There was a time—not long ago—when Rome’s top hotels could be counted on one hand. Hotel de Russie if you wanted a garden, Hotel Eden if you wanted taste, and Hotel Hassler if you wanted a doorman who knew your grandfather.
Now? Every major group has decided it’s time to join the party. Bvlgari’s arrived, Six Senses has planted a giant terrarium in the middle of town, and others are circling. The result is a city bursting with “experiential” lobbies, concept bars, and more velvet than common sense.
For this latest issue, I ignored the big launches and focused on a handful of boutique contenders. Some charmed me. Some exhausted me. All of them tried—sometimes a little too hard—to offer something different.
Rome once meant choosing between Hotel de Russie’s garden, Hotel Eden’s taste, or Hassler’s old-world doorman. Today, the city is awash with Bvlgari showpieces, Six Senses terrariums, and lobbies designed for Instagram rather than guests.
In this issue, I set aside the global brands and turned to five boutique contenders — Palazzo Roma, Palazzo Talìa, Palazzo Shedir, Casa Monti, and Hotel Vilòn. Some beguiled, some disappointed, and a few tried far too hard.
Which deserve your time — and which are best admired from afar . . .
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