Avani Palazzo Moscova occupies a substantial historic building near Milan’s Porta Garibaldi district.
Our stay at Avani Palazzo Moscova in Milan began much later than planned. After ITA Airways canceled our London City–Milan Linate flight, we rebooked from Luton to Malpensa. That replacement flight was also significantly delayed, and we eventually reached the hotel at approximately 4:30 a.m.
We had booked just one night, leaving relatively little time to use the property. Thankfully, the hotel handled our arrival efficiently, provided an upgraded room, and accommodated a later checkout.
This stay had been structured around an opportunity to use a targeted American Express Offer for Minor Hotels, reducing our effective cost from $359.35 to $259.35.
Booking and Cost
We booked Avani Palazzo Moscova for October 16–17, 2026, through GHA DISCOVERY, using a prepaid GHA Special Deal Rate of €300.08.
That charge appeared as US$336.81 on my US American Express Platinum Card and triggered a $100-back-on-$300-spend Minor Hotels Amex Offer credit, which posted before we even arrived. Milan’s city tax of $22.54 was collected separately at the hotel, taking our net cost to $259.35.
The credit hitting wasn’t guaranteed, as some missteps on my part meant our prepaid GHA reservation appeared to violate two conditions of the Amex Offer. I’ve covered that result separately in My GHA Hotel Booking Appeared to Break Two Amex Offer Rules. I Still Got $100 Back.
Avani was also our second hotel brand this year within GHA DISCOVERY, following an earlier stay at Capitol Kempinski Singapore. In addition, we booked NH Linate for the end of our Milan visit as a third brand, all part of an experiment to qualify for GHA Titanium status through three different brand stays. I’ll cover the results of that experiment separately.
Arrival and Check-In
Check-in at the Avani was straightforward. The staff welcomed us sympathetically at 4:30 a.m., had our reservation ready, required little more than identification and a credit card, and quickly sent us to our room. After the preceding day’s travel problems, we appreciated the efficiency.
We had booked a standard Avani Room but were upgraded to an Avani Superior Room, arranged across two levels with a mezzanine sitting area. As a GHA DISCOVERY Silver member, I wasn’t entitled to a room upgrade, so this was a discretionary benefit. The hotel didn’t offer a reason for the upgrade, and I wasn’t in a particularly inquisitive mood at that hour.
The Mezzanine Room
The room was arranged across two levels, with the bedroom and bathroom downstairs and a separate sitting area on the mezzanine.
The mezzanine overlooks the bedroom, with a separate seating area upstairs.
The main bedroom had high ceilings, tall windows, a television, desk, and storage. The bed was firm with a softer top layer, and we slept comfortably.
The downstairs bedroom had high ceilings, tall windows, and a separate television and desk.
The bathroom had a walk-in shower, wall-mounted toiletries, and a relatively compact vanity.
The compact bathroom included a walk-in shower and wall-mounted toiletries.
There was also a safe, hanging storage, and minibar facilities in the room. A staircase led to the mezzanine, which overlooked the bedroom through a glass balustrade. Upstairs were a sofa, another television, and the coffee-making facilities, along with bottled water.
Coffee-making facilities and a second television were located on the mezzanine.
The two-level arrangement provided a separate sitting area, although we didn’t make much use of it. Having to go upstairs to make coffee also seemed a tad peculiar.
Public Areas and Location
Avani Palazzo Moscova occupies a neoclassical building dating from 1840, when it opened as Milan’s first railway station, serving the line to Monza. Its railway history is reflected in some of the interior decoration, including the timetable-inspired artwork in the lounge.
The building has a substantial forecourt separating the entrance from the street, with outdoor seating on either side. Restaurant seating also extends outside to one side of the entrance. Inside, the contemporary public areas include colorful lounge seating, bookshelves, and several places to sit. An interior staircase and glass-covered atrium connect the different areas of the property.
The hotel’s public areas combine contemporary furnishings with references to Milan’s history.
The hotel is conveniently located for exploring Brera and the surrounding shopping districts. After checking out, we left our luggage at reception and walked toward Brera for lunch.
Milan’s tram network runs close to the hotel, providing another option for getting around the city.
We didn’t try the hotel’s restaurant or other facilities during our stay, so I can’t offer any personal insights on those services.
Late Checkout and Departure
Given our 4:30 a.m. arrival, we asked about a later checkout. The hotel accommodated us until 1 p.m., and we used virtually all of that extension to sleep. Like the room upgrade, late checkout wasn’t a published benefit of our Silver GHA membership.
After lunch in Brera, we returned to collect our luggage and attempted to arrange an Uber to our next hotel. Getting a car took quite a bit longer than expected. We eventually left the property and walked toward a nearby intersection to meet our driver.
Demonstrations were developing around central Milan that day, although I couldn’t establish whether they contributed to the difficulty obtaining a car. On a future visit, I’d probably ask reception to arrange a conventional taxi instead.
Overall Assessment
Avani Palazzo Moscova handled an unusually difficult arrival well. Check-in was efficient despite the hour, the mezzanine room was a worthwhile upgrade, and the discretionary 1 p.m. checkout gave us some additional time to sleep.
The location worked well for our visit to Brera, although arranging transportation on departure proved unexpectedly difficult. We didn’t spend enough time at the property to assess its restaurant or other facilities.
At $359.35 before the Amex credit, this was an expensive overnight stay given how little time we had to use the hotel. The $100 statement credit reduced the effective cost to $259.35. I’d happily return to Avani Palazzo Moscova, preferably under circumstances that allowed us to make more use of the property.