My favourite Airbnb: an ultra-modern Milanese penthouse with panoramic views of the city

Decorated with glossy contemporary statues that might be equally at home in a mid-century Palm Springs desert pad (think cacti and jungle cats) and stacked with coffee table books on Milan interiors, the décor adds a sense of place to an entirely renewed apartment. Its tech ensures a thoroughly comfortable stay: air conditioning (a must for summer travellers), electric blinds, bluetooth, a rooftop jacuzzi – and a U-shaped suede sofa facing a widescreen television that demands a group movie night. The kitchen, dining room and living area all intersect, making it the perfect space for hosting, or for an uninhibited dance party. While at first glance the apartment is a two-bedroom, the living room features two hidden single beds, meaning the penthouse comfortably sleeps six. Both bedrooms have beautiful ensuites; the (slightly) smaller room has the bigger bathroom which, being someone who seeks out counter space big enough for my Tata Harper essentials, sheet masks, wine glass and whatever it is I’m snacking on, determines my decision for where to bed down. Not to mention, a bath in the marble carrara statuario tub is a must, and offers a perfect view of the skyline at sunset.

Alessandro Della Savia

Alessandro Della Savia

Elena Rosignoli

Then, there is the nero marquiña marble steam room. The all-black mini-spa is the perfect place to sweat it all out either post-morning jog or after a long day in the city. (After the former, I recommend the picturesque 25-minute walk to Pasticceria Sissi for a counter caffè and cream-filled brioche; after the latter, a ten-minute taxi to Bar Nico, a simultaneously lowkey and vibey neighbourhood hotspot boasting some of best natural wines in the city).

Elena Rosignoli

Alessandro Della Savia

Most importantly, though, is the roof. Balconies on balconies is the best way to describe this place, with the first extending out of the kitchen, while once up the stairs, you’ve got a whole open-air, double-deckered situation. At the tippy top, under the September sun, I decide only the most torrential downpour could keep me off here – and at that, the glassed-in sunroom with much of the same view is perfect for rushing into, should the weather turn. A green decorative Jeep juts out of the rooftop’s cypress-tree bordered wall in what might be the ultimate work of modern art, and the wood deck is dotted with everything from a dining table to chaise lounges and a swing, making me wonder why there was never a Milan Fashion Week afterparty on Gossip Girl (or why the Roys didn’t come up here to ponder the future of Waystar during those Milan episodes). Here, 360-degree views of the city behold everything from the Apennines on one side to the Italian Alps on the other, with the life of the sprawling city stretching out before them.