Italy’s capital city, Rome, is a sprawling metropolis packed with nearly 3,000 years of art, culture and architecture and often referred to as the world’s largest open-air museum and quite rightly so, as ancient Roman ruins like the Forum and Colosseum evoke the power of the former Roman Empire. Rome has everything you could want for a luxury short break destination, by day spend your time sightseeing and shopping and by night enjoy some of Europe’s best dining options. Here is a selection of our favourite places to explore, dine and stay while spending time in the Eternal City.
Eat
La Pergola at Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Resort
This now renowned restaurant first opened its doors to diners in 1994 and is known as being one of the best places to eat in Rome. It can be found on the top floor of the elegant Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Resort and diners are treated to Michelin-star cuisine and stunning views of the city. Each of the tables here are set in order to take full advantage of this spectacular view and with 70,000 bottles of wine to choose from, this is the perfect place to sample a glass or two as the sun sets over the city. Diners can start their meal with freshly baked bread served with olive oil before moving onto a starter such as the signature scallops marinated in lime and ginger. Fish lovers will really be in their element here and there are plenty of imaginative dishes to try such as amberjack carpaccio marinated in a white balsamic mint infusion and coated with pomegranate powder and black cod mash served with a celery crust and infusion. This is one restaurant where diners will want to linger and delicious desserts such as green apple with caramel ice cream and the delicate caramel foam with white chocolate and peanut nets provide the perfect excuse.
www.romecavalieri.com/la-pergola/
Imàgo at Hotel Hassler
Set at the top of the iconic Hotel Hassler, Imàgo is a Michelin-starred restaurant that offers diners a first-class experience. Chef Francesco Apreda is famous for his creative use of flavours and serves guests an impressive selection of dishes as they gaze out over the rooftops and domes of Rome. While the dishes here are rooted in Italian culinary tradition, they also boast influences from all over the world. The tasting menu is sure to delight gourmands and each of the dishes comes with a surprise. Foie gras is served four different ways with a hint of fruit, with wasabi and a number of other unusual ingredients that really stand out. One of the restaurant’s most popular dishes is a breaded scallop with a truffle inside. This bite sized creation is served with al dente cappellotti pasta. The combination of flavours is sure to give diners plenty to talk about as they gaze at the cityscape. This is an experience that should be shared with someone special.
www.hotelhasslerroma.com/en/restaurants-bars/imago/
Il Pagliaccio
Get ready for an unforgettable fine dining experience. Head chef and part owner Anthony Genovese serves imaginative and inspiring gourmet dishes in an intimate setting boasting space for just 25 diners. Each dish provides a real treat for all the senses and to take full advantage of this experience it is a good idea to opt for the tasting menu that includes a choice of eight, ten or twelve dishes. Some of the highlights on this extensive yet perfectly balanced menu include the light and creamy quail’s egg with lemon foam and delicately fried zucchini flower and calamari roll with crab served with a tangy raspberry sauce. The restaurant also pays homage to home cooking with the dish known as “remembering my grandfather”, which consists of ziti pasta served with salt cod, potato cream and chilli salami. Of course, no fine dining experience would be complete without coffee and dessert and pastry chef Marion Lichtle creates treats such as brown bread ice cream served with caramel and chocolate truffle.
www.ristoranteilpagliaccio.com/en/
Do
Shopping in Via Condotti
People who have a love for fashion will not want to miss the chance to stroll along the Via Condotti. This is one of Rome’s most famous shopping streets and a number of high-profile fashion designers have outlets here. In fact, this street contains the largest number of fashion retailers in the whole of Rome. Some of the big names that are just waiting to be discovered here include Dior, Gucci, Valentino, Hermès, Armani, La Perla, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Alberta Ferretti, Bulgari, and Louis Vuitton. People who want to take a break from all the retail therapy and indulge in a little light refreshment will also find some excellent cafes here. Antico Caffé Greco was established back in 1760 and is a great place to sit and watch the world go by for a while.
Take a private tour of the Vatican
People who want the chance to skip the crowds and soak up as much culture as possible can take a private tour of the Vatican. On the other side of the river is Vatican City, which is home to the Pope and the world’s smallest sovereign state. Attractions here include St Peter’s Basilica, St Peter’s Square and the Sistine Chapel, with its huge ceiling painted by Michelangelo. Private tours typically last for three hours and allow visitors to take in the numerous attractions in all their glory. One of the main highlights of this special tour is visiting the Sistine Chapel at Vatican City and gazing up at the spectacular ceiling painted by Michelangelo in 1508. People who take this tour can choose to start early in the morning or after the Vatican has closed for the day. With a huge number of statues, chapels, paintings, and other treasures to admire, there is certainly plenty to feast the eyes on here.
