The hotel scene in Rome is positively booming, with exciting openings from international labels such as Marriott and IHG, small hotel groups and various boutique, independent brands.
As a travel writer living in Rome, I can barely keep track of all the new hotels opening here — and it’s literally my job to do so. It seems like every week, there’s another announcement about another new hotel coming to the Eternal City.
It’s good news for travelers visiting Rome, as they’ll have more choices than ever. It’s also good news because demand is higher than ever. I’ve heard from several tour operators here that tickets for attractions like the Colosseum are booking up instantly and hotels are operating at 80% to 90% capacity through October.
So, if you plan to visit Rome this year, which properties should you consider? These hotels are the ones you’ll want to have your eyes on.
Hotels for trend-seekers
W Rome
The first of a handful of new hotels by Marriott, the W Rome made a splash when it opened last year in two conjoined historical buildings near Via Veneto.
Conceived as the evolution of the hard-partying W brand, it feels more sophisticated than other W hotels but still has hot restaurants that draw a cool crowd. Seu Pizza con Vista — the trendy rooftop lounge serving pizza by acclaimed pizzaiolo Pier Daniele Seu — just reopened for the season. Also, the ground floor restaurant, Giano, helmed by Michelin-starred Sicilian chef Ciccio Sultano, remains one of the city’s hottest tables.
How to book: Rates at the W Rome start at 445 euros ($491) or 73,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.
Rome Edition
The long-awaited first Italian location of Ian Schrager’s sleek Edition brand is coming soon to an early 20th-century rationalist building near Piazza Barberini and Via Veneto.
It will bring an outpost of the Punch Room Bar from The London Edition and The Barcelona Edition to Rome, offering something new to the Eternal City. There will also be a rooftop terrace and a signature restaurant rumored to be helmed by one of the city’s top female chefs. The hotel is taking bookings starting May 16 for its soft opening phase.
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How to book: Rates at The Rome Edition start at 431 euros ($475) or 98,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.
Related: The best hotels in Rome
Modern luxury retreats
Six Senses Rome
The first urban outpost of the wellness and sustainability-focused Six Senses brand has created plenty of buzz since it opened in mid-March.
The exterior of the historic Palazzo Salviati Cesi Mellini belies the sleek modern oasis within. Potted plants and natural materials like wood and stone dominate the interiors. The main restaurant, Bivium, serves a fantastic breakfast buffet, as well as lunch and dinner. Notos Rooftop is slated to open in late April. The top reason to visit, though, is for the spa with its Roman baths, alchemy bar, meditation sessions and biohacking equipment.
How to book: Rates at Six Senses Rome start at $1,076 per night.
Related: From Ibiza to the Seychelles: 11 Six Senses properties you can book with IHG points
The First Musica
Hong Kong-based Pavilions Hotels opened its third hotel in Rome last year, creating a sort of urban resort with three locations. The First Musica, overlooking the Tiber River in Prati, joined The First Arte and The First Dolce, each with a different focus.
At The First Musica, guest rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows and Bang & Olufsen wireless speakers. Guests can indulge in cocktails, seafood and pizza by Jacopo Mercuro of cult favorite pizzeria 180 Grammi at Alto or get a ride with the courtesy car to dine at the other two hotels.
How to book: Rates at The First Musica start at 360 euros ($397) per night.
Bulgari Hotel Roma
Slated to open in June, the Bulgari Hotel Roma represents the highly anticipated homecoming for the luxury jewelry brand born in the Eternal City. The hotel occupies a rationalist 1930s building set on Piazza Augusto Imperatore near the Spanish Steps, which is being transformed into a haven of good taste. The majority of the more than 100 rooms will be suites. In addition to a luxurious spa, there will be five dining outlets curated by chef Niko Romito of Michelin acclaim.
How to book: Rates at the Bulgari Hotel Roma start at 1,330 euros ($1,467) per night.
Palazzo Roma
The fourth Rome hotel in the Shedir Group, which counts the beloved Hotel Vilòn, the Maalot Roma and Umiltà 36 among its portfolio, this upcoming opening is housed in a historical building right on bustling Via del Corso. Inside, original frescoes are being restored and acclaimed designer Giampiero Panepinto is adding an eclectic, modern flair. With soaring ceilings and marble bathrooms, the 39-room hotel will be unique in the city.
How to book: The Palazzo Roma is slated to open in 2023, but an exact opening date has yet to be announced. As such, rooms are not currently available for booking.
Romeo Roma
One of the last projects designed by the late Zaha Hadid and carried out by her studio, this 74-room hotel near Piazza del Popolo will draw architecture and design fans by the droves. Hadid, who also designed the MAXXI museum in Rome, was known for her futuristic architecture. Based on the initial renderings, it looks like this hotel will fit that mold. It will be home to a Sisley Spa and the city’s first restaurant by lauded French chef Alain Ducasse.
How to book: The Romeo Roma is slated to open in fall 2023, but an exact opening date has yet to be announced. As such, rooms are not currently available for booking.
Nobu Hotel Roma
Nobu Hospitality by Nobu Matsuhisa, Robert De Niro and Meir Teper has taken over the historic Grand Hotel Via Veneto and is transforming it into a Nobu hotel. Set inside two 19th-century buildings on the street famed for the 1962 film “La Dolce Vita,” the hotel will have 122 rooms and suites, a rooftop terrace, a full-service spa, a fitness center, an exclusive club lounge and, of course, a Nobu restaurant.
How to book: The Nobu Hotel Roma is slated to open in early 2024, but an exact opening date has yet to be announced. As such, rooms are not currently available for booking.
Related: 1 day in Europe: How (and why) I spent 365,000 points for 36 hours in Rome with 2 friends
Reborn historic icons
InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace
IHG will soon reopen this historic hotel on Via Veneto, originally built in 1900 to host ambassadors visiting Rome. (The American Embassy is just up the street.) The design will combine neoclassical details inspired by the hotel’s illustrious history with modern style and amenities.
LDV Hospitality is behind the main restaurant, Scarpetta NYC, which will serve Italian cuisine and American steakhouse staples, as well as Charlie’s Rooftop, a Jazz Age-inspired lounge. There will also be a ground-floor bar called Anita’s that will pay homage to Anita Ekberg, the star of “La Dolce Vita.”
How to book: Rates at the InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palance start at 522 euros ($576) or 92,000 IHG One Rewards points per night.
Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome Hotel
Thai luxury hotel brand Anantara has taken over the historic Palazzo Naiadi, a neoclassical icon on Piazza della Repubblica, and is completing renovations on it. The rooms will retain their traditional decor, but the lobby, with its soaring ceilings and ornate architecture, has been refreshed.
Additionally, the fine dining restaurant Ineo has recently opened, while the Seen by Olivier restaurant and rooftop bar are getting ready to open soon. In keeping with the Anantara brand, a soothing spa offers both Eastern and Western treatments.
How to book: Rates at the Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome Hotel start at 525 euros ($579) per night.
Related: Planning a trip to Italy? Here’s how to get there on points and miles
