It’s not quite summer unless there’s at least a stop somewhere in Italy. In fact, we’d go as far to say that not only your summer, but your life, will be better with a little Italian in it. And as they say, all roads lead to Rome for good reason. From hotels to restaurants, this ancient city does anything but rest on its laurels as it continues to reinvent itself. This is the latest and greatest for your upcoming Italian summer.
Where To Stay In Rome
There are so many exquisite hotels in Rome, gently coaxing lovers of life to return again and again. Celebrating the Eternal City’s heritage, leaving the faintest of scars, Rome’s hotels are a testament to the legacy of human ingenuity and creativity.
There are the obvious choices when visiting Rome, including the Bulgari. It’s the ideal location to pick up a life-moment souvenir at the close-by store. The beating heart of the city’s current popularity is in its restored palazzos, which serve as recent monuments to the evolution of travel.
Running a little behind schedule, Baccarat is making a sizeable investment in the former Hotel Majestic on Via Veneto. Featuring 83 rooms and three grand dining rooms, the hotel will not only capitalize on its location, but also its history. It’s the go-to dig for everyone from sultans to stars of the screen. Expect ultra-luxe attention to detail under the guidance of architect Gaetano Koch.
The other highly anticipate opening on Via Veneto is the Rosewood. Occupying three new-ish buildings (early 1900s), the hotel will feature 50 suites among 155 rooms, as well as a bathhouse in a former bank vault and rooftop spa.
What To Eat In Rome
Food is central to the city’s soul and in constant flux, as access to ingredients changes, along with its residents. Gelato is a staple and carbonara a recent classic (thanks to hungry American soldiers during WWII). Today, chefs are going back to basics, elevating humble ingredients sourced from sustainable origins. Leave your dietaries at home, if you can; Rome is best served carb-rich and meat-friendly.
It’s a feast for the soul, old Rome. The Greeks may lay claim to the roots – literally, with grape vines and olive trees. It’s what the people of Rome have created with the simplest of life’s pleasures. They’ve wielded a magic of sorts, anchoring the hearts of all its visitors.
Rome Hotels For The Architecture Buff
Fans of the late Zaha Hadid will know ROMEO Roma. A boutique hotel collection on the rise, ROMEO has partnered with the best-known names in architecture, food, wellness and champagne. The Rome edition is located in a 16th-century palazzo, a short walk to the Eternal City’s captivating landmarks. Book a spa treatment at LA SPA Sisley Paris, raise a glass of champagne at La TERRAZZA Krug and dine with Alain Ducasse. And do it all surrounded by frescoes and an outstanding contemporary art collection.
Milan-based architect, Giampiero Panepinto, blends luxury heritage and contemporary comfort at Palazzo Roma. The emphasis is on authenticity. Federico Sartucci takes Roman classics in the restaurant Core (translation: heart), to new heights of elegant simplicity. Oxtail is a stand-out at Core, served either with rigatoni or as a second course.
Rome Palazzo Hotels Fit For Royalty
Overlooking the Pantheon, the Orient Express La Minerva is an extension of the luxury brand connecting the great cities of Europe. The location is sublime, and includes Gigi Roma, the must-do rooftop bar for day or night-time dining. The rooms, overlooking Piazza Minerva, are quiet and refined with a soundtrack devoid of motorized traffic. Taking Art Deco as its inspiration, the hotel feels like a luxury liner, only grand in scale. Even the smallest of its 135 rooms (at 377 square feet) feel generous, with soaring decorated ceilings and elegant furnishings.
The former residence of the Borghese family, Palazzo Shedir promises an unforgettable experience from the moment you check in. The 17th Century palazzo feels virtually untouched by modernity, which is only added for comfort and contemporary luxury. The spa features a pool and the well-equipped gym ensures your routine stays on course. Butler service ensures your stay is perfect, from a special occasion to an impossible reservation. The chapel room is the most spectacular, but a suite with a garden view will do just as well, after a day of sightseeing or shopping.
