Hotel Babuino 181 Rome

Perfectly situated between the Piazza del Popolo and the Spanish Steps in Rome’s historic city centre, Babuino 181 is a stylish respite in the heart of the action.

Wander down the famous Via Babuino in either direction and you’ll discover designer boutiques and art galleries on the way to must-see sites like Villa Borghese and the Trevi Fountain. It’s easy to find your way back – Babuino 181 shares a name with its address.

BABUINO SUITE
Babuino 181’s namesake suite is the most spacious one in the hotel. Think of it more like your own home: It features a separate living and dining area where you can socialize, dine, or work. There’s a secluded, private balcony where you can sip cocktails or Nespresso amidst the greenery.

And you’ll even enjoy an extra powder room off the living room – a perfect place to pamper yourself after a rinse in the luxurious shower (big enough for two) or separate bath. The King bed is topped with a down duvet and the best Italian linens for a heavenly night’s sleep. Measures 63 square meters (678 square feet).

PATRIZI SUITE
There are many things to love about our Patrizi Suite, but one of our personal favorites is its private rooftop terrace. Sink in to the sun-shaded sofa or armchairs and enjoy enchanting views of sites that span Rome’s iconic terracotta rooftops from St. Peter’s Basilica to the Villa Medici.

Then, head back downstairs and put your feet up in the seating area, which also includes a dining table and workspace. When you’re ready for a day of adventure or a night on the town, you’ll have plenty of space to freshen up: The handcrafted marble bathroom includes a separate shower and bath and His-and-Her sinks.

A King bed with luxurious Italian linens and a down duvet guarantees a great night’s sleep. Measures 55 square meters (592 square feet).

MONCADA SUITE
Our Moncada Suite is one-of-a-kind. More apartment than suite, this split-level space features a high-beamed ceiling with a lovely upstairs loft. It’s situated in Babuino 181’s new wing right across from the main building.

The King bed, which is topped with a down duvet and luxurious Italian linens, sits on the ground floor. So does the bathroom, which is designed with travertine marble and a separate shower and bath. The loft serves as a living space with a sofa that doubles as an extra bed. Measures 48 square meters (516 square feet).

CLASSIC SUITE
Luxuriously large and serenely stylish, our Classic Suites offer an oasis in the center of the city. Each one features a spacious seating area and work space. The King bed is topped with a down duvet and luxurious Italian linens, while the gorgeous marble bathroom features a separate shower and bath. Averages 40 square meters (430 square feet).

DOUBLE SUPERIOR
This intimate hideaway brims with stylish touches and artful accents. It’s located in the beautiful new wing right across from the main building. The King bed is topped with a down duvet and luxurious Italian linens, while the gorgeous marble bathroom features a separate shower and bath. Averages 22 square meters (236 square feet).

EMME RESTAURANT
EMME Restaurant offers a truly unique and unrivaled Roman experience, not to mention a dreamy garden terrace perfect for those balmy Roman nights. There really is nowhere else in Rome like it.

Set on the famed artist street, Via Margutta, everything at Emme is about creating moments. It’s a chic neighborhood hotspot where you can meet and mingle with the locals, have a coffee or classic Italian aperitivo and indulge in the culinary traditions of Rome.

The dynamic menu is a contemporary ode to regional Italian cuisine, showcasing the talents of trusted food artisans. These relationships built over time bring a shared vision to life in EMME’s kitchen.

Each dish can be perfectly paired with one of the barman’s expertly shaken cocktails or with a glass of wine from our carefully curated wine list. Enter the world of Emme. It embodies everything we love about Rome – authenticity, gastronomic excellence, style and above all, good company.

ROOFTOP TERRACE
All of our Rome Luxury Suites hotel guests get exclusive access to our rooftop terrace – a luxury in its own right in a city known for its beautiful light.

Perched atop Babuino 181, the elegantly designed bar and lounge serves a continental breakfast in the morning and transforms into a full-service cocktail bar during the evening. Just a short stroll from Margutta 19 and Mario de’ Fiori 37, it’s a lovely spot for sipping a cappuccino under the sun and an aperitivo beneath the stars.

INSIDER HIGHLIGHTS
This is the season for Lazio’s famous artichokes: taste the best at Rome Luxury Suites’ EMME restaurant. Fave (broad beans) and zucchini flowers are also in season, as well as the first strawberries and cherries.

There’s a new Roman Museum, Horti Lamiani Nymphaeum, showcasing the excavations of pleasure gardens that were much beloved by Caligula.

