When it comes to luxury hotels in Rome, there are two basic categories. Niche boutique hotels that are either converted villas or label hotels owned by fashion brands. On the other end of the spectrum are big chain luxury hotels that are large elite and part of a global network. Rome is compact and tightly packed with historical attractions and therefore if you want to stay inside the city and walk your way to most attractions then staying in a boutique hotel or a villa reconverted hotel is a good idea. And if you don’t mind being a little away from the city centre then staying in a large luxury hotel chain is a good idea. The names in this list are a healthy mix of all these different kinds of luxury experiences.
All luxury hotels are technologically savvy and deal in electronic transactions. They will even give you amenities like your own iPad and cell phone for use when you stay with them. Most Michelin starrers in Rome are part of some or the other luxury hotels in Rome so even if you are staying there you need to book in advance for securing tables at those coveted Michelin starrers. Rome has fewer Michelin starrers than other touristy cities so they are always in demand and often have waiting lists stretching into months.
Know about the Roman fine dining restaurants.
Last but not the least remember that luxury hotels in Rome will charge you an added tax of 3 euros per night per person apart from the usual 10% VAT.
Rome Cavalieri Waldorf Astoria
Set high on Monte Mario with sweeping views of Rome city center, the Rome Cavalieri Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts has vintage grandeur about it. The vastness of its grounds which contain more than just its 2 tennis courts, wooded park, manicured lawns and 3 pools plus restaurants is enough to inspire awe. The architecture is a tribute to 1960’s and though some may find it bleak it’s all nicely offset by opulent fittings and lavish indoor décor scheme.
The crème de la crème of diplomats, stars and top shot businessmen have been coming here for ages and the Waldorf Astoria has remained consistent in offering discreet yet decadent style; expect to find gold leaf, velvety draperies and rich wood panels everywhere.
There are about 345 rooms and each has its own balcony with a nice view. There are suites on the Imperial club floor. Choose to stay in an Imperial room and you will get free access to the Imperial club and the Grand Spa. Room décor lacks imagination though no luxury has been spared, double doors and thick carpets absorb sound and create a restful haven. There is a pillow and mattress menu for the room and a soap menu for the bathroom. Choose a city view room if you can instead of a garden view room.
Bathrooms have Ferragamo product hampers and show off exhaustive quantities of marble. 2 of the suites i.e. the Planetarium suite (one of the few stylish ones with its own hot tub and roof terrace) and the Petronius Suite that seems made for a king deserves special mention. If you choose to stay in a suite then try the Cavalieri curated suite experience….there are quite a few ranging from food experiences to Vatican tours to sandal making workshops with local creators.
The huge Grand Spa Club is thought to be one of the finest in Italy and has La Prairie and Aromatherapy products and this costs a mere 20 euro entry fee. There are glass covered indoor pools, well equipped fitness room, sauna and Turkish baths. There are 8 themed chromo therapy treatment rooms and yoga/ Pilates/ fitness sessions with private trainer.
The Imperial club is in the 7th floor and it serves delicious complimentary food right from the generous breakfast in the morning to nightcaps and savouries served at late night. The breakfast is continental but the quality is a knockout and there are eggs and bacon made to order too. There are child friendly menus and a brunch play area for kids. Parents can also avail the IT club that offers organised games, tours and activities for children and pre-teens.
One thing that makes this luxury hotel a standout is its amazing collection of art. On the lobby and in the rooms and galleries there is a commendable collection of the work of local artists. If you have a working knowledge of art then you might be able to identify the 3 Tiepolo’s in their lobby…there is a space marked out as the Tiepolo Lounge in fact.
Another standout is Rome’s only Michelin 3 starrer… La Pergola Restaurant that’s headed by legendary Heinz Beck. The restaurant has a waiting list of months with the global community salivating over its hare tortellini and foie gras with figs and chestnuts. Book much much earlier in advance or you will have to dine at L’Uliveto (garden level restaurant) that serves unimaginative Mediterranean food. With not much of other restaurants around (though there are casual cafes and bistros) the meals could become an issue.
The downside is that Central Rome is half an hour away and the surroundings of the resort are not that awesome to explore. Astoria tries to rectify this issue by offering hourly shuttle buses and an all-inclusive experience inside the resort.
