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The Town House Galleria in Milan is surprisingly discreet for a luxury hotel. The front entrance is hard to find unless you know where to look and the décor is cozy compared to most high-end hospitality. Which is only right. Anything else would take away from the view of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the most beautiful shopping mall in the world. The 19th century Galleria was originally built to connect Piazza della Scala, home to La Scala opera house, and Piazza Duomo, with its magnificent Gothic cathedral. Under a vaulted glass roof and handpainted frescoes, the mall now has cafés, restaurants, boutiques — and only one hotel.

Each room at the Town House comes with its own private butler, on call 24 hours a day. Want tickets to the sold-out performance at La Scala? Done. Going to dinner but don't have the right shoes? Your butler can get a pair made. Hungry? Have a plate of eight cheeses and seven types of bread. After a stay here, it's tough to go back to making your own snacks, ironing your own shirts, and even looking out your own window. www.townhousegalleria.it

• Jumana Farouky
• In a Milan landmark a hotel takes service to the extreme