Location Milan is compact, but in heavy traffic the Principe’s location in the business centre, close to cultural hotspots and the fancy shops, is a big plus. It is also just 7km – 20 minutes in a cab – from Linate, “Milan’s other airport”. Malpensa, the main airport, is 50km away (50 minutes in a cab). Buses and trains go to the Stazione Centrale, as does the FNME train, Malpensa Express.

Style The fact that the semi-circular drive to this neoclassical landmark is abuzz with limo and taxi wranglers day and night emphasises that this is the hotel in town – the sort of well-upholstered, thick-carpeted palace where the floral displays are always immaculate and it seems that afternoon tea is always being served. Clientele are either rich enough not to begrudge a €10 espresso or beautiful enough never to see the bill. The Principe Bar is cool enough for those who want to dazzle, withenough dark booths for those who crave privacy. The Acanto restaurant serves pretty good classic dishes but it has much competition in this town. Breakfasts buffets are lavish and the poached eggs sensational – rare for Italy – but the continental options are expensive, with so-so bread baskets. Club 10 Fitness and Beauty Centre pampers comprehensively and the 10.5m-long pool is terrific.

Guestrooms Each of the 269 rooms and 132 suites is decorated in 19th-century Lombard style – dark woods and pale damask wall coverings – and discreetly fitted out with flat-screen TVs (withextensive menu), Wi-fi and the other modern must-haves you’d expect. Beds are particularly comfortable. Some suites are so vast and opulent it’s pointless describing them but they’re available for corporate gigs should you have a launch party with a Maggiolini or a Caligula theme. All bathrooms are extensively marbled, withenough Acqua Di Parma goodies to make the whole of Naples smell good.

Can I work here? The 13 meeting and banquet rooms can be configured for 10 to 1,000 people. There is also a 24-hour business centre, but internet use is metred. More disappointingly, it costs €27 for 24-hours in-room internet access. In-room desks are okay, but some are wedged in the mirrored thoroughfare to the bathrooms; fine for supermodels checking their contracts and eyelashes simultaneously; not so ideal for less glamorous drones.