corso Como is a designer shopper's delight, an area packed with high-end boutiques and makers' spaces alongside cool cocktail bars and see-and-be-seen cafes and restaurants.

Milan, of course, is all about high design and fashion, and it's one capital of Italy's amazing food scene. Garibaldi lets you experience design at it finest, the neighborhood home to the Triennale Design Museum, the Fondazione Sozzani Art Museum, and Eataly's Smeraldo Food Hall, a vast market and collection of distinctly Italian specialty food vendors. There's a recommended list of nearby cafes and restaurants at the property, with options listed from vegan favorites to global fare such as classic Swedish, Japanese, Indian and Greek.

The ornate, neoclassical Garibaldi Gate is adjacent to Parc Sempione, the latter a 10-minute walk from the property. And kids of all ages will enjoy the modernist Gae Aulenti Square, with its whimsical waterscapes. Chinatown, the artsy neighborhood of Brera and the indie-spirited Isola district are also easily accessed from the property, and visitors to Milan shouldn't miss the iconic La Scala or da Vinci's Last Supper. For an easy day trip, head to famed Lake Como. It's under an hour's drive.  

Location

Milan, Italy. Nearest airport: Milan Malpensa International

Best time to visit

Year-round