The Best Boutique Hotels to Book in Rome, Italy

The 10-suite G-Rough Rome, located near Piazza Navona, is set inside a historic 17th-century palazzo, but it’s not all stuffy furnishings and overextravagant decor. Instead, the building has been stripped back, allowing more of its original features to shine, and kitted out with gorgeous Italian pieces from the 1930s to the 1950s. The design-led space feels modern and luxurious. The unconventional experiences on offer, such as gladiator training or becoming a handbag designer for the day, add an extra suitably exclusive touch.

As well as making sightseeing a breeze, Nerva Boutique Hotel’s location on the edge of the ever-so-trendy Monti neighbourhood perfectly suits its friendly but chic style. The 19 suites are organised over two floors and accented with geometric patterns, bold pops of colour and carefully selected artworks. The charming space continues in the breakfast room, where a generous spread of pastries, juices, fruits and cold cuts is served. A chauffeur-driven Mercedes is also on hand to whisk guests away to their next appointment.

Designers at the Elizabeth Unique Hotel have tried to evoke the spirit of the Grand Tour in their choice of decor. Blending history, art and culture, the sophisticated interiors of this 33-suite hotel feature reproductions of antique prints, a rich colour palette and sumptuous fabric furnishings. The artwork displayed in the hotel is curated by Galleria Russo, which is located just streets away. The onsite bar and bistro, named after crooner Burt Bacharach, showcases gourmet Italian produce.

Set in the grandiose palazzo that once housed the Architectural School of Rome’s Sapienza University, JK Place Roma is a gorgeously chic hotel. Designed by contemporary Florentine architect Michele Bonan, the 30 bedrooms combine luxurious furniture, such as rosewood canopy beds, with bold splashes of colour and eclectic artworks. The common spaces – filled with marble sculptures and mid-century furniture – play up to the hotel’s cool statement in style.

Just like the Monti neighbourhood in which it is located, the Fifteen Keys Hotel is effortlessly cool. Converted to a hotel in 2015, this five-story palazzo has 15 rooms, each decked out with modern minimalist furnishings that quietly hint at 1950s Italian glamour. The elegance continues in the bar, which features sumptuous Chesterfield sofas and is open 24 hours. A generous buffet is served in the gorgeously retro breakfast room and extends into the leafy courtyard in warmer months. Vintage-style Dudebikes are also available for getting around, free of charge.

Owned by the Ferragamo family and situated above their eponymous store on the high-end fashion street Via Condotti, Portrait Roma feels more like an exclusive townhouse than a hotel. It has 14 exquisite suites, designed by contemporary Florentine architect Michele Bonan, and features subtle tie-ins to the family’s fashion powerhouse – photographs from the company archives line the walls, and original shoe designs are on display in glass cases. Attentive service comes courtesy of a dedicated lifestyle team, and, although there is no restaurant here, there are stunning panoramic views from the private rooftop terrace.

The Kolbe Hotel has over 70 modern, functional rooms featuring the occasional architectural detail, such as a brick archway or vaulted ceiling, that reveal this spot’s historic location. Partly housed in a 15th-century convent, the hotel sits next to the Palatine Hill and Roman Forum, which can be seen from some rooms. Others overlook the centuries-old olive and citrus trees in the hotel’s internal courtyard.

Suite Sistina is located just a short walk from the Spanish Steps yet still manages to feel relatively secluded. The 22 guest rooms are designed with couples in mind and are characterised by romantic details such as silk sheets, circular beds, soft lighting and in-room Jacuzzis and bathtubs. Should more romance be required, guests can request breakfast in bed or a floral bouquet delivered to the room or even book a masseuse or a live serenade from a violinist.

The Palazzo Dama, an 18th-century villa near Piazza del Popolo, was originally the home of the Malaspina noble family. It was opened as a boutique hotel in 2016, and its elaborate decor is a nod to its high-society past – think lustrous gold edging, marble-tiled bathrooms and glittering chandeliers (which were taken from the Plaza Hotel in New York). The glamour continues with the garden swimming pool and the glittering L’Autre Dame bar. There’s even a nightclub in the basement (open Fridays and Saturdays), so guests can continue the celebrations until the early hours.