Villa-style hotel imbued with grace and charm Just off the exclusive Via Veneto, this small, opulent hotel occupies a 19th-century building facing the Villa Borghese park.
Rooms are styled in the manner of a 17th-century villa, with Persian rugs, sculpted ceilings, and bathrooms of Carrara marble.
Mirabelle, the hotel's highly regarded restaurant, offers splendid views of the parklands and the city from its rooftop perch. This hotel has 68 guestrooms, designed in the style of a 17th-century villa. All feature Persian rugs, golden-yellow walls, and sculpted ceilings appointed with patterned crown molding. The striped curtains and floral bedcovers of golden-yellow, red, and blue are inspired by colors worn by the Vatican's Swiss Guards. Rooms include wireless Internet access (surcharge), minibars, and remote lighting and drapery control. Each bathroom of black-and-gray Carrara marble has a telephone, bathrobes, slippers, makeup mirror, scale, and two sinks. What to expect: This hotel, which opened in 2001, occupies an 1880 building in a fashionable district of Rome. The reception area has a black-and-cream marble floor, an ornate coffered ceiling, gilt-edged mirrors, antique paintings, canary-yellow armchairs, and a glittering chandelier. Despite the aristocratic touches, the hotel has a gracious and friendly feel. Staff members pride themselves on being able to recognize each of their guests, most of whom are middle-aged couples desiring luxury and tranquility.
Amenity highlights: The Mirabelle rooftop restaurant, a favorite with Italian politicians, offers beautiful views of the Villa Borghese and the city beyond. The chandelier in the hotel's reception area was used for the ballroom scene of the 1963 movie Il Gattopardo (The Leopard).
Insider tip: The building was constructed as a Maronite convent in 1880; the last nuns left in 2000. A small church and cloister lie within the complex and remain the property of the Maronite order. The Splendide Royal features a rooftop haute-cuisine restaurant frequented by Italian politicians and celebrities. A complimentary buffet breakfast is served daily. A fitness room is on the fourth floor, and complimentary shuttle service is available Tuesday through Saturday. Designer shops such as Armani, Prada, Valentino, and Versace are within a 10-minute walk.
Wireless Internet access is available in the public areas and all guestrooms (surcharge). The hotel serves a complimentary buffet breakfast each morning.
