Review: Bulgari Hotel Roma: First In

Why book? With 114 rooms, a restaurant and cafe by Niko Romito (one of the country’s top chefs), a lush rooftop bar/aerie, spa, views onto the Augustus Mausoleum and Ara Pacis, and an indoor pool worthy of Emperor Augustus himself, there are endless reasons to book a retreat at this new entry in Italy’s capital. Attention to detail from every piece of furniture to the Dyson hairdryers on hand to a museum worthy collection of art and jewelry keep one on the lookout for the next priceless reveal.

Set the scene Bulgari’s heart has long been in Italy’s capital—its flagship store opened in 1934 on Rome’s Via Condotti—so opening a Roman hotel that would also be a crown jewel for the brand makes perfect sense. The location couldn’t be more auspicious, looking onto the Ara Pacis (the altar of peace commissioned by Augustus in the 9^th century), and his mausoleum (designed when he was only 30, to showcase that he would be buried at home). It's also close to the Pantheon—the Emperor’s temple commissioned by Marcus Agrippa. It's a setting that proves you can go big and go home.

The backstory The building that the Bulgari Hotel Roma is set inside has gone through many incarnations. Built in the 1930s as the INPS headquarters, Italy’s Social Security agency, its renovation to its current majesty was masterminded by the firm of ACPV (short for Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel) who have been the architects for all of Bulgari’s hotels and resorts (including Paris, London, and Bali). But here in Rome they truly paid homage to Italian artisans and crafts—the handlaid mosaics were made by students and graduates of a mosaic school in the province of Friuli, the handblown glass lamps and amber bottles under the bar are from Venice’s Murano, and the breathtaking Ginori vases from the 1930s are designs by the iconic Italian architect Gio Ponti.

The rooms Before the architects and designers undertook this project, I was worried that the building's stone façade, created in the Fascist period, might create a museum-like feel and cold environment. Instead, the use of textiles and soft materials make the project gentle and welcoming, especially in the rooms—divided into four color palates; white, yellow, red, and green. My room fell into the latter category, and had plenty of appropriate blue tones, too. Mattresses and bedding are off-the-charts comfy (yes, there's a pillow menu), the lighting and tech aspects are decidedly 21^st century (not always a given in Rome), and I spent a Daryl Hannah-in-Splash amount of time in my room's bathtub set beneath a Roman mosaic design of a Bulgari brooch.  For those with seriously deep pockets, the Bulgari suite covers a full floor, and costs a mere $38,000 a night. (Standard rooms start at about $2,000 per night.)

Food and drink Nico Romito, one of Italy’s true superstar chefs, gained fame with his three-Michelin-starred Reale Restaurant, located in his native Abruzzo—as well as at Bulgari’s other restaurants, from Milan to Tokyo. Among his offerings at the ground floor cafe, you'll find Roman favorites like simply divine suppli (fried rice balls), and bomba (a kind of sandwich with fillings like vitello tonnato). Upstairs is classic Romito, using incredible local and seasonal ingredients in dishes like tortellini and ricotta-veal Milanese.

The spa The spa centerpiece is a show-topping Roman bath-style swimming pool with majestic columns, gold mosaics, and a fountain. Treatments include jetlag-dissolving massages, skin-caressing facials, and personal-fitness sessions.

The neighborhood/area There's plenty to gape at close to the hotel: the Ara Pacis in its Richard-Meier designed Museo dell'Ara Pacis, the Mausoleum of Augustus, the Pantheon, and the Vatican are within walking distance. Via Frezza, behind the property, is the perfect leafy street to have a morning coffee and stroll. The main square in front of the hotel is currently under construction and on its way to a new life, under the guidance of architect Francesco Cellini.

The service From concierge to housekeeping, the service here is supremely professional and kind, with an ethos and continuity alongside the other outposts of the brand—members of other Bulgari properties visited to train the new recruits. The concierge can organize everything from chauffeured airport cars to personal shoppers, guides, hard-to-score restaurant reservations, and sightseeing in vintage Fiat 500s.

Eco effort Over 4500 plants found a new home here, giving the Bulgari Hotel Roma a true green ethos, while a one million-euro gift toward the Ara Pacis Museum and to aid restoration of the Mauseleom gives weight to the brand’s promise to boost the Eternal City’s cultural heritage. The property has also hired several employees through Save the Children, and is focused on sourcing materials and ingredients as close to home as possible.

Accessibility From elevators to accessible rooms, Bulgari Hotel Roma is set up to ADA standards.

Anything left to mention? We love the partnership with the city’s Torlonia collection, an esteemed group that oversees the restoration of priceless statues. Bulgari aided the restoration of several, including a seated Augustus which will be placed in the foyer and be the first of many works taking up temporary residence. At the same time, exquisite examples of Bulgari jewelry through the decades will be on display on the ground floor. Talk about a museum-worthy lobby.