Rome wasn’t built in a day, but it seems as if almost overnight, the city has blossomed with luxury private suites located in historic palazzi and renovated townhouses that all celebrate the art of elegance with made-to-measure experiences and artisan design.
From midcentury to modern, here is our runway of Rome’s top tailored suites:
Villa Spalletti Trivelli
The grande dame of Rome’s luxury suites, Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Villa Spalletti Trivelli may have been one of the first to take residence in the Eternal City. A private villa in the middle of the urban sprawl, Villa Spalletti enjoys its own garden, subterranean spa and annex apartments along with 11 first-floor suites.
Whereas the trend in high-end suites has been an homage to modern and contemporary Italian design, Villa Spalletti celebrates centuries past with rich fabrics, Titian-hued walls and artworks that are officially listed as Italy’s cultural heritage sites.
Portrait Roma — Lungaro Collection
Sitting on the most coveted corner on Rome’s via dei Condotti, a street lined with every luxury shop imaginable (including Prada, Bvlgari, Cartier, Hermès and Céline), the discreet palazzo is the Ferragamo family’s pied-à-terre luxury hotel, Portrait Roma. The 14-room, Five-Star property is a celebration of the Ferragamo lifestyle and Italian artistry, from its custom furniture to vinyl record selection.
A 24-hour lifestyle and guest assistant team is a six-person group made up of multilingual twenty-somethings who curate Portrait’s 20-plus interactive menus, available on iPads for all guests. But the standout here is the rooftop terrace, which puts Rome literally at your feet.
GKK Roma
In the eye of the storm at the center of Rome, the seven-room GKK Roma is an enclave of chic. Around the corner from the monumental Piazza Augusto Imperatore, the two-level townhouse is a step into the 21st century. A superbly decorated lounge and reception area sets the vibe with a balance of contemporary furniture, luxury fabrics and black-and-white artistic prints.
Rooms follow suit with the same stylish aesthetic, though each focuses on a unique theme. The Private Movie Suite, for example, features a 65-inch 3-D screen television with a Dolby surround audio system, a wide selection of movies and its own casting couch, while the Grand Suite Spa takes up a spacious corner with a sitting room, bedroom and marble-lined Jacuzzi spa room.
The H’All
When chef Riccardo di Giacinto and Ramona Anello decided to relocate All’Oro, their critically acclaimed restaurant, they realized they wanted an all-encompassing luxury culinary experience. The duo upgraded a turn-of-the-century villa into The H’All, where wake-up calls include gourmet breakfasts and nightcaps feature fabulous tasting menus.
The 14 rooms and suites are minimalist luxe with white walls, parquet floors, platform beds and gorgeous lamps, while contemporary art pieces (a monthly rotated collection provided by a local gallery) add a pinch of spice to the hallways and rooms.
Palazzo Scanderbeg
For the white-glove treatment, try Palazzo Scanderbeg. The 16th-century palazzo has the privilege of being a stone’s throw from the Trevi Fountain, yet hidden from chaos on a quiet side street.
The historic townhouse feels like a home, a luxury abode with security detail, 24-hour reception and a Renaissance-inspired entrance room bedecked by Italy’s best interior designers. Poltrona Frau chaises, Capellini divan sofas, modern Persian carpets and contemporary artwork adorn each of the 11 luminous and large rooms. The best detail can be found in the Master Suites: full-time butler service.
Fendi Private Suites
Unveiled in 2016, Fendi Private Suites is one of the most fashionable addresses in the city. The seven luxury suites are on third and fourth levels of Fendi’s flagship, a palazzo in the center of Rome.
It’s full fashion immersion from the get-go: framed Fendi design and fur samples mix with museum-worthy art, and the right-off-the-runway concierge team will tell you “everything is possible,” from in-house personal training sessions and makeup artists to private dinners and exclusive tour experiences.
Accommodations are on the smaller side, except for the suites, and are essentially showrooms of Fendi Casa interiors set to rich, neutral colors; crisp lines; hardwood floors; and Karl Lagerfeld’s black-and-white photos of Rome’s iconic fountains.