• Best Historic Hotel: The truly grand St. Regis Grand, was created by César Ritz in 1894, with the great chef Escoffier presiding over a lavish banquet. It was the first hotel in town to offer "a private bathroom and two electric lights in every room." Its roster of guests has included some of the greatest names in European history, including royalty, naturally, but also such New World moguls as Henry Ford and J. P. Morgan. This lavish hotel is within walking distance of many of Rome's major sights.
  • Best Recycled Hotels: A real discovery and a charmer, the Inn at the Spanish Steps, is the former Roman residence of Hans Christian Andersen. It has been transformed into one of the most desirable little upscale inns of Rome, with each bedroom furnished in gorgeous, authentic period decor. Not far away, the brilliantly restored Hotel de Russie, was a retreat for artists, including Picasso and Stravinsky. Reclaiming its 1890s style, it's been remade as a stunning little boutique hotel with excellent service and a fabulous location right off the Piazza del Popolo.
  • Best for a Romantic Getaway: A private villa in the exclusive Parioli residential area, the Hotel Lord Byron, is a chic hideaway. It has a clubby ambience, and everybody is oh-so-very-discreet here. You get personal attention in subdued opulence, and the staff definitely respects that DO NOT DISTURB sign on the door. You don't even have to leave the premises for dinner; the hotel's Sapori del Lord Byron is one of the finest and most romantic restaurants in Rome.
  • Best Classic Choice: Ernest Hemingway and Ingrid Bergman don't hang out here anymore, but the Hotel Eden, remains grand and glamorous. Views over the city are stunning, the hotel restaurant (La Terrazza dell'Eden) is one of the city's best, and everything looks as if it's waiting for photographers from Architectural Digest to arrive.
  • Best for Families: Families gravitate to the Hotel Ponte Sisto, near the Piazza Navona and the Campo de' Fiori in the heart of Rome. It's a restored Renaissance palazzo offering reasonably priced family suites on its top floor with terraces overlooking the rooftops of the ancient city.
  • Best Moderately Priced Hotel: So you don't have a bottomless expense account? We've got a couple of wonderful values for you. Consider the Hotel Columbia, one of the newest properties in the neighborhoods surrounding Stazione Termini; everything is well-maintained and comfortable. We also like La Residenza, with a convenient location near the Villa Borghese and Piazza Barberini. Here you'll get a good price on a homey, spacious guest room.
  • Best Location: Everybody knows about the astronomically expensive Hassler, a grand old hotel set right at the top of the Spanish Steps. It's a wonderful choice, as is the Hotel Scalinata di Spagna, which is across the street at no. 17 on the same piazza (and often is more affordable). This intimate, upscale inn has a roof garden with a sweeping view of the dome of St. Peter's across the Tiber. When you step out your door, the heart of Rome, including its best shopping streets, is at your feet.
  • Best for Understated Elegance: Of course, it's not as elegant or as grand as the Excelsior, the Eden, or the Hassler, but the Hotel d'Inghilterra, has its own unique brand of low-key opulence. Plus, it's just 2 blocks west of the Spanish Steps. The hotel's public rooms feature black-and-white checkerboard marble floors, and its upholstered lounges are filled with antiques. The fifth floor has some of the loveliest terraces in Rome, and the romantic restaurant below has trompe l'oeil clouds that give the impression of a courtyard terrace open to the sky.
  • Best in a Real Roman Neighborhood: You can't get more Roman than the Hotel Teatro di Pompeo, which offers rooms with charming touches such as hand-painted tiles and beamed ceilings. The hotel is actually built on top of the ruins of the Theater of Pompey, where Caesar met his fate. It's on a quiet piazzetta near the Palazzo Farnese and Campo de' Fiori, whose open-air market makes this one of Rome's most colorful neighborhoods. Shopping and nightlife abound in this fascinating section of Renaissance Rome, and restaurants and pizzerias keep the area lively at all hours.
  • Best Value: Rated three stars by the government, the Hotel delle Muse, lies 0.5km (1/3 mile) north of the Villa Borghese. It's run by the efficient, English-speaking Giorgio Lazar. The furnishings are modern and come in a wide range of splashy colors. In summer, Mr. Lazar operates a garden restaurant serving a reasonably priced fixed-price menu, and the bar is open 24 hours a day. This is one of Rome's best bargains, and you should consider checking in before Mr. Lazar wises up and raises his rates.
  • Best for service: The experience of staying in an Italian noble mansion is part of the package here, though opulence and impeccable service comes at a price, of course. When our lottery numbers come up, we will be booking a stay at the Villa Spalletti Trivelli.


Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.