Capsule Review - Hotel VIU, Milan
Hotel VIU Milan is a stylish urban hotel with a contemporary feel, a great rooftop and a convenient setup for a city break. We actually had a very enjoyable stay, particularly thanks to a generous upgrade to a Junior Suite, which was spacious, spotlessly clean overall and much more comfortable than expected. The only exception was the visibly stained duvet, which was disappointing at this level.
The rooftop is certainly one of the hotel's strongest assets. The pool is excellent and makes for a great escape from the Milan heat, while the food served upstairs was genuinely very good. The only downside was the limited number of sun loungers. During our August stay, we occasionally struggled to find one, which was somewhat surprising given that Milan tends to be relatively quiet during this period. The rooftop has a great atmosphere, but it can feel more like a fashionable city hotspot than a truly exclusive luxury retreat.
This distinction is important when considering the pricing. Hotel VIU Milan is not in the same league as Milan's true luxury landmarks such as the Four Seasons, yet its prices for food and drinks can reach a similar level. For the location and overall vibe, I found the pricing rather ambitious. The hotel has plenty of style, but the experience doesn't quite justify positioning itself at the very top end of Milan's luxury hotel market.
Our actual stay, however, offered very good value thanks to several thoughtful touches. The Junior Suite upgrade was a welcome surprise, and we also received a welcome amenity consisting of a fruit basket, a handwritten welcome letter and a bottle of Prosecco. A late check-out was granted without any discussion, which made our departure particularly relaxed. The hotel also has its own parking garage, where our car could be parked directly inside the building for €40—a surprisingly convenient feature in Milan and one we appreciated enormously.
Breakfast was by far the weakest part of the experience. The à-la-carte selection sounded considerably more appealing than the buffet itself, which felt surprisingly limited for a hotel of this category. The choice was largely restricted to a few fruits, cereals and two types of bread, with even basic staples such as ham and cheese missing. Worse still, the buffet was only partially replenished from around 10am onwards, despite breakfast being served until noon. This is simply not what I would expect from a five-star hotel.
The way breakfast was communicated and charged added another layer of frustration. Our booked rate included breakfast, yet several coffees and an egg dish were charged separately. The hotel appeared to offer three different formats—a €30 buffet, a €40 option combining the buffet with à-la-carte dishes, and separate à-la-carte ordering—yet the distinction was not particularly clear, even to the staff. We raised the additional charges at check-out, but the receptionist was unable to remove them due to a lack of authorisation. Having to pay first and resolve the issue afterwards felt unnecessarily complicated. The breakfast experience is also a recurring point of criticism in recent guest feedback, which suggests this is an area where the hotel would benefit from taking a closer look at its offering and communication.
Location-wise, Hotel VIU Milan is perfectly fine, but it isn't the kind of neighbourhood where you can simply step outside and find a long list of great restaurants, bars and boutiques. Apart from the excellent Ceresio 7 rooftop nearby, most of Milan's more interesting areas require an Uber or taxi ride. For us, this wasn't a major issue, but it is worth considering when comparing the hotel with properties located directly in the city's most desirable neighbourhoods.
Despite a few shortcomings, I wouldn't hesitate to say that we enjoyed our stay. The rooftop, pool, spacious Junior Suite, excellent food and genuinely accommodating service created plenty of positives, while the parking and complimentary late check-out were particularly convenient. At the price point, however, expectations naturally rise—and this is where Hotel VIU Milan doesn't always deliver consistently.
The Verdict: A stylish and enjoyable city hotel with an excellent rooftop, good food and some thoughtful service touches. Our upgrade and overall treatment made the stay feel like good value, but the regular room rates are ambitious for the location and overall experience. The breakfast, in particular, needs a serious rethink. If you're looking for a fashionable Milan base with a great pool and rooftop rather than a classic ultra-luxury experience, Hotel VIU Milan is worth considering.
