If you want to try a slice of Hollywood class right in Rome's buzzing centre, the Intercontinental de la Ville is the only place to head. Huge revolving entrance doors and porters in top hats and tails will make you feel like you've stepped onto the set of an Audrey Hepburn movie. This classical hotel is all glittering chandeliers, grandeur and glamour, with a great restaurant to boot. Its size and style make it a hot choice for weddings and dinners, with a delightful central courtyard and rooftop terrace, offering views over the sprawling city. Perfect for business clientele, as well as those wanting to enjoy the city for leisure, this hotel will provide you with a stylish base from which to explore it.
InterContinental De La Ville Roma - Š Marco Toninelli EasyVoyage
InterContinental De La Ville Roma - Š Marco Toninelli EasyVoyage
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Location
7.35/10
Accommodation
7.70/10
Overview
8.70/10
Food and drink
9.70/10
To know
Located right at the top of the Spanish Steps, the Intercontinental de la Ville could not be better situated in terms of views over Rome. Within easy walking distance you will find the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Fontana di Trevi, one of the world's most famous fountains and said to have magical powers. Walk up and down the surrounding roads and you'll find some of Rome's most exclusive shops, especially on Via Condotti at the bottom of the Spanish Steps, which is home to designers such as Dior, Gucci, Hermes and Louis Vuitton. In terms of public transport, you are mere metres away from the entrance to the Spagna metro station, which can take you to Rome's main Termini train station and other city attractions.
Both guest rooms and suites are available and whilst the suites are all spacious and well-laid out, some of the guest rooms are a little small for all the furniture that is in them. However, their decoration is still beautifully classical, some rooms with more of a baroque influence than other, slightly more modern ones. Ornate lamps, carpets, heavy curtains and deep royal blues and reds feature throughout. The bathrooms are much lighter, some in marble and others tiled, depending on the price and category of the room. But all are equipped with Elemis bathroom products and hairdryers. The higher floors give great views over the city and are well worth the extra cost. Some even have small private terraces, facing onto the private courtyard but are unfortunately overlooked by the other rooms. The three large suites at the top of the hotel however, have larger terraces that are much more private and give fantastic views over Rome.
The InterContinental's lobby itself is impressive enough to take your breath away. Think baroque grandeur, deep, sombre colours and plenty of large portraits. An endless maze of corridors and passageways lead you away from reception to the hotel's communal rooms - so endless in fact, that just as you think you've discovered everything the hotel has to offer, up pops another room. The Café de la Ville, just off the lobby, is the first and easiest of the rooms to discover and decorated in the same grand style. The bar is situated at the far end of the room, with plenty of small tables and comfortable sofas for guests to use. To complete the look of baroque class, there is even a piano, played occasionally in the evenings. Head out of the reception in the other direction and you come to the peaceful inner courtyard, separated in two by the covered corridor to the breakfast room. Perfect for eating out in summer, its trickling fountains and cosy tables make for a light and pleasant atmosphere. The breakfast room itself is extremely large, but retains an elegant look with cushioned gold sofas and glittering chandeliers. There is even a ballroom next door, circular in shape and perfect for small parties or weddings.
With regards to choice at the InterContinental, you are spoilt for it. With a restaurant, bar, courtyard and terrace all open to enjoy a drink or a meal; there is an atmosphere to suit everyone. Enjoy a range of cocktails, Italian wines or other drinks on the rooftop Emperor terrace during the summer months, or dip into the central courtyard for a quiet meal among the fountains and shrubbery. Chef Umberto Vezzoli is one of Italy's better known chefs, occasionally appearing on TV, and whips up delightful Mediterranean cuisine, experimenting with local ingredients and ideas for the hotel's two restaurants. On the ground floor, you will find Café de la Ville - small, classic and relaxing - whilst upstairs on the second floor is La Piazzetta (the little square), made to feel like a small village square for a rural feeling in the middle of the capital. Both have an a la carte menu and are open for both lunch and dinner, being as popular with guests that are not staying in the hotel as those that are. The breakfast room serves an American buffet from 7:00am-11:00am and provides plenty of space in a beautifully ornate room full of marble pillars, huge chandeliers and comfortable sofas.
