Bologna in 2 days: Biting into the Gastronomical Capital of Italy
Bolognese, Tortellini and Aperol Spritz; what more could you want?
Rome, the eternal city, has long been known as an ancient metropolis of tantalising history, renowned art, and impactful culture. A city of romance, where every street corner holds a story and every monument holds a memory - it’s one place where we always go back to time and time again. To switch it up, what better way to experience all of this than by staying in one of the many luxurious high-end design hotels Rome has to offer? Interwoven with its rich history and art scene, Rome is home to some of the most beautiful and opulent hotels in the world (and they’re more accessible than you think!).
Whether you're looking for a grand palace hotel, a modern architectural marvel, or a boutique hideaway, these hotels are not just a place to sleep; they are an experience in themselves… Offering guests the chance to immerse themselves in Rome’s vibrant cultural heritage. We’ve rounded up the best high-end design hotels in Rome, from the grand classics to the stylish modern properties that you’ll definitely want to dream about (and check into, of course). In our recommendations, we highlight their unique features, from the jaw-dropping frescoed ceilings of palaces fit for aristocrats to the minimalist elegance of the contemporary design hotels. So whether you're planning a romantic getaway, a luxury city break, or simply want to indulge in some five-star pampering, we’ll help you discover the best high-end design hotels Rome has to offer.
1. Palazzo Manfredi
A grand dame in its own right - this hotel has seen the passage of time and the changing of the Eternal city through its decades. The Palazzo Manfredi sits in a 17th-century building right beside the Colosseum - giving unrivalled location access to one of the world’s most famous landmarks.
If that isn’t a draw itself to this wonderful abode, the five-star luxury hotel also has dining rooms and rooftops that look onto the Colosseum - so you can have a truly romantic and unforgettable meal, drink, and evening in without the crowds from down below. Watch the Colosseum glow ethereally in the evening light, and then taste the tastebud binding modern Italian dishes in the hotel’s restaurant. This is your chance to live in the beating heart of Ancient Rome, a side that was once long forgotten but now charms with its extraordinary presence.
Check out more photos and book your stay here at Palazzo Manfredi.
2. Hotel Vilòn
This luxury boutique hotel nestled in the heart of Rome is an enchanting enclave that combines contemporary design with classical elegance. Hotel Vilòn is housed in a 16th-century building (be sure to take in the fine architectural details of its lobby and corridors!) and features stylishly decorated rooms and suites, a spa, and a lush garden courtyard that is quite hidden away from the rest of Rome. The hotel's location makes it the perfect base for exploring the city's historic centre on foot, with many of Rome's famous landmarks within walking distance.
When you’re here, be sure to take a casual stroll out to Villa Borghese and live yo
ur best life as a modern-day nobility (seriously, one can spend hours in the gardens there). The Roman Forums are also close by. But here’s the thing - staying here also means its hard to leave, since the bubble bath in the luxurious tub is so soothing!
Check out more photos and book your stay here at Hotel Vilòn.
3. Portrait Roma - Part of the Lungarno Collection of luxury hotels
Portrait Roma offers elegant and refined accommodations in the heart of Rome's cobblestone-laced neighbourhoods. This creme de la creme hotel features beautifully appointed rooms and suites, each with its own unique decor and character (with one room feeling like a hidden pied e terre while another is a cosy comfort). The hotel also offers a rooftop terrace with stunning views of the city - one take and you’ll swoon from the sweeping sights of the Spanish steps. There’s also a private library that you can cocoon in with a great book or drink and an outgoing concierge service to help you make the most of your stay.
Keep in mind that this is a boutique hotel, so you don’t have to feel like just a number here but an actual guest - with hospitality remembering your name for any service. It’s truly the little things that count, and Portrait Roma sets this bar for excellence.
Check out more photos and book your stay here at Portrait Roma.
4. Hotel de la Ville
Set in a magnific palazzo on Rome's famous Via Sistina, Hotel de la Ville is a luxurious hotel that combines classic Italian elegance with modern amenities - fit for any guest looking to live their own la dolce vita. The five star hotel features spacious rooms and suites, an outdoor terrace with absolutely inspiring views of the city, and a rooftop bar and restaurant. Its central location also makes it the perfect base for exploring the city's cultural and historical sites… Case in point, it’s only a ten minutes walk to the Trevi Fountain.
Now we know with sites like the Trevi Fountain within easy reach, you may feel like you can just go any time of the day. But to make the most out of this iconic Roman location, roll out of your bathrobe any time between 6-7 am. The Trevi Fountain during that time is practically empty - so you can really take in the architecture and the joy of what Rome has to offer. Hey, perks of staying this close, right? After that, feel free to enjoy the feast that is breakfast or head to the 550 m² wellness centre. Spread over 2 floors of the hotel, the wellness centre includes a hydromassage pool, a Kneipp path, a steam room, a salt room, and a sauna - all for your pleasure.
Check out more photos and book your stay here at Hotel de la Ville.
5. J.K. Place Roma
J.K. Place Roma is a luxurious hotel that combines contemporary design with classic Italian elegance to make its triple threat: buoyant hospitality, superb location, and a flare for style. The eye-catching hotel features spacious rooms and suites, a gorgeous rooftop terrace that makes for the perfect sunset spot to take in the city, and a bar and in-house restaurant serving authentic Italian cuisine. Seriously, you’ll have a hard time balancing going out for a meal and having it in the hotel - because the quality and flavours are unmatched.
