The Perfect Romantic Rome Weekend Starts At Hotel Eden

Rome’s Hotel Eden delivers on views, opulence and service, making it one of the more romantic hotels in the Eternal City. After a complete and total refresh in 2017, the property, which is a part of the Dorchester Collection, unveiled a modern yet still palatial ambiance, retaining the hotel’s essential historic DNA but bringing a more technically savvy (read: iPad in every room & bedside controls) experience.

Located a short walk from the top of the Spanish Steps and alongside the beautiful Borghese Gardens, the property first opened in 1889; it was the first hotel to provide an elevator, electricity, heating and running water—pretty heady stuff for the late 1800’s. Given the idyllic location overlooking Rome but still in the heart of the city, it is remains a top draw for luxury travelers who want urban sophistication but also a quiet retreat from the city chaos. Interior spaces are a lively reflection of Rome’s natural beauty, with marble and gold accents throughout. The lobby’s geometric marble floor calls to mind the geometry on the Pantheon’s floor, and the concierge desk is a beautifully sculpted marble edifice handcrafted by Italian marble artisans. Frescoes in the lobby library are also by a local artist and original artwork can be found throughout the hotel.

The 98 rooms are tastefully sumptuous, with warm greens and ivory tones, lavish drapes and beautiful white marble bathrooms accented with gold fixtures. For the best city views book The Bella Vista Suite, with bespoke interiors designed by Bruno Moinard and Claire Bétaille of Moinard Bétaille, the room boasts walls of windows overlooking Rome and a telescope. Other room categories on the 5^th and 4^th floors have views and balconies as well.

Hotel Eden has two restaurants; the chic less formal Il Giardino serves up Mediterranean flavors and traditional dishes. Be sure to try the courgette blossoms stuffed with ricotta, taleggio and black olives, ditto the pumpkin and rosemary risotto with roasted tofu. The more formal Michelin-starred La Terrazza is a gastronomic journey in a glass-walled dining room with a window that looks into the buzzy kitchen as well—here, there are no “bad” tables. The hotel’s rooftop bar is a destination for guests and locals alike, offering panoramic sunset views over Rome and elegant libations such as the La Grande Bellezza—rose vermouth, tamarind, mandarin and mezcal.

On the main floor you’ll also find a cozy spa. Rooms are self-contained experiences, so there is no group locker room vibe. Everything you need is in the treatment suite: shower and changing area. Treatments fill quickly, so be sure to book in advance.

Visiting and staying in this elegant, enchanting property is delightful in its own right, but they do offer some pretty special excursions—including a private tour of the MAXXI underground vaults, where you’ll be guided by an art historian and a conservation expert who restores the artworks. Or take a private, after-hours tour of the catacombs with an archeologist. Finish your day on top of the city at the hotel’s Il Giardino bar and raise a glass to beauty.