As I woke from a deep sleep, the celestial-looking ceiling seemed to ooze Heaven. Nimbus poufs of feathery clouds loomed languidly, punctuated by hints of angelic cherubs. Jet lag being what it is, it took me a few minutes to realize I was in a different kind of Heaven on Earth: I was in the Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese, floating on its proprietary MyBed mattress, feeling like weightless cotton candy. The Foreign-Travel Fairy had somehow sprinkled her magic over the reservation roster for that day and, despite arriving early from across The Pond, I was able to get into my room, shower (Psst: Diptyque toiletries), and then collapse.
Terrace Suite
The non-celestial furnishings in my chamber were all comfortable and practical, from the discerning mind of designer Jean Philippe Nuel, architect and designer of the property. This 71-room, five-star hotel is housed in a former 19th-century Roman palazzo and is within walking distance of many of Rome’s star attractions. For sojourns farther afield, the Barberini metro station is just a six-minute stroll away.
Champagne Bar.
Related: Hotel Review: Hotel L’Orologio Roma: Where Italian Elegance Meets Horological Obsession
It was time to fuel up and the grandiose breakfast that travellers have come to expect with the room tariff was beyond filling, capped off with a 360-degree view that includes St. Peter’s Basilica and the Villa Borghese gardens. The rooftop dining room, Settimo, is also a feast for the eyes: The mosaic-laden floor is awash with botanically inspired garden motifs in calming earth tones, complemented by lush fabrics on the chairs – saturated-turquoise velvet and lavish forest-green florals-on-steroids.
Settimo’s rooftop unfolds a stunning view of Rome’s cityscape
La Dolce Vita can be fully realized by allowing the crackerjack staff help plan your days: Itineraries might include gladiator school, gelato workshops, horseback riding and stargazing; foodies will enjoy the itineraries created with Lauren Caramico of Davvero Rome, one of the city’s leading culinary influencers and tour guides. Adventurers will savour truffle-hunting or kayaking. Tour the Eternal City in a vintage Fiat or on the back of a Vespa; I did the latter and loved both theVespa and the guy driving it (wink-wink). Film-inspired sightseeing tours and special outings for you and your four-legged BFF also are available.
Regardless of how many nights you stay,you’ll want more. This is a tribute to the comfortable and detail-oriented service delivered by the attentive staff – and by those angels on the ceiling in your room.
