My Favorite Airbnb: A Sleek Milan Penthouse With a Rooftop Pool and Sunroom

Our plane touched down at Linate Airport in Milan later than expected and, as the hands on the clock moved past 2 p.m., we made a beeline for Dal Bolognese, knowing they’d seat us for lunch despite the hour. Antonio, one of the restaurant’s beloved waiters, whisked away our bags and brought back costoletta di vitello and two glasses of Barolo, as we texted an ETA to our Airbnb host. Before rush hour hit, we hailed a cab that drove us down via Napo Torriani, where Francesco, the penthouse’s enthusiastic owner, greeted us and nodded hello to the all-day concierge before calling the elevator to the top of the building, where we felt at once in the center and removed from the city’s hustle and bustle.

• Elena Rosignoli

Airbnb

Two-bedroom penthouse overlooking Milan

If the Skyline Milano building is old, the interiors of its highest residence are anything but. The epitome of Milanese modernity, this light-flooded marbled penthouse is as perfect for a Fashion Week base as it is for travelers on business, or, like us, visitors to Milan who are looking to make the most of the city before escaping for the better half of the weekend. Located next to Piazza della Repubblica, most of the city is within easy reach (parking is an option, but I’d encourage the convenience of the subway or taxi). Given this, the home is a hop, skip, and a jump from Milano Centrale—conveniently one of Europe’s most beautiful train stations. Francesco noted that his place has been the backdrop for films and photoshoots over the years, and I can see why.

Decorated with glossy contemporary statues that might be equally at home in a midcentury Palm Springs desert pad (think cacti and jungle cats) and stacked with coffee table books on Milan interiors, the decor adds a sense of place to an entirely renewed apartment. Its tech ensures a thoroughly comfortable stay: air conditioning (a must for summer travelers), electric blinds, Bluetooth, a rooftop hot tub, 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 en suites; the (slightly) smaller room has the bigger bathroom which, being someone who seeks out enough counter space for my Tata Harper essentials, sheet masks, wine glass, and whatever it is I’m snacking on, determined my decision for where to bed down. A bath in the Statuario Carrara marble tub is also a must, and offers a perfect view of the skyline at sunset.

Then there’s the Nero Marquina 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 10-minute taxi to Bar Nico, a simultaneously low-key and vibey neighborhood hotspot boasting some of best natural wines in the city.

The larger en suite bathroom, with a white Carrara marble bathtub overlooking the Milan skyline.

One of the two bedrooms, with a California king bed.

Elena Rosignoli

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. Once up the stairs, you’ve got a whole open-air, double-decker situation. At the tippy top, under the September sun, I decided only the most torrential downpour could keep me off there—and at that, the glassed-in sunroom with much of the same view is perfect for rushing into, should the weather turn.