Visiting the city of Rome is like entering an enormous open-air museum. Architectural wonders like the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain might steal the show, but down every cobbled street or tree-lined boulevard, there are ancient ruins, Baroque churches and Roman sculptures to discover.
It seems that every building, restaurant and hotel has a story to tell and the five-star Palazzo Ripetta is no exception. We checked in on a sunny spring weekend to discover the hotel’s history, sample its modern Italian cuisine and peruse its exceptional art collection.
Hotel
Palazzo Ripetta is an independent family-owned hotel which, in a world dominated by big brands like Marriott and Hilton, is a rare gem. The same family have owned the building since the 1960s and they hired renowned Italian architect Luigi Moretti to head up its meticulous renovation.
The building itself dates back to 1642 when it was a shelter and school for women and girls. The outdoor courtyard, where students would spend their free time, is now a relaxing patio home to one of the hotel’s restaurants, Piazzetta Ripetta. The courtyard also has a rare third century AD Roman sarcophagus which has been reimagined as a fountain.
The hotel is filled with a fantastic collection of artwork and it’s the first thing you’ll notice as you cross the marble lobby. Guests are greeted by a bronze sculpture from the ‘Sphere Within Sphere’, a collection by famed Italian artist Arnaldo Pomodoro. Other sculptures from the collection can be found in the central courtyard of the Vatican museums and at Trinity College in Dublin.
Sustainability here is taken seriously and the hotel is a certified Green Key member in recognition of its environmental responsibility. From the guest rooms to the kitchens, the entire hotel is run on renewable energy. The hotel is also plastic free and key cards are made from sustainable wood.
Palazzo Ripetta sits on Via Ripetta, one of Rome’s oldest streets thought to date back to the first century BC. The hotel’s apricot façade is understated and if it wasn’t for the friendly doorman, you could easily breeze right past. Note that Google Maps doesn’t navigate to the hotel properly, so it’s best to use what3words (melons.dignity.taxi).
Room
The hotel might be steeped in history but its 78 rooms and suites are thoroughly modern. Our prestige room was spacious and had a green upholstered king-sized bed with cloud-soft sheets. All furniture in the rooms is made in Italy, including the colourful armchairs (ours was vibrant cobalt blue), and also the heavy fabric curtains.
Ask for a room which overlooks the courtyard, we loved opening the windows wide and letting in the warm breeze. Piazzetta Ripetta plays soft jazz during the day and with the windows open the sounds would drift into our room, it was the perfect soundtrack for an afternoon snooze following a day of exploring.
In the bathroom, you’ll find toiletries by Sicilian brand Ortigia. I particularly enjoyed the Ortigia hand cream thoughtfully left during the evening turn-down service.
Most rooms don’t have a bath so if a bubbly soak is a must, opt for the romantic junior suite. Or fully splash out and check into the wellness suite, which has an in-room sauna, Turkish bath and relaxation area.
Food and drink
Palazzo Ripetta is a member of the Relais and Chateaux collection and offerings across its two restaurants and bars are, unsurprisingly, excellent. San Baylon is the hotel’s signature restaurant, providing refined Italian comfort food, with ingredients sourced from local producers in and around Rome’s Lazio region.
We dined during a special ‘four-hand’ dinner, which saw executive chef Marco Ciccotelli working alongside guest chef Silvia Baracchi, from one Michelin star Il Falconiere in Tuscany. The menu fused the best of Roman and Tuscan flavours, including asparagus with parmesan and the stand-out dish, a ravioli-style stuffed oxtail pasta topped with horseradish and celery foam.
San Baylon has its own entrance from the street, created to encourage locals and non-guests to dine. On our visit, we were seated next to a group of colleagues enjoying post-work beers and a group of girl friends catching up over cocktails.
Baylon, the cocktail bar next to the restaurant, is the perfect spot for pre or post-dinner drinks. The cocktail list includes all the classics, as well as signature pours, like the Zabaylon – a punchy combination of rum, whiskey and eggnog topped with chocolate bitters.
There are alcohol-free cocktails but I was surprised to find that the bar didn’t offer any non-alcoholic beer. All drinks are served with homemade snacks, including some ridiculously moreish sea salt and rosemary crackers which I couldn’t stop eating.
The hotel’s more casual restaurant is Piazzetta Ripetta, an al-fresco spot in the central patio which is perfect for a business lunch or a quick afternoon bite. The Etere rooftop bar, one of Rome’s most popular, is open throughout the summer from Thursday to Sunday, 6pm until midnight.
Breakfast is included in room rates and is served buffet style in San Baylon. Any style of eggs and omelettes can be ordered fresh and there’s also a freshly squeezed juice and prosecco station, perfect if you fancy a side of Mimosa with your morning pastries.
To do
Palazzo Ripetta is located in the well-heeled Campo Marzio neighbourhood which is walkable to many top sights including: the Pantheon, a former temple famed for its coffered Dome; the Trevi fountain, a baroque gem from the 18th century; and Piazza Del Popolo, a square which contains Rome’s oldest obelisk.
Rome is one of Italy’s most popular destinations and main attractions should be booked in advance. The booking websites can be clunky and confusing, so skip the hassle and lean on Palazzo Ripetta’s excellent concierge. They can assist with tours and reservations and have the city’s best restaurants on speed dial. During our stay, the hotel sorted a last-minute booking at Da Francesco a popular Roman style pizza joint which was seemingly fully booked until the hotel worked its magic.
In a nutshell
Palazzo Ripetta is an eco-focused luxury hotel which seamlessly fuses its storied history with a contemporary design. For art lovers, to food connoisseurs, this independent hotel should be at top of your list in Rome.
Factbox
Rooms start from £500 per night based on two people sharing.
Address: Via di Ripetta 231, 00186 – Roma
Phone: +39 06 3231144
Website: palazzoripetta.com
Hotel photography courtesy of Palazzo Ripetta.