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Address: Via Cadlolo 101, Rome. Website
Hotel Hassler
The Wirth Family owned (5 Generations and counting) Hotel Hassler famously refers to itself as ‘staircase to heaven’ and like the famous song it’s also something of an icon. Designed by Astrid Schiller Wirth…the hotel combines Belle Époque look with art deco style and the result is sheer class. Note the art deco lobby with brass and chocolate lacquer offset by Murano chandeliers, stained glad windows and exquisite floral patterns (Ciaffoni). Maybe you will even encounter GM Roberto Wirth strolling across the lobby and greeting guests in the discreet and friendly tone that Hassler is known for.
The hotel underwent a major several million euro revamp in 2018 and went from glamorous and dated to classy and stylish. However the old-world charm that makes Hassler special is still there. The staff is known for their courteousness and warmth…. members are known to hand draw directions and maps and then ask guests how their day was when they come back…a rarity in today’s busy world.
Choose where you want to stay at the Hassler amongst the 91 widely varying rooms and suites ….there are classic rooms with 18th/ 19th century styling replete with vintage furniture and antique draperies and then there are fabulously stylish modern rooms with striking geometric prints and a palette of black and white and bold red. It is said the Karl Lagerfeld prefers the Presidential suite Trinita monti while the signature ‘Villa Medic suite’ has its own private terrace and bullet proof glass. Expect amorvero hampers and glamorous Italian fittings in the bathtub containing bathrooms.
The Michelin starrer Imago serves Italian Nouvelle cuisine; headed by legendary chef Francesco Apreda, it is a part of the Hassler. Imago’s offerings and its panoramic 6th floor view of Rome is now a city favourite.
Apart from that there are two other restaurants and a fantastic bar plus the Salone Eva with 40’s styling. One look at the moody ambience with leather bar stools and red accents and you will want to stay on. In winters the Hassler Bistrot opens up in the salon and in summers a lovely neon and chrome bar in the outdoor palm court becomes active. Cuisine is usually Italian with a healthy mix of global favourites. Breakfast is mostly continental but has pancakes and omelettes too …heartier eaters would be relieved.
Avail the services of Rossano Ferretti hair salon, the spa ‘Amorovero’ and fitness room with option of hiring your own personal trainer. The 24 hour concierge service is impeccable and so is the gleaming mahogany concierge and reception desk and a Hassler legend named Daniele heads it. Notice the profusion of child friendly treats in the minibars of each room and small child robes and Hassler bunnies and you will know why families love this hotel so much. All public spaces are kept wheelchair accessible and if you enquire in advance, Hassler will provide an accessible room with suitable amenities.
Location wise things are great as the hotel stands above the shopping centre of Piazza Spagna and you can walk to major attractions like Trevi fountain, also Piazza Navona, Via dei Condotti are within easy reach.
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Address: Piazza Trinità Dei Monti 6, Rome. Website
St. Regis Rome
Back in 1884, St. Regis Grand Hotel was originally built on a structure that was meant to be a palace. Fate made it into a hotel and hotelier Cesar Ritz welcomed only the most illustrious guests into it in the past…creating a tradition of greatness ….it was amongst the CN Travellers gold List Hotels. Everything about the hotel screams regal starting from its façade that’s a mix of opulence and classicism.
There are 138 rooms and 23 suites in the hotel and they have great variation in style. So whether you prefer Louis XV, Empire or Regency style; you are sure to get an ambience of your liking. Staying in the superior rooms is recommended….they have excellent wood inlay furniture and a commendable collection of antiques. Choose the Bottega Veneta suite if you are a design fan….there are pieces here from the Bottega Veneta home collection. Bathrooms are done up in black/ sand marble and have luscious Laboratoire Remède hampers along with soak tubs and enclosed speed showers. Many rooms are accessible (enquire in advance) and the lobby has a ramp.
Danielle Arturo and Andrea at the front desk are fantastic and so are Pietro (lounge) and Michele (banquet manager). There is free garment pressing service and free butler service. The little extras like free cookie hampers, candies and fresh fruits in the room is really commendable. Sometimes you may get complimentary champagne as well.
The elevator is an attraction in itself… its completely antique and looks straight out of a movie set. Some say that it’s the oldest elevator in the world…a good tip would be to focus on its ambience and styling and not on its speed. The Ritz Ballroom is another glamorous vintage attraction with its ministry of culture endorsed frescoes and so are the Murano light fixtures and stucco stairways. The lobby area with a spectacular gold and mosaic rotunda is vast and has a wonderful jewel blue library, bistro restaurant and bar…you can have meals, coffee, tea, champagne, and me-time….whatever you want in the Lobby.
