When we arrived at Hotel Dei Cavalieri Milan, we were not having a good evening. The bag theft on the train from Malpensa had taken most of the excitement out of arrival day. We’d spent the best part of two hours at a police station filing a report, navigated the metro with suitcases, and finally dragged ourselves through the hotel door tired, a bit shaken, and overdue for a glass of wine.
Paolo at reception sorted all of that in about four minutes. He checked us in, announced he was upgrading our room because Daisy needed space to run around, and then handed us a box of little Napoletane chocolates plus toothbrushes and toothpaste, because he’d heard what happened at the station and wanted to do something about it. I’ve stayed in a lot of hotels while travelling with Daisy across Europe and I’ve had nice welcomes before. This was different. This was someone who cared that our trip had started badly.
That is the Hotel Dei Cavalieri in a nutshell. Beautifully located, comfortable, and staffed by people who make you feel like they’re glad you came.
The Location
Before anything else, let’s talk about where this hotel sits, because it’s the single best argument for booking it. Hotel Dei Cavalieri is a two-minute walk from the Duomo, right beside the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, and next to the metro. You are in the centre of everything.
I know it sounds obvious but it changes how a city break works, especially with a dog and especially when the weather turns. On our rainy Saturday, I carried Daisy back to the hotel early-evening when she’d had enough of being in her bag all day. Left her to sleep, watched her on Zoom, went for dinner, came back, took her up to the rooftop for one drink. That kind of flexibility only works when your hotel is where everything is happening. If you’re staying twenty minutes outside the centre to save money, a rain day or an exhausted dog changes the whole calculation.
The metro connection matters too. When we needed to get across the city, it was right there. And for the airport taxi home, being in the centre means a flat rate fare. Never stay outside the city on a weekend trip. The commuting time, the transport costs, it all adds up and you lose the spontaneity that makes a city break worth doing.
Check-In Experience
Paolo made this one of the more memorable check-ins we’ve had. He didn’t ask for any documentation for Daisy. He just spotted her immediately, came around the desk, and gave her a proper welcome. Daisy’s response was to wag her whole back end at him, which is about as high a compliment as she gives. The upgrade to an Executive Junior Suite was offered without us asking, entirely because he wanted Daisy to have room. The pet supplement of €30 per day is charged at the hotel on check-out, so factor that into your budget but there’s nothing to pay upfront.
Email reservation@deicavaliericollection.com to book. We got a preferred rate including breakfast by contacting them directly. That rate isn’t always visible on third-party booking sites.
The Room
We were upgraded to an Executive Junior Suite and it was properly spacious. Daisy had plenty of floor to patrol and the bed was one of the most comfortable I’ve slept in on any trip. The room was well-appointed and quiet given the central location.
A dog bed was provided, which I appreciated. We moved rooms after check-in because of the upgrade, which meant some of the room amenities arrived slightly later than we did, so I’d suggest confirming at check-in that the dog bed and any bowls are in the room rather than assuming everything will be there on arrival. It all came through, just worth flagging with the team when you get there.
Breakfast at Hotel Dei Cavalieri
Breakfast was a highlight both mornings and we didn’t skip it once. Daisy sat at my feet under the table and was perfectly settled. That small detail matters more than it sounds. There’s nothing worse than navigating a cramped hotel breakfast room while trying to keep your dog out of everyone’s way. Here it was easy and relaxed.
The buffet is excellent. Hot options, cold options, pastries, cereals, juices, and sparkling wine if you want to start your morning that way. We had more than enough from the included buffet every day, but if you want something extra such as French toast or fried eggs, you can order those for around €8, which is very reasonable given the location.
Daisy helped herself to a bit of bacon, some turkey, and a few slices of ham across the three mornings and was very pleased about all of it. I don’t think she was officially supposed to be dining from the buffet but nobody said a word.
The Roof Milano
The rooftop restaurant at Hotel Dei Cavalieri is called The Roof Milano and it serves lunch, dinner, and drinks. You don’t need to book a meal. Going just for drinks is completely fine and honestly what I’d recommend for a first visit. Email info@theroofmilano.com to book and note in your message what you’re coming for and how many people. They need that detail to allocate the right table on the terrace.
The important thing for dog owners: terrace dining is dog-friendly, indoor dining is not. Book the terrace specifically when you email. The terrace is the right choice anyway. There are heaters on the patio, the views are over the city lights, and the whole vibe of the rooftop is the point. Inside would take away from it.
We went up on Saturday night after dinner elsewhere, already exhausted, and had one drink with Daisy on the terrace. She was wearing her Daisy-themed sweater and sat on my lap the entire time, looking out over the city lights like she owned the place. It was a lovely way to end a long day and I’d recommend building it into the plan if you’re staying here.
