Amid much competition for central five-star hotels in Milan, the Milan is thernpreferred choice for a veritable golden book of royalty, statesmenrnand stars past and present (its devotees drop the name’s clumsy ‘etrnde’, a French wartime addition). Many of it’s 8 suites are dedicatedrnto its historic guests, including Verdi (a resident for two decades),rnCallas and Nureyev (it’s evidently handy for La Scala). Opened in ’86 and now a member of the Leading Hotels of the World, thernsuperlatively refined Grand Hotel is unusual because it offersrntradition with taste, backed up with discreet and earnest service.rnBehind a grand neo-Gothic facade, a further 77 well-sized rooms arernindividually decorated in Austro-Hungarian imperial style withrngraceful repro and antique furniture, parquet floors, high ceilings andrnlarge marble bathrooms. Priceless European antiques adorn the publicrnareas – namely the Falstaff bar and its two restaurants, the Carusorn(with summer courtyard) and Don Carlos (with a wine cellar to diernfor). The modern glass, cubed fitness centre is incongruouslyrnsuspended in the courtyard like a goldfish bowl – useful forrnunsolicited star-spotting.