The in-house restaurant Lumen is wonderful and serves international food too though traditional like cacio e pepe and saltimbocca are what you should order here. Generous continental breakfasts and a nice egg station are laid out in the adjacent room every morning,
Staff are all dressed to the nines in Giada Curti uniforms. Notice the gorgeous Murano chandelier and stylish rotating art installations and you will know why this is Rome’s most enduringly classy address. Expect 24 hours service, a nicely equipped fitness room and in-house spa services.
St. Regis looks down at Piazza Republican and the Diocletian baths and is just a few minutes away from Termini station. Take a 20 minute walk and you can reach attractions like Spanish Steps, Trevi and Via Condotti while a much shorter stroll will take you to palazzo Barberini which has an awesome Caravaggio statue of Judith beheading Holofernes.
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Address: Via Vittorio E. Orlando, 3 Rome. Website
Hotel Indigo Rome-St George
Unlike most of Rome’s five star hotels which are either too grand or statuesque or neo designer; the Hotel Indigo is playful enough to keep everyone entertained. The outside is 16th century renaissance style and there are Pope Julius’s ambitious Hall of justice stone blocks converted into marble seats ….all this could almost fool you into thinking that’s its yet another vintage building. Inside its all sleek and modern though with interesting murals of Roman landmarks and a taupe and grey scheme that comes to life with blue jewel accents. The kitschy fireplace, courtyard-patio, rooftop lounge all have a relaxed informal vibe.
Guests are handed out nicely designed neighbourhood guides and though Indigo Rome is part of a big hotel chain, the staffs offer commendable personalised service. The in-house St George Spa is small but excellently furnished with beauty treatment rooms, fitness rooms, and hot tub and massage therapies. There is a roof garden too.
Opt for the junior suites and the standard rooms ….these are small but are lovely with travertine baths, smooth parquet floors and walls filled with Basilica San Giovanni and Caravaggio’s Amor Omnia. Or check into the playful spacious superior rooms that have fantastic murals and quirky prints of Italy’s iconic fiat 500 in happy turquoise colours. Expect free minibars (apart from alcohol), nespresso machine and pillow menus plus luxe linens. Bathrooms have Etro product hampers and rooms have irons and ironing boards and a grand walk-in closet. Free Wi Fi and turn down service by the attentive staff is an added advantage.
The I Sofa in house restaurant is a wonderful and accessible set up that’s headed by Filly Mossucca…a popular Roman chef. Creative and elegant Roman cuisine is served here and the chef is proud of her Gragano pasta that’s a PGI product made of 100% Italian durum. In summers the restaurant shifts up to the wonderful terrace. Try-worthy dishes include Fettuccine, tartare, sea bass, artichoke and shrimp tempura and of course the Tiramisu.
The hotel is extremely family friendly and has special facilities for reduced mobility guests. Kids under the age 12 can stay for free.
The location isn’t central Rome or historic Rome but great nevertheless as this is 16th century Via Giulia that’s designed by Bramante and an attraction in itself… you won’t be disappointed.
St George sits in one of the most refined neighbourhoods in Rome across the Tiber from Travstavere and the Vatican. The historic Regola quarter that surrounds the hotel has a bevy of artisanal shops. Gourmet stores, open markets, Cafes and wine bars. You can reach the famous piazza Navona and the Campo di Fiori by foot. Stroll along the hotel street and admire the unique fountains, renaissance churches and the lovely homes….this could be a pleasant days’ worth of activity.
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Address: Via Giulia 62, Rome. Website
Portrait Roma
If money isn’t an object and holidaying in style is your goal them Rome simply doesn’t have a better offering than Portrait Roma. The retro grand townhouse style Portrait Roma is designed by celebrity designer Michele Bonan and boasts of its own lifestyle team. Perched right above the Ferragamo store in Via Condotti shopping haven Portrait Roma exudes a private club vibe and there is a loyal clientele.
Notice the discreet show patterns on the curtains and exclusive framed prints of Ferragamo from the archives…decking up the corridor, and the place will instantly remind you of the class signified by brand Ferragamo. You are bound to end up shopping at Ferragamo as the hotel entrance is at the side of the Ferragamo store and it’s quite difficult to resist their exclusive collections. The Hermes store is also next door.