Dog Access at Hotel Dei Cavalieri
Daisy was welcome in all areas of the hotel without exception. Breakfast, the bar, the rooftop terrace, the lobby, the lift. We never had a moment where we had to leave her behind because the hotel itself wasn’t set up for her.
The pet policy can appear conflicting if you search it online, so my advice is to contact the hotel directly before booking to confirm the current terms. When we stayed, small dogs up to 10kg were accepted with the €30 per day supplement. That is the most important number to know going in.
For reference, Daisy is a Shih Tzu and travels in her sling carrier which I use throughout Europe. She fitted perfectly under restaurant tables, in the lift, and everywhere else we went in the hotel.
The Standout Moment
The chocolates. Without question.
We were standing at reception, tired and a bit shaken after the bag theft, and Paolo handed us a box of Napoletane chocolates and a toothbrush and toothpaste for my friend who’d lost everything on the train. He’d listened to what happened and just quietly sorted something. You can have a perfectly good hotel stay at a hundred different places in Milan. The human element is what makes one stay different from any other.
The whole team was like this. The breakfast staff who made sure we had the right table every morning. The ease with which the upgrade was offered. The feeling throughout the stay that having a dog here was welcome rather than just tolerated.
That is rarer than it should be.
Practical Details
How to book: Email reservation@deicavaliericollection.com and ask about preferred rates including breakfast. Third-party sites may not show the best rate and won’t flag the dog-specific details. You can check availability and compare rates here before you email.
What to request: Confirm the dog bed is in your room on arrival. Ask about bowls if you need them. Book The Roof Milano terrace if you want drinks or dinner up there, don’t leave it to chance on a weekend.
Getting there from the airport: Taxi from Malpensa, flat rate of approximately €110 to €140. Do not take the Malpensa Express train with luggage you can’t physically hold. I explain why in the Milan destination guide.
Pet supplement: €30 per day, paid on check-out.
Metro access: The hotel is right beside the metro. Useful for getting across the city and back when you need it.
Hotel & Room Tour
Who Hotel Dei Cavalieri Is Best For
Dog moms doing a weekend city break who want to be in the middle of everything. The Duomo is two minutes away. The Galleria is a short walk. The metro is beside you. Breakfast is included when you book directly and it’s good. The rooftop is a lovely evening option.
If your priority is having your dog properly welcomed rather than just permitted, this is where you want to be in Milan. Paolo will sort you out.
It’s not the place if you’re looking for a dog-welcome kit on arrival with branded treats and a printed itinerary. The dog-friendliness here is warm and human rather than packaged and presented. For this trip, that suited us perfectly.
For other dog-friendly hotels across Europe, have a look at the full hotel review archive if you’re still working out where to go next.
Quick Facts
Location: Via Silvio Pellico 6, Milan. Seconds from the Duomo, right beside the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, next to the metro.
Pet Policy: Small dogs accepted, maximum 10kg.
Pet Fee: €30 per day, paid at the hotel on check-out.
Best Room for Dogs: Executive Junior Suite for space. Ask about availability on booking.
Dog Amenities: Dog bed provided. Confirm bowls at booking as amenities may vary by room.
Dog Access: All areas of the hotel including breakfast and The Roof Milano rooftop terrace. Indoor rooftop dining not permitted.
Price Range: Approximately €250 per night including breakfast when booked directly.
Rating: 9 out of 10
Best For: Dog moms doing a weekend city break in Milan who want to be within walking distance of everything without paying the Duomo square premium.
Final Verdict
9 out of 10. The location is as good as it gets in Milan. The room was comfortable and spacious. Breakfast was one of the best hotel breakfasts of recent trips. The staff, Paolo in particular, made a difficult arrival evening into something we look back on warmly. The rooftop is worth booking ahead for.
Here’s my honest take on the 9 rather than 10: there’s no branded dog welcome kit, no printed dog-friendly restaurant guide, none of the packaged touches you sometimes see at hotels that have made pet-friendliness a formal part of their offering. For some people that matters as a signal.
What I’d say to that is this. On the Daisy scale, what pushes a hotel into 9 and 10 territory is whether your dog is actually welcome rather than just tolerated. A dog bed in the room. Breakfast access. Staff who are glad she’s there. Hotel Dei Cavalieri has all three. Daisy came to breakfast with us both mornings. She sat at my feet, ate bits of bacon and turkey, and was completely at home. A lot of places will let your dog sleep in the room and stop there. Hotel Dei Cavalieri let her start every day the same way I did. That is what the 9 is for.
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