View the art collection at Casino dell’Aurora Pallavicini
Set at the top of Quirinal Hill, the Casino dell’Aurora Pallavicini is a magnificent Roman baroque building that was constructed in the 17th century. This was once the setting for the Baths of Constantine, which provided the perfect backdrop for meetings between some of the most important people in Rome. These days, many people flock to Casino dell’Aurora Pallavicini to take in the magnificent art collection that can be found there. Visitors will want to allow plenty of time to explore the collection, which includes enormous frescoes by Giovanni Baglione and Domenico Cresti in the side halls and a large number of exquisite marble busts. Guests will also want to explore the central hall, where they will find the celebrated L’Aurora fresco. This huge hall is also home to the frescoes Triumph of Fame and Triumph of Love, while the ceilings of the two side halls are adorned by frescoes Passignano.
Sleep
Palazzo Ripetta Rome
Choose an independent hotel for your stay in the Eternal City. Part of the Relais and Chateaux portfolio, this 78-bedroom property. The interiors were designed by Fausta Gaetani, using a mix of muted tones and jewel-coloured accents and pieces that evoke period sensibilities, but through a modern bold lens. Salone Bernini (which includes a cloistered space), the Piazzetta, the Etere Rooftop and the garden provide places for guests to wine and dine in style, with food by the hotel’s Executive Chef Marco Ciccotelli. Palazzo Ripetta is just a few moment’s stroll from both the Piazza del Popolo and river Tiber.
Maalot Rona
Those avoiding chain hotel brands will love this unique boutique gem and its personalised white-glove service. It’s found in a romantic Roman palazzo and was once home to the opera composer Gaetano Donizetti. Evoking a sense of drama and theatre, it has been lovingly restored to fuse its grander period aspects with a colourful contemporary style. Each room and suite is a work of art, containing curated furnishings and details. Maalot Rona’s Don Pasquale Restaurant & Bar (named after Donizetti’s famed 19th-century opera) is set in a winter garden, with food by Executive Chef Domenico Boschi.
Bulgari Rome
Bulgari’s Rome residence had a glittering launch befitting the glamorous brand. It’s the second Bulgari hotel to arrive in Italy, spanning 151,000 square feet across six floors. Set on the Piazza Augusto Imperatore, it inhabits a grand 1930s-era building, with stunning views afforded from the chic alfresco terraces. Inside you’ll find lots of marble and hand-blown Murano glass. The spa seeks to evoke the aesthetic of ancient baths, with a columned pool, eight treatment rooms and a suite featuring an onyx bath. And there are five dining venues under the direction of Michelin-starred chef Niko Romito.
Hotel d’Inghilterra Roma – Starhotels Collezione
A stroll away from the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain and the Roman Pantheon, this five-star residence occupies a 16th-century mansion house just off the Via Condotti. The interiors showcase classic Italian style, with ornate gilt mirrors, oversized oil paintings, polished wood antiques, panelled rooms and tactile velvet textiles. Its Roman rooms and suites, now refurbished, previously hosted the likes of Mark Twain, Elizabeth Taylor, Gregory Peck and Henry James. Cafe Romano, the in-house restaurant spills onto the streetside during the warmer months. The hotel bar is one of the oldest in the city, having served customers since 1845.
The Rome EDITION
Conceived and brought to life by entrepreneur Ian Schrager and executed by the Statuto Group, the Rome EDITION hotel redefines luxury in the Eternal City. Boasting 91 intimate rooms and situated near Via Veneto, one of Rome’s most coveted streets, the hotel combines sophistication, meticulous attention to detail, refined aesthetics, and high design to create a meeting place for both locals and travellers. Housed in a magnificent building from the 1940s, the hotel retains its original features, including stunning courtyards, statues, and lamps. The Rome EDITION offers three unique bars, a rooftop lounge with a pool, a show-kitchen restaurant led by renowned Roman Chef Paola Colucci, and an urban wellness space. Chef Colucci, known for her emotional approach to cooking, presents a menu of traditional Italian dishes with a modern twist at the signature restaurant, Anima. The hotel’s expansive garden serves as both a piazza and a dining space, surrounded by lush greenery and featuring a relaxed all-day terrace. The Lobby, with its grand ceilings and travertine floors, sets the social tone, while the Punch Room and Jade Bar provide unique mixology experiences. The seventh-floor rooftop, The Roof, offers panoramic views of Rome and a place to enjoy Chef Colucci’s Mediterranean-inspired cuisine and regional cocktails. The guestrooms showcase EDITION’s signature design elements with an Italian touch, featuring custom furniture, Italian artwork, and luxurious amenities.