Villa Borghese At Rome Luxury Suites you’re ideally situated for a wander through the enchanting gardens of Villa Borghese, with its fabulous Galleria Borghese. The exhibition Guido Reni in Rome: Nature and Devotion runs from 1 March-22 May.

Until 3 April, Domus Aurea, Nero’s impressive ‘Golden House’ excavations have a special exhibition in the Octagonal Room on the painter Raphael and his study of the Domus Aurea – he used to be lowered down into its chambers to copy the frescoes.

Museums & Sites at their best It’s a treat to visit Rome’s sites at the moment: it’s essential to book ahead and entry is controlled to reduce numbers. You’ll have the rare experience of wandering around the Vatican’s treasures, the Colosseum, and the Pantheon, without the crowds.

ALL EATHER SIGHTS 
If you’re looking for some respite from the sunshine (or on very rare occasions, the rain), Rome’s cool underground sights are the ideal choice: book a tour for the lowest level of the Colosseum, head to the high-tech Palazzo Valentini, or descend into the welcoming chill of Basilica di San Clemente.

Other wonderful places to explore in the late summer and early Autumn are Rome’s fabulous parks, with the beautiful Villa Borghese just behind Rome Luxury Suites: top sights in the park include Galleria Borghese and the glorious hilltop Villa Medici. Head to the tree-shaded Palatine if you’re exploring ancient Rome.

BEST ROME TOURS
If you want to ease your way around Rome, take a tour with some Roman insiders. We have carefully handpicked recommendations who can personalize your exploration of the eternal city. For example, Walks of Italy offers VIP access to the Colosseum plus ‘Pristine Sistine’ (access to the Sistine Chapel an hour before it opens to the public).

Imago Artis Tours provides themed excursions including Rome for kids or ancient Rome archaeology. From attending gladiator school to wine tastings to eating your way through a private foodie tour.

DELICIOUS DINING
There is nowhere else in Rome like EMME Restaurant. Our garden terrace restaurant on Via Margutta serves up authentic Italian cuisine in a lovely setting. Its tasty menu, takes regional Italian dishes to a higher level using seasonal local ingredients and unique fresh flavors.

And each course can be perfectly paired with our thoughtful selection of wines and freshly made cocktails. Via Margutta is one of Rome’s loveliest backstreets, and EMME has become the neighborhood hub – a place to meet, have a coffee or an aperitif, and dine on great food.

It’s that genuine rarity: as popular with locals as with people visiting Rome. And while the interior is fabulous the highlight is the gorgeous outdoor garden terrace, which is a magnet on Rome’s many balmy days and evenings.

NEIGHBORHOOD GEMS 
On arrival, you’ll receive A Roman Notebook, a guide to local secrets and tips, only available to guests of our properties. Mausoleum of Augustus – Thrillingly, the restored tomb of one of Rome’s most magnificent emperors has opened after around 80 years off-limits to the public. The visit includes the wall-top walkway with views over the neighbourhood;

Local artisans & shopping – The area around Rome Luxury Suites has a wealth of local artisans and we can guide you to these, as well as our best local tips on where to buy bespoke and off the peg; Coffee & Dining – A Roman Notebook reveals our handpicked favourite local cafes, bars and restaurants, from family trattorias to where to get the best ice cream.

VIA MARGUTTA
Rome Luxury Suites are on and around Via Margutta, one of Rome’s most beautiful and characterful streets. Alberto Moncada di Paterno began Rome Luxury Suites here in the gracious buildings that his great grandfather had built as artists’ studios in the 18th century.

Today it’s still known as the artists’ street, and it’s not unusual to see a restorer working in the sunshine, and locals stopping to chat to the marmoraro (marble carver).

Debussy, Liszt, Puccini and Wagner are all said to have lived on Via Margutta, and Stravinsky came here with his friend Pablo Picasso. It was also a centre for cinema – Gregory Peck’s apartment in Roman Holiday was here, and director Federico Fellini lived on the street for many years.

Via Margutta is incredibly central, only a few minutes from Piazza del Popolo, Spanish Steps and the designer sparkle of Via Condotti, yet is quiet and with a local, neighbourhood feel. Let us introduce you to our favourite local haunts, its boutiques and artisans.

VIA CONDOTTI
Close to Rome Luxury Suites is Via Condotti, Rome’s most fashionable shopping street. This arrow-straight street dates back to ancient Rome, and is named after conduits which carried water to the Baths of Agrippa. Starting at the Spanish Steps, the glittering avenue brims with flagship stores for superstar designers, including Prada, Bulgari and Valentino.