The Portrait experience starts before you even check in. Order in your preferred type of pillow, favourite flowers and books and the team can arrange these before you arrive. There are limo transfers to and from the airport, private tours of attractions like Colosseum, Vatican etc. Staff service is wonderful and special mention must be made of Simone who is always very attentive about dinner reservations, tickets to attractions, passes etc.
The Portrait Roma lifestyle team has its own budget for finding out best activities, sightseeing, food and drinks recommendations in Rome and they present a curated list to each guest….make sure that you use this priceless information. This is a Lugarno golden collection boutique property so in line with the collection’s philosophy the stay experience is intimate discreet and super comfortable but without chain hotel trappings.
The absence of a spa or gym in a high end place like this is a definite disadvantage and so are the lack of accessibility features for reduced mobility guests. The hotel is not really suitable for small kids as there are very few kids’ centric activities. Another issue is the absence of an in-house restaurant though there are several amazing restaurants in and around the Via Condotti. Two simple example are Santovino and Osteria Siciliana right in the neighbourhood. However there is an amazing terrace that’s perfect for sampling the light sandwich salad omelette savouries menu that’s offered by the hotel. Perfect for breakfast, aperitifs, morning espresso or even a nightcap as the views of Roma are sensational. Part of the rooftop is covered and has heaters so even in the winters it’s pretty nice.
The suites are wonderfully designed and the smallest of them are 333m2 so space is abundant. Earth tones are offset by jewelled fabrics and modern amenities like video fireplaces. The Penthouse Suite with its wraparound terrace is a definite wonder. Most suites/ studios have a mini kitchen so you can buy your own gourmet food supplies and whip up some meals if you wish… there is an iPad and a hotel cell phone for indoor and outdoor use during your stay. There are Bluetooth speakers and more than 1 USB charging docks. Bathrooms are stylish and fitted up with soak tubs, showers and luxury toiletries. Expect a distinct feeling of owning your own luxury apartment in prime Roma.
The location is awesome…you can walk to all major attractions like the Spanish Steps, Trevi fountain, Pantheon, Vatican and Colosseum and shopping and restaurant hopping opportunities abound nearby.
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Address: Via Bocca di Leone 23, Rome. Website
Fendi Private Suites
Seemingly an entire marble quarry must have gone into creating Fendi private suites as the hotel uses an enormous amount of marble. You are bound to get your jaws dropped from the moment you enter the suites whose entrance is strategically placed at the 3rd floor of Fendi’s flagship store in neighbourhood Triidente. There are lavish windows and grand mirrors that sit resplendent in red frames and golden blocks form massive tables. The reception desk is an enormous creation of 5 different constructs that does justice to the amazing 18th century architecture of Fendi. Incidentally the hotel is housed in Palazzo Fendi where the Boncompagni family once stayed and one of them even became the pope in 1572.
Marco Constanzi… star architect and a Fendi regular has used a nice palette of stone grey, light mauve and plush blues to complement the sharp coldness of marble. Rooms are styled with Fendi Casa furniture…a lot of it as available for sale. The practice of using hotels as shop floors is the latest fad. Also on display in the rooms are Hans Wegner chairs and Wustenburg vases. Expect dramatic walk-in showers, sumptuous beds with fur pieces above them and Karl Lagerfield’s (fendi’s creative director) creations…striking photos of the city. The minibar has lots of treats for guests and everything inside apart from alcohol is for free.
The in-house restaurant ‘Zuma’ stands on the top floor and offers Japanese cuisine…a daring deviation in tradition centric Roma. The in-house breakfast buffet is a disappointment though…all regular store brought stuff not worthy of a label named Fendi. Also this isn’t a large hotel chain so no spa, gym and big hotel frills.
The location is the prestigious Tridente neighbourhood (at the junction of via Del corso and via condotti) and the Private suites stand atop Fendi’s flagship local store (these occupy three bottom floors of the building). Ask one of the staff (preferably Elfriede who has been with Fendi for 25 years) to give you a tour of fendi store, fur boutique and third floor private home. They also organise private tours to some Roman monuments.
Go around and you will reach the Spanish steps. Babington’s tea rooms, Via Condotti, piazza Navona, Vatican City and Pantheon…all approachable via a short walk.
Fendi private suites is a story of style, dazzling interiors and a chance of engagement with the brand at a steep price (suites are priced 400 euros and upwards. You can think of it as the most stylish B&B ever).
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Address: Fendi Private Suites, Via della Fontanella di Borghese. Website
A travel addict. Still celebrating the day when he quit his high-profile corporate job to pursue his passion for travel writing.