Set just beyond the grand sweep of Piazza della Repubblica and within easy reach of the Eternal City’s most impressive landmarks, The St. Regis Rome isn’t just an iconic five-star hotel; it’s a palatial introduction to the Roman ideal of arte di vivere—the art of living. From the moment you enter its striking neoclassical façade, stepping through its dove-grey foyer beneath a five-metre Murano glass chandelier cascading like a frozen waterfall, you are ushered into a world where Belle Époque elegance is refracted through a 21st-century lens.
However, it’s not the gilded mirrors, frescoed ballroom, or flutter of a butler in a custom Giada Curti uniform that really captures the eye: it’s the light. Everywhere you look, it streams in—filtering through high arched windows, bouncing off marbled floors, glinting across fluted columns, and radiating beneath the soft sheen of silver, gold and bronze. In a city built on layers of history, The St. Regis Rome manages to honour the old while casting its own, very modern glow.
Originally opened by the legendary César Ritz, this storied palazzo, renowned as the city’s first deluxe hotel, has welcomed guests since 1894. Today, after a meticulous multi-million-euro renovation led by Pierre-Yves Rochon, it still wears its history like a well-cut jacket—tailored and suave, but woven together with a modern thread. Think Regency and Louis XV motifs softened by sleek architectural lines, travertine underfoot, Venetian chandeliers overhead, and a palette that softly references Rome: powder blue like the sky beyond the Quirinale, terracotta like the sunset over Trastevere. Nothing here is overly polished or performative. Instead, there is a quiet confidence in the way past and present coexist—Roman busts and contemporary art, Empire-era furnishings and curated objets d’art, all balanced in serene composition.
As is fitting for such a regal address, the accommodations at The St. Regis Rome feel less like traditional hotel rooms and more like refined Roman residences. Across 131 rooms and 30 suites, a colour scheme of baby blue, cinnamon, gold and cream sets a subdued yet stylish tone, with high ceilings, silk-covered walls and Murano glass chandeliers amplifying the sense of grandeur. Rich fabrics from heritage Italian houses drape the windows, while sculptural accents, hand-blown glass, intricately engraved mirrors and bespoke furniture nod to the city’s artistic lineage. Whether staying in a spacious suite overlooking Piazza della Repubblica or a more intimate room tucked into the palazzo’s quiet corners, there’s a sense of intentional design throughout—one that fuses historical character with modern comfort.
Downstairs, the beating heart of the property is Lumen, Cocktails & Cuisine—not simply a restaurant and bar, but a chic Roman salotto where conversations meander from politics to pasta, and the air smells faintly of citrus and antique books. Part indoor piazza, part contemporary gallery, guests come here to sip signature cocktails inspired by Italian art in bespoke designer glasses, and locals mingle during the weekly ReJazz dinners or art-infused Lumen Society Nights. The vibe here is elevated but unpretentious. Chef Francesco Donatelli’s menu plays with the Roman canon, offering inventive twists on classics yet always with an eye on freshness, seasonality and presentation.
Of course, Aperitivo is serious business here, reimagined with moreish small plates and an excellent cocktail programme. This beloved Italian tradition is best enjoyed in the hotel Library, a sapphire-blue den of velvet chairs, Empire chandeliers and black marble fireplaces, where you can sip on a classic Negroni and snack on delicious mozzichi while paging through a well-thumbed book of Fellini sketches.
In the warmer months, the Lumen Garden becomes the hotel’s secret stage: aperitifs poured under fairy lights, chatter unfolding under gently rustling leaves and a live DJ set trailing off into the balmy summer air. The space is enriched by Edit Napes design pieces and fashion items signed by Giada Curti available to purchase.
Art doesn’t just hang on the walls at The St. Regis Rome—it is embedded into the very fabric of the guest experience. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the hotel’s collection of unique suites, where design, history and craftsmanship converge. With its grand piano, silk-painted walls and views across the Baths of Diocletian, the red-and-gold dressed Royal Suite feels like something out of a Visconti film. Even the bathroom is a sculptural statement, cloaked in black Marquina marble and outfitted with bespoke pieces by Ex Forti. It’s no wonder the guest list reads like a glittering tableau of royalty, rock stars and movie legends—from Elizabeth Taylor to Cate Blanchett.
Elsewhere, the Bottega Veneta Suite offers a more discreet take on luxury, channelling the illustrious fashion house’s signature texture-rich aesthetic through a mosaic of espresso leather, wool rugs and dark oak furnishings. The Presidential Suite, one of the larger suites in the property, evokes the layout of a private apartment, its curved glass desk and vaulted neoclassical ceilings giving a nod to the building’s noble past while offering a setting fit for modern diplomacy. An homage to a visionary and aficionado of all things fine and beautiful, the Astor Suite pays tribute to its namesake with golden light, expansive living areas and a subtle layering of classical and contemporary detail. Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Suite leans into clean architectural lines and a softer, more pared-back aesthetic—ideal for those who appreciate soothing design and ample space in equal measure. Together, the suites form a constellation of distinct identities, each with its own tone and tempo.
Yet for all its majesty, this is a hotel that doesn’t try too hard to impress—it simply knows what matters. The St. Regis Butler Service is unobtrusive but ever-present, and every interaction, from unwinding with a sublime Sisley Paris treatment at the spa to sipping on a signature St. Regis Bloody Mary on your suite’s private balcony, feels considered. There is an unmistakable sense of place here, not just in the architecture or the art, but in the everyday moments, from the ceremonial sabering of Champagne every evening to the curated playlist that gently echoes through the marble hallways. It’s a place where the art of hospitality is cast, quite literally, in the best light.
To find out more about The St. Regis Rome and book, visit the links below:
The St. Regis Rome
Via Vittorio Emanuele Orlando, 3
Rome, Italy 00185
Web: stregisrome.com
Tel: +39 -06 -47091
Instagram: @stregisrome
Facebook: @StRegisRome