Hotel de Russie
Tailor-made Italy trips deserve accommodation as stunning as the surroundings and Rome's Hotel de Russie is just the place. The five-star hotel is ideally located off Piazza del Popolo and close to the Spanish Steps.
The rooms and suites have a contemporary feel and are equipped with every high-tech amenity. Most have views over the gardens or the rooftops of Rome, and several of the suites have panoramic terraces. The excellent spa offers a range of massages and treatments, and has a hydropool, Jacuzzi, sauna, Turkish steam bath, and gym. The Stravinskij bar serves light lunches, afternoon teas and evening cocktails, while the Jardin de Russie restaurant serves gourmet Mediterranean cuisine with al fresco dining on the terrace and courtyard in summer. Many of the top attractions of the Eternal City are within easy walking distance, including the Borghese gardens and gallery, the Pantheon and the fashion houses of Via Condotti.
Why We Love It
The Russie's best feature is its extensive, terraced garden which provides a tranquil oasis amidst the bustle of central Rome.
JK Place Roma
JK Place Roma is the third opening from the JK group, after the immaculate JK Places in Florence and Capri, the latter of which is one of our all-time favourite hotels in Europe.
The man behind the burgeoning brand, Michele Bönan, created the new hotel from - appropriately enough - the old Architectural School of one of the Rome's universities and JK Place Roma showcases the achingly tasteful décor and design details we've become accustomed to at its sister hotels.
On a side street off the bustling Via Condotti and a short walk from the Spanish Steps, JK Place Roma has just 30 rooms ranging from 215 square ft JK Classic rooms to a whopping 540 square ft Master Room. All the rooms have wood panelling and Italian marble bathrooms.
The rooftop JK Café Bar has wonderful views out over the roofs of Rome, and serves up good quality Italian dishes, snacks and evening cocktails.
Why We Love It
JK Place Roma will, we predict, very soon become the most sought after address in the Eternal City.
D'Inghilterra
This former palazzo is located near the Piazza di Spagna, home of Rome's famous Spanish Steps.
Originally a guesthouse of the illustrious Torlonia family, the palazzo became a hotel in 1845 and has since earned a reputation as one of the best in the city. Each room has been individually decorated with period furniture, baroque mirrors, antique treasures and silk fabrics which reflect the hotel's history and each has a large marble bathroom. Many of the rooms on the fifth floor also have a terrace. The hotel's restaurant, Café Romano, is around the corner on the fashionable Via Borgogna and serves contemporary global cuisine in a stylish setting. Choose an outdoor table and watch the Roman fashionistas go by, or dine beneath the vaulted ceilings in the chic interior. D'Inghilterra is within easy walking distance of many of the city's main sites and the boutique shops around Via Condotti, Via Borgogna and Via Frattina.
Why We Love It
Visiting friends and compatriots of the poet John Keats, who lived in Piazza di Spagna, stayed at the palazzo and when it became a hotel in 1845 it took the name Hotel d'Angleterre.
Portrait Roma
A home from home in the heart of Rome, Portrait Roma (previously Portrait Suites) presents a comfortable and exclusive base from which to explore the Eternal City.
Above the refined Salvatore Ferragamo store near the Spanish Steps, 14 luxury suites, reflecting classic 50s style and splendour, are dedicated to providing discreet services in a personal setting. Handmade leather and linen finishes and marble bathrooms add to the personality of the suites.
Light snacks are served on the rooftop terrace overlooking the Trinita de Monte, or by room service if preferred. Kitchenettes are provided in all suites, although if Italian cooking is not a personal strength a chef can come in to instruct (read: do all the hard work).
On top of cookery lessons, the onsite 'Lifestyle Team' are fully equipped with the contacts and knowledge to organise premium excursions in Rome and Tuscany, from tailor made city tours, led by an art historian or archaeologist, and personal shopping guides to Ferrari or Vespa hire.
Why We Love It
In a city of stylish hotels this boutique property, which is owned by the Ferragamo Family, may take the prize for being the most fabulous.
The Inn at the Spanish Steps
The Inn at the Spanish Steps is a hidden gem on the Via Condotti (one of Rome's premier addresses) with a terrace offering outstanding views of the Spanish Steps themselves. The Inn was once the home of author and poet Hans Christian Andersen - no wonder he was compelled to wax so lyrical with a view like this.
There are 78 rooms, suites and serviced apartments in total, spread across the main building and several annexe buildings around Via Condotti and Piazza di Spagna. The accommodations range in size from classic one bedroom options to large five bedroom apartments. Throughout the property, the décor is tasteful with a clever combination of contemporary and antique furniture and stunning works of art, and the atmosphere is almost that of a private club. Some of the rooms even have views of the Spanish Steps, while others have views of the surrounding city or rooftops.
A fresh buffet breakfast is served daily on the five spectacular rooftop spaces, and guests can choose the one that is closest to their room or apartment. In the main building the lounge is the perfect place to relax and unwind with a cocktail or afternoon tea, and there is also an outdoor terrace here with views over the elegant Via Condotti leading to the Spanish Steps.
Why We Love It
Aside from the Hans Christian Anderson connection, the Inn has another claim to fame as the only hotel in town with Roman ruins actually inside it. The main entrance hall leads to a cryptoporticus; a stone gallery covered in 2,000 year old engravings.