Though you would be hard pressed to be able to tell from the outside, this converted convent is actually rather difficult to navigate. Six floors on one side and eight on the other make its 193 rooms a little complicated to find your way through at times, especially if you have to cross from one side of the hotel to the other. But the communal areas are easy to find, with a restaurant to the right of the lobby and the breakfast room through the inner courtyard. The building itself is an extremely impressive example of 17th century architecture and did not become a hotel until 1983 when the InterContinental chain took it over. Now an established chain the world over, you can be sure that staff here will treat you with the utmost professionalism and care.
The Barocco is the hotel to book if you want to take photographs of the fountain in the Barberini square in all its different lights, in the morning, noon and evening. Indeed, several of the hotel's rooms look out onto the fountain, or overlook it (depending on the floor). As for its category, the Barocco is affordable. Its antique furnishings give a certain conviviality to the place, which is strengthened by the friendly welcome and service. If you are able to stay in one of the suites, this will be perfect: we particularly recommend the suites with a small balcony, overlooking the Barberini square.
A pretty, well located hotel with a limited number of rooms: for those who want to experience the chic side of Rome, take a stroll through Villa Borghese park or do some shopping on the Via Veneto or in the Piazza di Spagna area. This rococo-inspired hotel is beyond reproach, if you can afford to stay in a suite and take lunch and dinner in the gourmet restaurant with no budget restrictions.
The well-located (adjacent to the Via Veneto, in close proximity to Villa Borghese park), historical, luxury Sofitel Roma is one of the best choices for an upmarket weekend and is also reasonably-priced. It is welcoming, comfortable and serves a princely breakfast. You can be a little lenient, then, on the bedrooms which overlook a narrow backyard; there is also no point asking where the hammam and whirlpool bath are. The hotel doesn't actually have a spa.
The Aleph Hotel is for literature enthusiasts (remember The Divine Comedy by Dante?), design nuts and those who like unusual, colourful places. Although you won't spend long on the ground floor, the colour red dominates proceedings. It is the perfect place for a drink in the evening: the place is sophisticated and trendy. And if you like the decor, you should spend the weekend there. Welcome first to Purgatory, then Paradise: all is revealed when you set eyes on your room and the spa...
A small hotel located in the Piazza di Spagna district, the Daniels is a good compromise between mid-range accommodation, which is less chic, and an upmarket hotel, which are a lot more expensive. This is a good place to spend a weekend in Rome, as a couple or a family, for shopping, antiques and gardens (Villa Borghese Park begins at the top of the steps from Piazza di Spagna). Winter is the best time of year to visit in order to appreciate the luxury (which is quite rare) of the covered terrace on the top floor.
The Regina Baglioni is one of the historical landmarks of the Via Veneto. Wander down as if to have a drink at Harry's bar (located on the same avenue): for a chic yet traditional atmosphere. Take in the luxury of early 20th Century palaces, the traditional service and the refinement of the decor. It is best suited to couples celebrating a special occasion (birthday or other celebration) to fully appreciate the hotel.
Tucked away down a small yet exclusive street not far from the Spanish Steps, the Mario de' Fiori 37 is a couple's paradise. Charming, comfortable and beautifully private, there is nowhere better to secret yourselves away for a weekend or longer in the heart of Rome. Similar in style to its two sister hotels (Babuino 181 and Margutta 54), Mario de' Fiori marries medieval with contemporary Rome. Original wooden beams protrude from the ceilings and the suites are full of quirky little niches and corridors. It may be old, but guests are treated to real roman luxury for the duration of their stay. Staff are wonderfully welcoming and accommodating, making this old style townhouse one of the most romantic get-aways in Rome.
An excellent location in the chic and hip side of Rome: the hotel is located on the famous via Veneto, and the beautiful boutiques on the piazza di Spagna are accessible within a five minute walk. The Marriott Flora is, however, not part of the category of luxury hotels, so you know what to expect as far as the decoration is concerned, and you will be pleased as far your wallet is concerned. The hotel building overlooks the park of villa Borghese, and the top floor was designed as a terrace sheltered by a glass canopy for breakfast: a view of the trees in the heart of the city, that's the lovely particularity of this hotel.
