Housed in what was once a General Motors factory, only a few splashes of color on the otherwise unremarkable facade of the Nhow Milano hint at the hotel's Art and Design concept. Inside, the theme becomes much clearer. A sparse, spacious reception area retains many elements of the original building and combines them with colorful, super-funky furnishings, and quirky contemporary art pieces. Look for a neon green armchair embellished with metal spikes and rainbow colored sofas. Glass cut outs in the floor showcase arranged ephemera. The lobby also holds an art exhibition that rotates every six months, emphasizing the hotel's focus on art. It's not surprising that the Nhow tends to attract a clientele of hip young couples, fashionistas, and business guests involved in the arts and media.

The Nhow Milano is located in Milan's trendy Tortona district, a 10-minute walk from Porta Genova Metro station and about 15-minutes to the city center by car. From the nearby metro station, it's eight stops to Milano Centrale Train Station while for those with a car it's a five-minute drive via the A7 highway. Parking is available at the hotel, but there's a charge for it -- a common theme in Milan.

The hotel has 246 soundproofed and air-conditioned rooms, all of which have minimal funky decor with dark wood floors and retro furnishings. Walls are painted chocolate brown or bright orange. Standard in-room amenities include flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, minibars, and free Wi-Fi. Superior Rooms also have espresso makers. Watch out for twin beds pushed together to make a double. Bathrooms are simple but stylish with a tall white table stocked with white towels, orange slippers, and toiletries. Walk-in rain head showers and wall-mounted hair dryers are standard; upgrade to a suite for a whirlpool and bathrobes. Views vary from the cement roof of a neighboring building to the streets below -- none of them are particularly attractive.

The hotel's outdoor Terrazzo really invokes the building's industrial heritage, with exposed beams and piping contrasting with colorful clusters of armchairs on the expansive outdoor space . The funky Lounge Bar also provides space to unwind, and the super hip restaurant serves meals throughout the day, including a free breakfast buffet with an impressively extensive spread which includes gluten free options. There's plenty of space and facilities for events and meetings, as well as a windowless fitness area with Technogym cardio equipment and some free weights. Access to the Turkish bath is free for all guests. Small pets are allowed.