How do you make a grand entrance in one of the global capitals of design? With a wood, metal and bronzed glass façade that presents patterns of indentions and projections, lush vertical gardens, a roof-top pool, floor-to-ceiling windows in the rooms and more, Hotel Viu Milan (hotelviumilan.com) may just have cracked the code. Launched in March, the hotel has 124 rooms and suites elegantly designed in line with its common spaces that welcome daylight in.

The new hotel, a Design Hotels™ member, is located in the Porta Volta neighbourhood, surrounded by everything you’ll want on your Milanese adventure: centuries-old monuments to shopping avenues and pubs. Inside the hotel, there are gastronomic adventures on offer at Bulk, an informal restaurant conceptualised by Michelin-starred chef Giancarlo Morelli. Seated on low, cozy seating, you’re served regional cuisine from an open kitchen here. The Mixology Lounge Bar and Garden provide the perfect setting for enjoying cocktails on a hot day. The hotel also has a gourmet restaurant led by and named after Morelli.

The VIU, at the very top, is the only hotel rooftop in Milan with an outdoor swimming pool. Bask in the cool blue water as you take in remarkable 360-degree views of the fashion capital of the world. Here, Sunday brunches feature a resident Bossa Nova singer live in performance, while dusk and dawn are offer yoga sessions with a view. The hip hotel also has a spa, in-room massage and beauty treatments, and a 24/7 fitness centre, which provides personal training and yoga sessions on request.