I usually do not fancy two-star-hotels, especially in Italy, where the overall quality of hotels is very low and the service attitude bad and uninspired. My rule about Italian hotels generally suggests that one should always deduct at least one of the hotel's indicated stars to get to the "real" star-rating the hotel would deserve in a more "civilized" country. With Milan's Hotel Charly, it's just the opposite! It is listed as a two-star-hotel, but really feels like a three star!

Most of the hotels in Milan's central station area are shabby and often disgusting - I even had a bedbugs-experience in the nearby Hotel Impero a few years ago! The Hotel Charly is a hidden gem amongst all those low-quality-junk-hotels surrounding it: it is clean (really!), has charm (incredible!), serves a plain, but decent breakfast on a lovely glass garden loggia, and if you book a nonsmoking-room overlooking the garden, you might even feel like you're not in Milan, but in a much more romantic place ;-)

The rooms are in two neighboring villas from the 19th century, maybe 5 minutes by foot to the central station (subway station "stazione centrale") and 5 minutes by foot to the subway station "lima". Given the age of the buildings, they obviously don't have an elevator, so don't overload your luggage. Just across the street, you'll find a great traditional bakery at the corner, and a few block towards the city center you'll discover some of Milan's finest art nouveau buildings. The neighborhood near the central station is not the best, but Hotel Charly is in a more residential and surely not that scary area of the neighborhood.

For a two-star-hotel, it's really a great catch! As long as I can't afford the luxury-five-star-hotels in Milan, I'll definitely return to Hotel Charly ;-)

We stayed at Hotel Charly for 1 evening while enroute to Venice, Italy from Nice, France. While Milan the city was quite disappointing, Hotel Charley exeeded my expectations. The check-in was very simple, although my wife and I don't like leaving our passports at the counter for check-in while the receptionist fills out all the info. We were able to pick them up about 10 minutes after checking in. The room was spacious and the bathroom was very nice. Our only complaint was the bed was extremely hard. Probably the hardest we encountered on our 2 week honeymoon in Europe. The breakfast in the morning was really nice by European standards, and the location was an easy walk from the Central Train station and to the closest metro (subway stop).

The people don't care that much but the rooms are spacious and nice. Don't expect a great breakfast, very average.

We stayed two nights and got a cosy room at the third floor (no elevator). The simple breakfast with fresh coffee is served on the terrace overlooking a nice garden. Very refreshing in hot en busy Milano. 7 minutes by foot from the back of the Central Station, where you can take also the special bus to Malpensa (1 hour)
Some tips:
- Although the streets in the neighbourhood are not so nice, they were safe, also at night when we came late from the Metro station (600 m. away)
- Take tram 1 from nearby (300 m) for a tour through Milano, with a touristic map in your hand. (ask the helpful owners). Don't forget to buy tickets in advance. Get off and on from Monte Napoleone street, before it's not interesting.
- When you are at the Duomo, visit the roof and you will discover a world of amazing architectural intricacy . Imagine that also hundreds of years ago people were making a tour there (now with the elevator).
- Visit Monte Napoleone (fancy shops and neighbourhood) and Brera with caffee's and restaurants at noon and in the evening. Take care, they might charge you up to 7 euro for coperta and service.