Amy Adejokun
Section editor
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.
Splendide Royal - © EASYVOYAGE
Splendide Royal - © EASYVOYAGE
On Via di Porta Pinciana, a typical street bordering Villa Medici park (where the resident artists of the French Academy in Rome work). Closest underground station: Spagna (Via Veneto exit).
Fiumicino airport is around 16 mi away, Ciampino around 9 mi away. Transfer time is around 45 minutes from Fiumicino and 30 minutes from Ciampino.
The Splendide Royal has only 68 bedrooms and 1 presidential suite: this really is a place for the "happy few". Perfect for a romantic weekend away. The rococo-inspired decor is reminiscent of the interior of Venetian hotels and palaces of old. Sculpted panelling, walls hung with golden damask fabric, moulded ceilings? Comfort, luxury and service are guaranteed here. You do, though, have to be careful when selecting the category of room you book. Double rooms (269 sq ft) sometimes overlook the fire escape of the neighbouring building. The deluxe rooms do not all overlook the park; some have a view of the city (the higher the floor, the less obstructed the view). The junior suites located on the 5th floor have a terrace (equipped with garden furniture). The floor area of the bedrooms also increases the higher the category: 323 sq ft for deluxe rooms, 377 to 484 sq ft for junior suites and 807 sq ft for the presidential suite. The bathrooms are done out in two-coloured marble (veined black and Carrare white). Hair-dryer, bathrobes, bathtub and 50ml HNR (group of hotels to which the Splendide belongs) hospitality products. Other facilities include air-conditioning, a telephone, flat screen television, a mini-bar and a safe deposit box.
The Splendide Royal opened in 2001 in a former 19th Century Maronite convent and its decor is rococo-inspired: having crossed the short entrance hall you will find yourself in a skylit lounge area with mirrors in sculpted limestone frames and pink marble-covered consoles with gilted wooden feet. The decor is both princely and welcoming thanks to the armchairs and sofas scattered with soft cushions. As far as working out is concerned, a small fitness room is freely accessible. If you would like to relax your muscles in a sauna or whirlpool bath you will need to take a 5-minute walk from the hotel to the nearest fitness centre (payable). Epicures will no doubt stick to the terrace of the top-floor bar (and the one above, on an additional floor, opening in summer 2009). Ideal for smoking a cigarette, having a drink or ordering a snack whilst taking in the views of the Vatican, the Villa Medici and Villa Borghese park.
The "La Limonaia" breakfast room and the "Mirabelle" gourmet restaurant are located on the roof of the building. Unobstructed view of Villa Borghese park, as well as Saint Peter's dome in the background. In these surroundings (draperies adorning the breakfast room; moulded pillars, mirrors and padded chairs in the restaurant), every meal is a festival, especially as there is a terrace where guests can eat or have a drink outside: a bar area is laid out at the entrance to the restaurant. The breakfast buffet serves a range of American foods (hot and cold dishes). Coffee is served at the table. At lunchtime and in the evening, try the Michelin star-quality gourmet cuisine the hotel offers. Perhaps this is why the rates are so high? Starters are from £26, a main course around £46? Of course, the pasta is homemade, the ingredients are very carefully chosen and the recipes well balanced, but you get the feeling that you could eat just as well in a trattoria, or by shopping at a luxury delicatessen. A few examples: Iranian caviar, Quiberon oysters, terrine of foie gras with truffle, salted meadow lamb seasoned with herbs and lobster and sun-dried tomato tortiglioni. If you do decide to eat at the Mirabelle it is best to make a reservation beforehand, especially for dinner.
The Splendide Royal is a 5-minute walk from the top of the Via Veneto (where you will find the famous Harry's Bar) and a 10-minute walk from the Piazza di Spagna. The Villa Borghese museum (in the park of the same name) is a 15-minute walk away. For those who would like to see where the resident artists at the Villa Medici work, this is located opposite the hotel, in a park full of Mediterranean plants and trees.
Accommodation advice
When you see the location of the hotel you only want one thing: a room overlooking Villa Borghese park. The best choice in this category: the deluxe rooms located on the 3rd and 5th floors. The suites also overlook the park but they are more expensive.
massage, keep fit, spa, Turkish bath
tennis, gym, fitness, sports
(if required)
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.
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 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.
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...
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.
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.
Here is a hotel that is thought of as an art gallery, or even a contemporary museum: living place, the type of design where the rooms blend in with one another, evoking the minimalist, neo-baroque and post-modernist styles here and there. As there aren't many rooms, you will have to book in advance. If the hotel is fully booked, you can always come here to have a drink and enjoy the decor. Especially as the Spain Square area (nearby) is packed with shopping temptations.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Palazzo Manfredi is the lucky owner of one of the most enchanting views that Rome has to offer. Situated next to the crumbling, magnificent Colosseum, this hotel will set your mouth in a constant 'O', and not just over the view. It may not look like much from the outside, with its plain white washed walls and crumbling Roman shutters, but the understated luxury that awaits you inside is of a completely different world. The tiny hotel has only 15 rooms, making it personal, private and a wonderful place to take a few days relaxation.