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Hip hotels in RomeBoutique and design hotels, and special places to stay
The Inn at the Roman ForumWhat could be cooler than Roman ruins in the building and a stylishness which combines four-poster elegance with plasma-screen modernity? This contemporary hotel is an ideal place to stay for an elegant, unique break right in the heart of Rome - it has a great location close to the Roman Forum and the Colosseum. One of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, and with only 12 rooms, this is a hotel which offers just about everything the discerning traveller could wish for. Book well in advance to avoid disappointment.
Abitart Hotel ****Outside the historic centre in the busy Ostiense area (notable for nightlife, a pyramid and the Protestant Cemetery), Abitart is a stylish contemporary hotel with good customer service and well-appointed bedrooms. The location is a short bus, tram or Metro ride from most of the city's sights - and close to the trains for Ostia Antica. I found the hotel very comfortable and would recommend it.
> My review of the Abitart Hotel
Hotel Art by the Spanish StepsHotel Art is a striking modern hotel on the historic artists' street Via Margutta. The bold contemporary style and bright colours make this an unusual hotel for Rome, and a special - though pricey - place to stay. The location is good, especially for keen shoppers.
Hotel Isa ****A smart modern hotel on the Vatican side of the Tiber, with a panoramic breakfast roof-terrace. The hotel is elegant and contemporary in style, though not cutting-edge. It's an affordable place to stay, with some good online deals.
Cinemusic Hotel ****The new-ish Cinemusic Hotel is modern, ambitiously stylish, and one of the most 'contemporary' options you'll find in Rome. The hotel is cheaper but also less luxurious than some four-stars. Early guest reviews were mixed, so read the latest feedback before you book. It's not in an obvious tourist location, but in a busy residential/shopping and very 'Roman' area near Re di Roma Metro station. I used to live nearby and the area is quite well-connected by public transport, while energetic visitors can walk to the Colosseum via the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano.
Boscolo Aleph Luxury Hotel *****Part of the luxury Boscolo chain, this five-star near Piazza Barberini pulls out all the stops to be a modern and striking place to stay. Although grand, it is not for everyone, and some reviews are disappointed. The hotel is tucked away in a side street off Piazza Barberini, a fairly central location.
Hotel Exedra - a Boscolo Luxury Hotel *****Another Boscolo hotel, the Exedra is in Piazza della Repubblica, a good spot for high-street shopping and transport links. It's a fashionable and classy place to stay, with interior design and furnishings veering from traditional luxury to smart modernity.
Hotel Capo d'Africa ****A very smart and comfortable four-star in a good, quiet location down a narrow street near the Colosseum, the Capo d'Africa has a luxurious modern feel. It's a popular choice and at the top end of the four-star category. I've stayed there and would recommend it.
> Hotel Capo d'Africa - my review
Hotel Pulitzer ****If you're travelling on business or are not desperate to stay in the historic centre for sightseeing, you can find some good-value modern hotels in suburbs such as modernist business development EUR. Near EUR, and close to a Metro stop, you'll find the contemporary-style Hotel Pulitzer. Unusually for Rome, the hotel is actually in a striking modern building a world away from the nineteenth-century architecture of most city hotels.
Margutta 54Margutta 54 is a really swanky option for a special holiday. It consists of four classy contemporary suites with the service of a butler. Rates are expensive but not cripplingly so. The suites would make great romantic hideaways for couples - or offer a better-value stay for 3 or 4 sharing. The suites are in a lovely location on Via Margutta, near the Spanish Steps.
1 Via dei Valeri B&B1 Via dei Valeri is a stylish and modern B&B with good, well-furnished bedrooms. It's located around the back of the Celio hill, a bus ride or a walk from the historic centre of Rome. I have found some bargain short-notice rates for the B&B's rooms online using the links below.
Relais la Maison de Luxe B&BThis B&B is situated in the tourist heartlands between Via Nazionale and Santa Maria Maggiore, not far from Stazione Termini. With six comfortable rooms and tea and coffee-making facilities, it's a good place to stay for theatre-goers (the Teatro dell'Opera is a couple of streets away).
Crossing CondottiCrossing Condotti is another exclusive and expensive (posh and pricey) place to hole up for a luxurious break right among Rome's designer shops and boutiques. This is a residence in a prime central Rome location near the Spanish Steps, with 5 beautifully-appointed rooms, although no breakfasts.
Something modernSelected below are some additional contemporary-style hotels and B&Bs in Rome. They didn't quite make it onto the list above, but they are more options for a cool design stay, or for modern comfort.
Hotels
B&Bs, suites, independent stays |
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This selection of hotels in Rome features places which are a cut above the average. Some are small and lovingly-run boutique hotels and B&Bs, others are larger modern design hotels. All offer something special to the traveller, whether it is cutting-edge design or simply a fresh up-to-date aesthetic. In addition to our brief descriptions below, readers can click on the booking link to read more about the hotels, including the latest guest reviews. I have selected the best of Rome's special, unique and stylish hotels, but as trendy hotels are frequently expensive, and occasionally don't put enough effort into customer service, I would strongly advise reading the most recent feedback before booking. If you are looking for traditional surroundings and value-for-money accommodation, you can also try our other hotel pages (links on the left) for a wider selection of places to stay.