After centuries as a home, school and gallery, Palazzo Talìa has been meticulously restored to showcase its exquisitely appointed salons. Complimentary experiences are designed specifically for the traveler, including a tour of the Palazzo and its rich history. It’s the kind of hotel where you stay a week to feel at home not only in the city, but the hotel itself. Grand salons give way to a multi-sensory spa experience and rooms are designed as much for rest as rejuvenation. Palazzo Talía is that inimitable hotel where cliches are too limited to explain its perfection. #LifeGoals for lovers and pleasure-seekers.
Food, glorious Italian food!
Some of the best contemporary dining in Rome is at its hotels. La Pergola at the Waldorf not only boasts the city’s only 3-Michelin star dinner, but also a view that’ll earworm you permanently with Dean Martin crooning ‘Volare.’ There are a further 19 starred restaurants in the city, each as worthy of a visit as their more modest counterparts.
On the innovation trail is chef Cristina Bowerman. Glass Hostaria serves a 6-course tasting menu with a vegetarian option. The chef is redefining modern Italian cooking, infusing traditional dishes, with Asian and American influences.
Locando Corinari consistently delivers on classic Italian favorites, making must-dine lists that define gourmet travel. Meanwhile, at the Hotel de la Ville, Café Ginori a romantic confectioner’s color scheme in the dining rooms is set to the rhythm of dreamy cuisine.
Dal Bolognese Roma on the Piazza del Popolo is a ménage à trois for the ages, where traditions, service and food have collaborated over three generations.
A stone’s throw from The Vatican, Il Segreto offers one of the best wine lists in the city, paired with a refined take on classics by chef Daniel Gualtieri.
If the movie To Rome with Love is your inspiration, Osteria La Gensola is your vibe. Street dining during the day will have you pulling focus from an excellent menu to the parade of Romans dressed for good living.
Then there are the classics. If you’ve never been, Salumeria Roscioli is a roman institution. It’s as much a wine bar and pasta pitstop as it is a deli. Relax with a drink and something quintessentially Italian to eat, then pick up essentials for a late supper.
Alfredo is the birthplace of the eponymous fettucine dish. It still lays a claim to the city’s best. Pasta is prepared fresh daily under a rogue’s gallery of the famous and infamous in its 100 year-old dining room.
Classics for Cocktails
Two Roman staples for cocktails demand a visit by the thirsty. Any occasion at Pierluigi is best started at the bar. Reservations are a must, after Mr and Mrs Bezos dined here before heading off to marry in Venice. Il Marchese makes the Michelin guide, bringing theatrical flair to the dining experience. It’s the kind of place you’ll leave laughing and even singing in the spirit of a city that embraces the good life.
Gelato For One, Gelati For All
On a hot day in summer, gelato is as essential during the day as aperitivo is in the evening. Two standouts are not-to-be-missed. Neve di Latte boast all-natural ingredients imagined into 28 seasonal flavors. Six locations throughout the city ensure you’re never too far away from gelato excellence. Meanwhile, Otaleg! stays close to its roots, serving up cones in 30 flavors and a second for pastries. It’s gelati as art at Otaleg! (gelato backwards) overseen by its founder and artist ice cream maker, Marco Radicioni.
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FAQs
Q: Where do you go for the best gelato in Rome?
A: Head to Neve di Latte or Otaleg! — both are worth planning your day around.
Q: Is ROMEO Roma child-friendly?
A: Yes, surprisingly so for such a design-forward luxury hotel. Children are fully welcome throughout the property. The hotel even includes thoughtful touches like a dedicated kids’ playroom. There are also family-friendly room setups, interconnecting rooms, and free cots for younger children, making it workable for families, not just couples.
Q: What are the treatment options at the spa in Palazzo Shedir?
A: The spa at Palazzo Shedir offers a curated selection of classic wellness treatments. These include full-body and targeted massages, along with body and beauty therapies designed for relaxation and restoration. Rather than an extensive menu, the focus is on a refined, old-world experience complemented by facilities like a sauna, Turkish bath, and indoor pool—creating a slow, indulgent ritual that feels perfectly in tune with the palazzo’s historic setting.
