Rome: a city guide
It’s undeniable that Rome is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. I first fell in love with this city when I was twelve years old and my parents took me for the first time - I begged them to, after weeks spent holed up in my room devouring The Roman Mysteries and Horrible Histories. Seeing all of the Roman ruins in person cemented my love of Latin and ancient history, so much so that I decided to pursue a Classics degree at university - last week to celebrate the start of spring, I grabbed my friend and fellow Classicist Lavinia, and headed on a long weekend to the Eternal City.
To stay:
The tenth property by The Hoxton hotel group (and their first outpost in Italy) is located in residential Salario, right next to the beautiful Villa Borghese. Marrying slick design with functionality in typical Hoxton style, the lobby is full of velvet furnishings, plants, and freelancers curling up by the hotel’s cafe-bar Cugino: our favourite place to grab coffee and fresh pastries every morning. Rooms are on the cosy side, but are incredibly stylish, and have everything you need - we were staying in a ‘Biggy’ bedroom that was full of natural light, and boasted a huge flat screen TV, gorgeous wood panelling and plush velvet headboard. Meanwhile, the hotel’s Californian-inspired restaurant Beverly is where you can order a full blown breakfast, alongside nibbles such as cacio e pepe tater tots and octopus bao.
One of Soho Houses’s latest openings, their Rome hotel is a stunning 10-storey building featuring a rooftop pool and al fresco Cecconi’s restaurant on the top floor: expect incredibly slick interiors, pops of colour, and design-led pieces of furniture curated by the Soho House design team. Our room was a masterpiece, featuring a wraparound balcony, outdoor sofa, and huge king-size bed, alongside all of the usual Soho House amenities, such as freshly baked cookies and Cowshed toiletries. Hotel guests are also welcome to make use of the club restaurant, health club, and gym. The hotel is located in San Lorenzo, which is a bit further from the city centre, so you definitely won’t be able to walk to the sights from here, but this minor inconvenience is far outweighed by the beauty of the property.
If you’re looking for a chic, stylish hotel in the centre of Rome to make sightseeing as easy as stepping outside, then look no further than G-Rough. Located right by the bustling Piazza Navona, you’ll be merely minutes away from some of Rome’s most iconic locations. Expect distressed walls in pastel tones, and individually decorated bedrooms, each featuring elegant furniture pieces designed by Italian designers.
To eat:
Probably my favourite restaurant in Rome, this female-led restaurant in Trastevere boasts an experimental approach to Italian cooking. Step inside and you’ll find an elegant space filled with an eclectic mix of furniture - feast on delicious pasta, seasonally informed small plates and homemade biscotti along to the dulcet tones of smooth jazz.
The best place to get a contemporary, Australian-style brunch in Rome (a city usually full of traditionalist restaurants), Marigold is a gorgeous and minimally designed space in Testaccio. Expect shakshuka, bubble and squeak eggs, and homemade cakes on the menu - all made using local and seasonal ingredients, and served alongside some great coffee.
You’ve probably seen pictures of this traditional trattoria all over your Instagram. You’ll find hungry tourists queueing for generous bowls of homemade pasta here hours before they even open in the evenings - we ended up queueing here for 2 hours in torrential rain just for a table. Was it worth it? Yes, if you’ve never eaten here before, I can’t recommend their pasta dishes enough. Would I do it all over again? Probably not given that I’ve now experienced it, but there’s a first time for everything.
This slick restaurant in the bustling neighbourhood of Trastevere is headed up by Michelin-starred chef Cristina Bowerman. Alongside an extensive wine menu, expect experimental and delicious Italian fare, with diners encouraged to indulge in a seven or eight course tasting menu. If you’re under 25, they also offer you 25% off your bill, which is great value for money.
A cute speciality coffee shop close to the city centre that serves good coffee and a selection of brunch dishes.
This charming Italian cafe serves a delicious range of homemade cakes every day, perfect for that afternoon pick-me-up. In the evenings, the space turns into an intimate wine and cocktail bar.
Flor Gelato
The best way to tell whether a place serves good gelato? If you can’t see the gelato before it’s served. If you can see a never ending array of flavours piled up high under the counter before you even step inside, you can assume the ice cream is full of preservatives, and hasn’t been made fresh - on the flip side, if you can’t see the gelato, that will be because it’s been made fresh and is served that way too. You’ll find creamy, fresh gelato of this kind at Flor, which is not far from the Colosseum.
To visit:
See the sights
A visit to Rome wouldn’t be complete without seeing all of the sights that the city is best known for: from the Trevi Fountain to the Pantheon and Spanish Steps, there’s more than enough to keep you occupied if this is your first time in the Italian capital. Of course, it’s vital to see all of the historical Roman sights too: the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, and many more. The incredible history of the city and the number of architectural marvels right on your doorstep never fails to amaze me whenever I visit.
Villa Borghese
A beautiful public park and gardens where you’ll find locals strolling and lapping up the sunshine on a daily basis - as well as home to Galleria Borghese, which houses an impressive art collection.
MAXXI
This incredible cutting-edge museum designed by Zaha Hadid is an architectural sensation: its angular shape pokes out from the surrounding neighbourhood and is pretty hard not to notice. As the first public Italian museum dedicated to exhibiting contemporary art, you’ll be able to find a range of 21st century artworks inside.
Centrale Montemartini
Probably one of my favourite art museum in Rome, this ancient sculpture museum is housed in a former power plant. The impressive display of Roman and Greek statues and busts here is in stark contrast to the industrial setting, making for quite a unique experience.
Palazzo Doria Pamphilj
A historical palace museum located in the centre of the city, this palazzo is incredibly ornate and houses an impressive art collection of mainly paintings.
Palazzo Altemps
A beautiful 15th-century mansion in the heart of the city, you’ll find a collection of Greek and Roman arts and antiquities here, a stone’s throw from the Piazza Navona. The mansion itself is absolutely beautiful.
