9 best hotels in Rome for luxury and culture in 2025

Europe’s first St. Regis and described as ‘Rome’s grande dame’, this luminous landmark property is located near one of the city’s most magnificent palazzos, Palazzo Barberini. The palatial, 160-room property is an outstanding example of architectural history (artfully renovated to the tune of 40 million Euros), incorporating a regal Belle Époque palette of powder blues, golds and silvers as well as marble and bronze accents, sculptural busts, Venetian chandeliers and mosaics.

With nearby famous sites including the Colosseum, Pantheon and Villa Borghese, the hotel’s location makes for a luxurious retreat after a day of exploring (plus its butler service to cater for any need adds to the appeal).

Reasons to stay:

• 161 individually decorated guest rooms
• Full-service spa
• Fitness centre
• On-site restaurant and bar

This luxe, century-old boutique hotel has been a famed hideaway for celebrities, artists, filmmakers and memorable movers and shakers over the years. Along the River Tiber and minutes from the Piazza del Popolo, the location serves as an ideal launch pad for the city’s gastronomical scene, shopping of high-end Italian brands, and city sightseeing. 

Between the Hotel Locarno’s two early 20th-century twin buildings is a theatrical, wisteria-laden secret garden, serving as the hotel’s outdoor ‘salotto’. Head inside, and warm art nouveau interiors evoke the essence of La Dolce Vita. Plus, Terazza Locarno boasts one of the best rooftop views in Rome, making for a dreamy backdrop for lunch, sunset drinks or a quiet moment with the Eternal City’s skyline.

Reasons to stay:

• Art Deco style across two heritage buildings
• Rooftop bar and on-site restaurant
• Gym
• Bike hire

If a stay in an ancient Roman palace is desired, then this family-operated hotel in Rome’s Tridente (the trident-shaped complex of Rome’s major shopping streets) is the palazzo for you. With 78 rooms and suites recently renovated by Italian designer Fausta Gaetani, the hotel sits at the intersection of old and new, where restored artifacts and gilded sculptures keep company with an original Warhol. 

In its rooms you may find Murano glass chandeliers overseeing bold headboards offset against blocks of colourful wallpaper — some rooms even offer personal spas or Turkish baths. Palazzo Ripetta simultaneously preserves the past and embraces the future, with the property running on 100 per cent renewable energy.

Reasons to stay:

• 78 rooms and suites designed Fausta Gaetani
• Private garden space
• Three stylish on-site dining and drinking venues
• Historic palace dating back to the 1600s

Rome’s introduction to Marriott’s EDITION brand, this relatively new hotel is the epitome of modern elegance. With 91 rooms, a rooftop pool, luscious garden and fitness centre, the former 1940s bank holds history in its high ceilings, sweeping lobby and grand marble staircase. 

You needn’t look elsewhere to wet your whistle, with various bars inside the hotel offering guests a range of curated experiences – the wood-panelled Punch Room, with its red velvet sofas and marble fireplace is all candlelit moodiness, while the intimate, 12-person Jade Bar, lined floor-to-ceiling (including floor and ceiling!) in antique green marble, evokes another time, perhaps even another dimension . While you may be tempted to never leave this property’s vault-like luxury, its convenient central location means iconic sites such as the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain and Borghese Gardens are just a short walk away.

Reasons to stay:

• 93 individually decorated guestrooms
• Outdoor pool and garden spaces
• Three bars/lounges and one restaurant

This elegant 18th-century palazzo above the Spanish Steps has been transformed by the Rocco Forte group into a five-star hotel with 104 suites and rooms, and an empire-styled spa on two floors. It’s an incredible space to soak up Roman culture, with iconic sites like the Trevi Fountain, Villa Medici and architecturally stunning Via del Corso practically at your doorstep. It also has three on-site restaurants and bars, with some stunning, panoramic views of the city.

Reasons to stay:

• 104 individually furnished guestrooms
• Spa and sauna
• 24-hour fitness centre
• Three restaurants and three bars/lounges

The ten-story, Modernist-inspired structure of Soho House is an impressive, newer landmark for the in the up-and-coming district of San Lorenzo, about four kilometres to the south east of Rome’s historic centre (Centro Storico). It’s a trendy spot for locals, as well as in-the-know travellers, operating as both a boutique hotel and a club. The 69 guestrooms and suites range from tiny (20m²) to luxurious two- and three-bedroom apartments.

As a guest, you can enjoy all the club member perks and facilities, including the ninth-floor restaurant, bar, and drawing room, the rooftop pool and the a gym and spa that spans two floors of the building.

Reasons to stay:

• Exclusive club atmosphere
• Rooftop pool and bar
• Gym and spa

The life-sized resin rhinoceros in the courtyard lends this cultural hub in the ancient quarter of Velabro its name. Envisaged as “a neighbourhood under one roof”, Palazzo Rhinoceros by the Fondazione Alda Fendi Esperimenti foundation is a joint project between an arts foundation run by former fashion furrier Alda Fendi and high-profile French architect Jean Nouvel.

A stay in one of the unique apartments gives you access to free private tours of the precinct, priority reservations to partner restaurants and state of the art amenities – all within walking distance of the Roman Forum, Colosseum and other iconic sites.

Reasons to stay:

• 24 unique apartments in an arts precinct
• Free private tours at Fondazione Alda Fendi Esperimenti
• Priority reservations for partner restaurants

Housed in what was once Rome’s school of architecture, JK Place Roma is in the heart of the city and about a 10-minute walk from both the Spanish Steps and Pantheon. Each of the 27 guestrooms include some complimentary minibar items, slippers, bathrobes and sumptuous design features that make this a genuinely memorable boutique hotel in the heart of Rome (Centro Storico).

Reasons to stay:

• Interior designs by renowned Italian designer and architect Michele Bonan
• On-site restaurant featuring daily produce and Italian and international cuisine
• Located less than 1km from the Pantheon, Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain

The Hoxton is a relaxed yet refined hotel in the old aristocratic Parioli quarter of Rome, near the beautiful Villa Borghese and about 4-5km from the centre of Rome. Here, you can start the day with delicious coffee and pastries in the lobby bakery, Cugino, then make use of the free bikes to cycle around the city before relaxing on the terrace and the hotel’s light-filled Elio restaurant, where you can indulge in delectable wines and meals while soaking up the atmosphere.

Reasons to stay:

• 192 air-conditioned rooms 
• Free bike hire
• On-site restaurant and banquet hall