While its facade of a 16th-century palace may not look out of place near Rome’s Piazza del Popolo, behind the storied doors of Hotel Romeo Roma lies something far more futuristic than the Eternal City is used to. The 74-room boutique hotel was one of the last projects designed by the late, great Zaha Hadid.
With its gleaming gold walls and her signature fluid, avant-garde style, her architectural influence is unmistakable – I wouldn’t be surprised if you could still make out her fingerprints on the shimmering, sculptural surfaces.
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As the second opening from the Romeo Collection, following its Naples counterpart, Hotel Romeo Roma brings with it a continuation of its exclusive partnership with culinary icon Alain Ducasse.
His first-ever restaurant in Rome, Il Ristorante Alain Ducasse Roma, offers contemporary French gastronomy with an Italian twist, setting a new benchmark for fine dining in the capital. Guests can also enjoy the hotel’s other culinary offerings, from the all-day dining at Il Cortile to the rooftop indulgence of La Terrazza, where Krug Champagne flows alongside panoramic views of the city.
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“Romeo Roma represents the expression of a new civilization of living and hospitality, combining beauty, functionality, and an innovative vision of hotellerie,” explains Avvocato Alfredo Romeo, founder of the Romeo Collection.
“With Romeo Collection, we aim to create a small collection of hotels that carry authentic values, capable of redefining the experience of hospitality in terms of service, comfort and connection with the territory – in short… in beauty.”
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Inside, the design embraces a daring – some may even call it a contentious – interplay between heritage and modernity. Macassar ebony, Nero Marquina marble and Carrara marble dominate the interiors, while historical treasures like frescoed ceilings reveal the building’s storied past – with some rooms even featuring original Roman frescoes.
Art is a defining feature throughout the hotel, from contemporary works by Mimmo Paladino and Mario Schifano to artifacts unearthed during restoration, such as the sculptured marble bust of Livia Drusilla, wife of Emperor Augustus. “Art is at home here,” says critic Vittorio Sgarbi, going on to describe the hotel as “a museum that stops teaching and starts engaging.”
The LA SPA Sisley Paris is another standout. Spanning almost 13,000 sq ft, it offers indulgent treatments rooted in Phyto-Aromatic philosophy, alongside a hammam, gravitational tub, and a unique indoor/outdoor pool with a glass floor revealing the archaeological remains beneath. Sightseeing from the spa anyone?
For Alain Ducasse, the opening of his first restaurant in Rome is more than a career milestone (and another destination to add to his seemingly infinite list of restaurants): “Opening in Rome is a great joy. First of all, because I deeply and sincerely love Italy, and then because this new restaurant, in the heart of the capital, is a prestigious and very special place. I hope that Il Ristorante Alain Ducasse Roma will provide epicureans with an unforgettable experience of contemporary French gastronomy.”
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