The Rome Edition is how I imagine the Emerald City to look if it was designed by Gianni Versace. The boutique hotel is the brand’s 15th outpost, and instead of playing it safe, it’s gone full pazazz. The lobby is pure Italian excess, showcasing the building’s original 1930s Cipollino marble staircase; the floor-to-ceiling jade curtains drawing eyeballs to the high ceilings; an orange-topped pool table acting as much as a statement piece as a sporting arena.
Designed by Ian Schrager and owned by Marriott, the 91-room hotel is an endless contradiction; it’s both elegant and over-the-top, close to the tourist hotspots of Piazza Barberini, the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain yet a welcome respite from the hubbub of street vendors, waving umbrellas and tour guides telling Millennials that Hilary Duff did not sing at the Colosseum.
It works because it’s been created with Italians in mind. The signature restaurant Anima is headed by self-taught Roman chef Paola Colucci, who serves modern Italian-Mediterranean food influenced by different regional cuisines. Sicilian red shrimp marinated with fresh lime and local catch carpaccio are some of the most popular menu items – though the smoked artichoke is a real showstopper. Italian sparkling, white and dessert wines are also showcased among more well-known offerings from New Zealand and France. The local nods pay off – stylish Italian men discuss regional football teams over a mid-week tipple alongside the Americans ‘doing Europe.’
There are also plenty of options for a nightcap. There’s the Punch Room, a crimson and mahogany drinking den that could double as Winston Churchill’s sitting room. The Jade Bar is a more intimate affair with moss velvet couches, green-tinged marble floors and neon green potion jars that add to the Oz effect. And then there’s The Roof, the seventh-floor bar next to the rooftop pool.
The rooms aren’t quite as showy, and better for it. The focus is on subtle craftsmanship, including the custom-made Agape and Le Labo bathroom fixtures and amenities – as well as more modern appreciations such as a USB port next to the bed.
Neighbourhood
Found in a quiet quarter in the city’s Via Veneto quarter, the location of Federico Fellini’s 1960 film La Dolce Vita, the hotel is a great base from which to discover some of the city’s hidden gems, from baroque masterpiece Fontana delle Api to the dark history of St Mary of the Capuchins Church.
Nearby
Antico Caffe Greco is the oldest running cafe in Rome and the second oldest bar in Italy. Opened in 1760, it’s been visited by greats including John Keats, Percy Shelley and Lord Byron. It’ll cost you a penny to dine in, but it’s worth splashing out for the bragging rights.
Villa Borghese Park, a 400-year-old park developed by Cardinal Scipione Borghese is Rome’s third-largest green space. It’s home to galleries, a zoo, a lake and a cinema. It’s also where you’ll find Silvano Toti Globe Theatre, a replica of London’s Shakespeare's Globe Theatre.
Feral Feline Torre Argentina is based on the ancient archaeological site where Caesar was assassinated. After the excavation of the temple ruins in 1929, feral cats were drawn to the area, leading to its transformation into a sanctuary. Today it’s home to around 150 felines.
Time Out tip
Head to the rooftop to drink, swim and sunbathe, but don’t forget to use the freestanding glass shower that has the best view of the city.