A vintage yellow Fiat 500 sits outside the doors of Casa Monti, reminding you – just in case you managed to forget on your journey from the airport to the hotel – you’re in the heart of Rome.
Taking its cues from an artist’s residence, this Italian boutique hotel manages to honour the ancient Monti neighbourhood surrounding it, while offering something fresh and modern at the same time.
It’s a bold claim, but it’s quite possibly the nicest place I’ve ever laid my head.
Behind the elegant beige facade and towering arched entranceway, you’ll find your fingers itching to reach for your phone every two seconds in a bid to commit the maximalist beauty of this place to memory.
What’s the vibe? Paint us a picture
Spread over six floors, this place feels more like an exclusive apartment building than a hotel. With just 36 rooms (26 rooms and 10 suites), it’s lavish and intimate.
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It’s easy to get swept up in a daydream about living here, especially with the views it offers of cobbled streets and quintessentially Roman clay tile rooftops.
With the city as its muse, the hotel celebrates the art of la dolce vita, but not in a stuffy way. It’s all laidback Mediterranean luxury, less museum or gallery and more Italian interior design Pinterest board.
If London restaurants like Circolo Popolare or Jacuzzi are your home decor inspo, you’ll feel like you’ve died and gone to heaven.
Almost every detail has been thoughtfully curated, even the stairwell, which is adorned with eye-popping wallpaper that’s a playful, modern twist on ancient Roman paintings. Be sure to watch your step as you admire it.
The location is a perfect 10. Walk down the street (Via Panisperna), turn the corner and boom, there’s the Colosseum. Sing to me Paolo.
Alright, what about the facilities?
There are two standout facilities at this hotel — one is the spa, the other is on the roof, but we’ll get to that later.
Bathed in sunlight through floor-to-ceiling windows, the spa is decorated with marble, jazzy tiles, lemon-printed textiles and antique vases.
There’s an outdoor terrace where you can soak up the sun, rattan loungers to laze on and several treatment rooms where every inch of your body can be pampered.
The pièce de résistance, though, is the jacuzzi.
As you ascend the marble steps, you’ll feel like you’ve entered another time and place.
I half expected men in togas to appear and start feeding me grapes and fanning me with palm leaves.
That’s the vibe this place exudes; you feel like a goddess.
Can you eat and drink at the hotel?
You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to deciding where to eat at Casa Monti and each spot is prettier than the last.
There’s a bar, which is close to the lobby and open from breakfast to dinner, as well as a restaurant with a terrace on the ground floor and an outdoor patio.
The hotel serves up classic pasta dishes with a twist, and the menu changes seasonally. You can’t go wrong with the cacio e pepe if it’s available, though.
The breakfast (included) is a delight, with a continental spread including fruit and yoghurt, toast with a selection of spreads, meats and cheeses, as well as sweet and salty cakes and pastries.
For an aperitif, take the elevator up to the sixth floor where you’ll find a real hidden gem.
The rooftop bar only has a few tables but it packs a punch thanks to the gorgeous views it offers. You won’t spot the Trevi Fountain or Pantheon up here, but you will get an eyeful of classic architecture.
And what’s even better is that the cocktail menu is as fun and creative as the venue.
Try the La Nonna, made with Hendrick’s gin, marmellata d’albiocca, latte di mandorla Adriatico, Stillabunt, limone, and soda — a refreshing citrus drink inspired by (and named after) an Italian grandmother.
If you prefer something a little more hardy, there’s the L’artigiano containing rum, Barolo chinato Mulassano, bitter Fusetti, and amaro Amacardo red.
Metro checks in…
The team at Metro Travel have been all around the world this year, reviewing everything from all-inclusive resorts in Greece to five-star skyscraper hotels in Japan.
You can find our top picks here:
Ok, what are the rooms like?
There are 10 types of rooms, the most basic being a Cosy Room (one-person occupancy).
The biggest is the Terrace Apartment. This sleeps up to five people in three bedrooms and has its own 32sqm terrace.
I’ve already waxed lyrical about the interior design, which is all the handiwork of Laura Gonzalez, the ‘queen of colour’.
Her signature style continues in each of the bedrooms, with a real theatrical flair thanks to bold printed statement wallpaper and matching fabric headboards.
Even the bathrooms are dreamy, with striking red tiles on the floor and in the shower.
Don’t forget to look in the wardrobe for complimentary slippers, which are impossibly chic — bright red and orange, with a martini glass and an olive embroidered on each foot.
No judgement if you slip them in your suitcase to take home.
How much does it cost?
Prices at Casa Monti Roma vary depending on the day of the week, but standard prices for a one-person Cosy Room in April start from €375 (around £322) and rise to €575 (£494) for a Comfort Room for two people.
Suites start from €1,335 (£1,008) per night.
Everything you need to know: at a glance
Time: Rome is one hour ahead of the UK.
Weather: The average daily maximum temperature in April is around 18.8°C, rising to 23.4°C in May and 27.1°C in June.
Adaptors: UK to EU travel adapter, however at Casa Monti the rooms all have international electrical outlets.
Currency: The local currency is the Euro.
Visas: You do not need a visa to visit any part of Italy, and can stay for short periods of up to 90 days.
Check in/check out: You can check in from 3pm, and you’ll need to check out before 12pm.
Disability access? The hotel has a wheelchair-accessible registration desk, and an accessible path to the elevator. Doorways have also been designed for wheelchair access.
Standout feature: The location and the spa with stunning views over the city.
Perfect for: Couples, business travellers and solo travellers who want to feel bougie as hell.
Not right for: Large groups.
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