Best Luxury Hotels in Italy

The Pavilions Rome, The First Arte, a boutique five-star hotel, has reopened after a comprehensive renovation by Studio Marincola, transforming the hotel’s lobby, bar, rooms, and suites. The renovation combines sophisticated hospitality with artistic flair, and showcases 200 new pieces of contemporary art, designed to immerse guests in Rome’s artistic heritage. Guest rooms present cream-coloured walls, natural oak floors, and indirect lighting to enhance privacy. Decorative elements like Levanto red marble tables and Canaletto walnut pieces, alongside large, geometrically patterned rugs and vibrant art, add warmth and elegance. The bathrooms have been updated with Emperor marble to further enhance the luxurious feel. The hotel acts as a living art gallery, each floor is dedicated to individual artists, with large installations in public areas and smaller artworks in rooms for private viewing. Key features include a ground floor with interconnected spaces displaying art, including Giovanni Albanese’s ‘Call Centre’ sculpture and Teodosio Magnoni’s ‘Corpo Lungo’ The rooftop garden and Acquaroof restaurant offer panoramic views of Rome, designed to mirror the city’s architecture, and is the perfect place to enjoy coffee at breakfast through to cocktails and sunset. The First Arte, along with The First Musica and The First Dolce, forms part of The First Roma by The Pavilions Hotels & Resorts, offering a unique urban resort experience that merges la dolce vita with modern Roman culture.

The Radisson Collection has expanded its presence in Italy with the opening of the Radisson Collection Hotel, Roma Antica. This luxurious establishment is located in Rome’s historic centre, close to landmarks like the Altare della Patria and the Pantheon, offering guests a blend of historical charm and modern elegance. Built around the restored Palazzo Lares Permarini, the hotel boasts 89 rooms designed with Carrara marble bathrooms, Fornasetti wallpaper, and refined furnishings. It features panoramic terraces, a Turkish bath, fitness centre, and is pet-friendly. The hotel’s development uncovered archaeological remnants of the Porticus Minucia, which are now accessible to guests, blending Rome’s rich past with a present-day luxury hotel experience. The on-site restaurant, Modius, and the rooftop bar, Modius on the Roof – Terrazza, offer guests a taste of Roman cuisine that uses high-quality, locally sourced ingredients, all enjoyed whilst taking breathtaking city views.

Anantara Palazzo Naiadi, one of the best luxury hotels in Rome and the biggest is located on the grand Piazza della Repubblica, directly opposite the renowned Diocletian Thermal Baths and the 19th-century marble palace hotel offers an ideal base for a city break in Rome. Nearby attractions include Piazza di Spagna, the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, and the main Opera House. This regal hotel features 232 rooms styled in Neoclassical elegance, an Anantara Spa, and a rooftop plunge pool. Dining options include fine dining restaurant INEO and the “Seen By Olvier” Restaurant & Lounge Bar, perfect for enjoying a cocktail while taking in stunning city views.

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 agarden, with food by Executive Chef Domenico Boschi. Although close to A-list sights like the Trevi Fountain and the Via Condotti shopping district this beautiful boutique hotel is a haven in the bustling city.

With an enviable address of Via del Corso, Palazzo Roma, is a historic 16th-century building that has been transformed into a luxurious hotel that fuses modern elegance and historical richness. Once the residence of various noble Tuscan families, this esteemed Roman heritage site now serves as a boutique hotel set across three floors. Its design celebrates the building’s aristocratic past with features like coffered ceilings, authentic frescoes, timeless marble elements, and a remarkable original marble staircase. Each of the 39 rooms and suites is a testament to the thoughtful preservation of the historical essence of the space that intertwines bespoke contemporary luxury. The hotel’s expansive reception areas and distinctive artwork, and dining can be enjoyed in the sophisticated atmosphere of Core Restaurant and the Palazzo Bar is the place for stylish drinks. All this combined with exemplary service and meticulous attention to detail, offer guests an exclusive retreat in the heart of Rome’s dynamic atmosphere.

For an independent hotel stay when in Rome the Palazzo Ripetta couldn’t be a finer choice. This 78-bedroom property is part of the Relais and Chateaux portfolio and presents an inimitable style of Italian hospitality combined with historic and artistic elegance. 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 cloister 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 moments’ stroll from both the iconic Piazza del Popolo and river Tiber.

Brand new in 2023, 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.

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 and the hotel bar is one of the oldest in the city, having served customers since 1845. For guests wishing to explore the heritage trades and traditions of Rome guests can book an Exclusive Craft Experience through the concierge team.

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.

As the only five-star hotel in the centre, this is the place to stay for access and opulence. Opened in 1884, it retains the foundations of an ancient Etruscan settlement dating back three millennia. These ruins can still be viewed, illuminated behind a transparent panel. Indeed, everywhere you turn here, there’s history; the swimming pool and Turkish bath are set under medieval vaults, creating a most atmospheric wellness suite. Sina Brrufani has an award-winning bar and Collins’ Restaurant, as well as 94 grand bedrooms and a stunning roof terrace with views across Umbria.

Stay a little further out of town (but just a 15-minute drive from the airport), among the region’s vineyards. The Borgobrufa Spa Resort is only for adults and encompasses 29 acres. The architecture blends seamlessly with the traditional buildings, yet is fully fresh and modern. Some of its 50 rooms have private terraces with pools, and in-suite jacuzzis or alfresco hot tubs. Swim in the outdoor hydrotherapy pool, book a couples’ massage and dine by candlelight, sampling produce from the grounds. The food at Borgobrufa is gourmet and beautifully presented.

Stay within the city walls on the edge of the historic centre, at this modern NH property. Simple contemporary interiors are accented with features like dramatic black chandeliers and modern artworks. Set across nine floors it has 129 bedrooms and is part of a popular European chain. Guests can have breakfast on site, with a hearty daily buffet served each morning, and there’s a lobby bar for nightcaps. There’s also an air-conditioned gym with cardio fitness training equipment and a free weights area to stay fit on holiday.