The Hotel de Russie is one of the grand hotels in Rome with a garden. A privilege that is all the more remarkable because this garden, which backs on to the Monte Pincio (the hill leading to the Villa Borghese Park from the Piazza del Popolo), gives the impression of being in the very heart of the countryside. Perfect for getting away from the commotion and noise of Rome (which begins at the hotel door) whilst remaining just a few minutes by foot from Piazza di Spagna and the elegant shops in the area.
Take the winding roads through the gardens of the Villa Borghese (one of Rome's most historic villas and gardens) and you will emerge into the peaceful neighbourhood of Parioli, distinctly different from Rome's usual bustling centre. Here, flanked by large private residences, the Aldrovandi Palace hotel offers its guests an exclusive place to rest their heads. As a Leading Hotel of the World, the hotel is used to welcoming guests who expect only the very best - attentive staff, gourmet food and comfort. And this is exactly what it delivers, with elegance, style and a two-Michelin-star restaurant to boot.
It may be on the list of Rome's hotels but the Villa Spalletti Trivelli is quite different from your ordinary hotel experience. It cannot be confined to any kind of category, nor can it be given any stars. It is simply in a class above the rest - an aristocratic home away from home if you will. Still owned by Count Trivelli and his wife, the Villa was converted from the Count's private residence and still retains its original furniture. You must be looking for the very best in luxury accommodation (with a budget to match) to appreciate the magnificence of this 20th century property, its beautiful rooms and gardens. Rest assured though, that you will receive only the best in exclusive service and ultimate privacy. If official photos tend to exaggerate the elegance of the hotels they picture, then those of Spalletti Trivelli don't do it justice. You must be sat in the grand drawing room with a hot drink or snuggled up in the library with a book in order to really see the restored beauty of one of Rome's most exclusive addresses.
To make sure of a pleasant stay, impress your other half with a setting that lacks neither gilding nor history, and to discover ancient (or Renaissance) Rome within walking distance of your hotel, reserve a room at the Exedra. This is a luxury hotel but it is not flashy, with attentive and discreet service. It is like living in a palace and, from June to September, you really can get a feel of the "dolce vita", with the open-air swimming-pool on the roof.
The Regina Baglioni is one of the historical landmarks of the Via Veneto. Wander down as if to have a drink at Harry's bar (located on the same avenue): for a chic yet traditional atmosphere. Take in the luxury of early 20th Century palaces, the traditional service and the refinement of the decor. It is best suited to couples celebrating a special occasion (birthday or other celebration) to fully appreciate the hotel.
A pretty, well located hotel with a limited number of rooms: for those who want to experience the chic side of Rome, take a stroll through Villa Borghese park or do some shopping on the Via Veneto or in the Piazza di Spagna area. This rococo-inspired hotel is beyond reproach, if you can afford to stay in a suite and take lunch and dinner in the gourmet restaurant with no budget restrictions.
For true boutique style, class and impeccable service, the Lord Byron is our top choice of places to stay in Rome. There is a reason that this hotel has such a loyal returning clientele and it is simply because the service is outstanding. From the moment you walk up the steps to the reception, a relaxed atmosphere washes over you. It may be out of the immediate vicinity of Rome's biggest attractions, but it is all the better for it. After a long day of absorbing the endless roman culture, it is true heaven to come back to a hotel that really feels like home.
An upmarket hotel, well located for exploring the Piazza Navona and the Trastevere district on foot, the St George is recommended for a week-end away from it all... This will give you the opportunity to try the spa (maybe a treatment or two and a dip in the hydrotherapy bath), sample the restaurant menu and hang out in the wine bar. Ideally you would stay here when the panoramic terrace is open (between April and October). In practice, though, if the rates offer a better deal in January, don't hesitate to stay at the St George: the decor in the hotel (all beige, grey-green and glossy brown) makes it feel more like winter than summer anyway.
Amy Adejokun
Section editor