Its location, just steps from the Spanish Steps and Via Condotti, makes it the perfect base for exploring Rome’s fashion and shopping district. Also, as a guest, you can partake in the hotel’s J.K Exclusive Experiences, which are refined activities like discovering the city with the hotel’s e-bikes, or indulging in a homemade packed picnic basket in one of the lush gardens of Rome.
Check out more photos and book your stay here at J.K. Place Roma.
6. The First Roma Arte
Within this grand 19th-century building near Piazza del Popolo is a world that shapes another side of what Rome can offer. That world is curated by The First Roma Arte, a luxurious hotel that features an extensive collection of contemporary art. Akin to strolling through an art gallery or a museum, guests at this hotel will have a similar experience as they are surrounded by unique sculptural pieces (my favourite is the white bull) to the abstract paintings all around.
The hotel offers beautifully designed rooms and suites, a rooftop terrace with sweeping views of the Eternal City, and a must-eat restaurant for any foodies, as they proudly serve Italian cuisine with a creative twist. Like the hotel itself - each dish that the in-house chefs create is like art on a plate. So if you’re someone who appreciates fine dining and a world of visual mesmerisation, this would make a fitting stay for your exploration of Rome.
Check out more photos and book your stay here at The First Roma Arte.
7. Palazzo Dama
Housed in a beautifully restored 19th-century villa on the banks of the Tiber River, Palazzo Dama is a luxurious hotel that will make you feel like you’re living in the golden age of the Roman empire. The hotel features spacious rooms and suites and a private garden with a shimmering swimming pool - which is quite rare and noteworthy in the Eternal City. This is a hotel that, if you don’t want to, you don’t even have to step outside into the city, as there’s everything you need within its gilded walls, including a restaurant serving contemporary Italian cuisine.
What actually sets this luxurious abode from its other high-end counterparts is that rather than being in the hustle and bustle of Rome, it’s tucked away in a more tranquil location. This makes it the perfect place to relax and unwind after a day of exploring - especially when the lounge chairs poolside are super comfy.
Check out more photos and book your stay here at Palazzo Dama.
8. Hotel Eden
Hotel Eden is a luxurious hotel with eyes set right on the beating heart of Rome. Its name evokes the garden of Eden - rightfully so, as the hotel takes its guests on a sensory journey of full relaxation. Featuring beautifully appointed rooms and suites, a rooftop bar that has incredible photo spots for Rome, a restaurant, and a spa with a hydro pool and sauna… It’s truly a package to remember.
This 5-star hotel lives up to the restless spirit of the Eternal City, exuding warmth from the welcoming staff to the design that feels like you’re staying in a Roman palace. Incredibly, the hotel’s legacy goes all the way back to 1621, with the affluent Ludovisi family. Present day, the hotel still retains its gilded character but updated with all the sleek modern amenities.
Check out more photos and book your stay here at Hotel Eden.
9. Hassler Roma
On top of the famed Spanish Steps, Hassler Roma is a luxurious hotel that overlooks the grandest and chicest neighbourhood of Rome. This five-star hotel features beautifully decorated modern rooms and suites where you can slink into complete privacy and comfort. If you head up to the rooftop restaurant, drinks during sunset is the perfect time for people-watching (as well as taking photos from a unique vantage point of the city). There’s also a calm spa with a steam room and sauna for guests to enjoy.
There are only 87 rooms and suites in this hotel - and all of them are thoughtfully decorated in their individual way, as well as a twinkling city view or lush garden panorama. As a special bonus, if you’ve checked in, you can take a specially made Hassler lunch box and spend a couple of hours having a picnic in the sprawling gardens.
Check out more photos and book your stay here at Hassler Roma.
10. The St. Regis Rome
You can never go wrong with any St. Regis - as the hotel brand is a stamp for quality, luxury and fine excellence no matter where you are in the world. The thing is, for the St. Regis Rome, it feels like that standard of excellence is even higher - with hospitality being kindly attentive and the space as grand as one would imagine it to be. After all, this hotel is set in a historic palace on Rome's famous Via Veneto.
Combining the best of both worlds with high-ceiling elegance and light-filled modernity, the five-star hotel features ornately decorated rooms and suites, like the ones I saw growing up watching Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday. True to the film, this hotel was introduced to Romen’s high society all the way back in 1894. And like every classic hotel in Rome, there’s an unmissable rooftop terrace. When you’re here, make sure to have some time to wander around the hotel, or shall we say, converted palazzo, as there are plenty of open spaces to take in the well-restored Roman architecture.
Check out more photos and book your stay here at St. Regis Rome.
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11. Rome Cavalieri - A Waldorf Astoria Hotel
Amongst one of the many hilltops overlooking Rome lays the ever-elegant Rome Cavalier, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel. This is one of Rome’s legacy name hotels, reflecting on a heritage that is upheld to excellence globally, but within the Eternal city; a special embrace. As a luxurious Roman hotel with a proud extensive private art collection, guests will feel like they’ve been transported into an experience once the doorman opens the hotel doors and you’ve stepped inside.
It’s a stay where you can elevate your senses and also bathe like a Roman emperor in the hotel’s indoor and outdoor pools. It’s the only place in the whole entire capital city of Italy where one can dine in a 3-Michelin star restaurant (no other restaurant holds this title in Rome). Needless to say, a stay here is unforgettable and is worth it, like a trip to Rome itself.
Check out more photos and book your stay here at Rome Cavalieri - A Waldorf Astoria Hotel.