You can stop for a coffee at Caffé Greco, following in the footsteps of Keats and Byron, and admire the stately architecture dotted amid the designer stores: Palazzo di Malta, Palazzo Della Porta Negroni Caffarelli & Chiesa della Santissima Trinità degli Spagnoli.

Leading from the Spanish Steps towards Piazza del Popolo is Via Babuino, ‘street of the Baboon’, so named after a craggy-looking statue on a fountain on the street.

It’s appropriately twinned with Madison Avenue in New York, and is packed with more designer stores, historic labels such as Italian hatters Borsalino, and funky independent shops: see our hand-picked local recommendations in ‘A Roman Notebook’.

SPANISH STEPS
The Spanish Steps are one of Rome’s focal points, and Rome Luxury Suites are only a short walk away from this magnificent rococo staircase. It’s a beautiful sweeping centrepiece, where visitors gather to sit, take stock and people watch.

There’s a fabulous view from the top that’s perfect as the sun starts to dip and paint the city’s domes rosy pink. At the bottom of the steps is the tiny Keats Shelley House, where romantic poet Keats lived and died, a fascinating window into 19th-century Rome.

You’ll find more insider tips of what to see in the neighbourhood in our guide, ‘A Roman Notebook’ upon arrival. Funnily enough, the Spanish Steps were built by the French. In the 17th century, the French built this elegant staircase as a grand approach to their church, the Trinita di Monti.

However, they never ended up getting the credit. The steps lead up from the Piazza di Spagna, home of the Spanish Embassy, so to locals and everyone else they have always been the “Spanish Steps”.

From the Spanish Steps, the area’s streets lead off like spokes. Graceful fashion-central boulevards Via dei Condotti and Via del Babuino are full of top international brands from Bulgari to Versace.

The area feels almost like a small town, but one stuffed full of tantalizing shops and top-notch restaurants, with price tags to suit all budgets.

VILLA BORGHESE
All Rome Luxury Suites properties are a short walk from Villa Borghese, Rome’s magnificent central park. The beautifully landscaped, bucolic parklands once belonged to the powerful Borghese family. Rome City Council bought the gardens in 1903 and opened them to the public.

Full of huge trees dappling the sunlight, there are still many sculptures from the Borghese era lining the walkways, and you can wander, picnic, rent bikes and even glide around on a Segway.

The gardens’ magnificent centerpiece is the Galleria Borghese, built by the immensely powerful Cardinal Borghese to house his spectacular art collection. You need a reservation to visit: ask our concierge and they’ll make one for you.

Not only is it a glorious baroque building, but you’ll find masterpieces by Bernini, Titian and Caravaggio, and spectacular Roman mosaic floors. Other splendours in the park include the Etruscan museum, with a remarkable collection of pre-Roman artefacts, and the modern art masterpieces of the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna.

PIAZZA DEL POPOLO
Two blocks from Margutta 19 and Babuino 181 is Piazza del Popolo, a graceful oval public space. The name means ‘People’s Square’, but it was actually named after the Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo (St Mary of the Poplars), which overlooks the piazza.

Inside it has an incredible wealth of artistic riches, including works by Caravaggio and the Chigi Chapel designed by Raphael and Bernini. The piazza is the starting point for the ancient Roman road, Via Flaminia, which is marked by a grand gateway.

Until the advent of flight, this was for many their first view of Rome as they approached the city from the north, hence its grandeur. The current look of the square dates from the 19th century, when it was remodeled by architect Giuseppe Valadier, who also incorporated and landscaped the route up the Pincio hill, a viewpoint at the edge of the Villa Borghese gardens.

You can walk up the zigzagging path from the piazza for soaring, romantic city views: see many other insider tips in our guide ‘A Roman Notebook’, which you’ll receive on arrival.

TREVI FOUNTAIN
Only a 10-minute walk from our Rome Luxury Suites properties, the Trevi Fountain is another extraordinary icon of Rome. This fabulously foaming masterpiece seems to be constantly thronged with people, throwing a coin over their shoulder to ensure a return to Rome.

The immediate area, at the edge of the Spanish Steps district, is always busy, but we recommend some hidden neighborhood gems in ‘A Roman Notebook’. The fountain is famous for the glorious scene in Fellini’s La Dolce Vita when Swedish star Anita Ekberg swishes gracefully through its waters dressed in a long black evening gown.

However, the Trevi Fountain’s roots go back to the 1st century B.C. and Rome’s first emperor, Augustus. It was through this area that he constructed the “Virgin Aqueduct” to bring water to central Rome.

After barbarians sacked Rome and the city’s aqueducts failed, the Virgin Aqueduct was the only one that kept running. So, in the 18th century, the Pope built a grand fountain as thanks. The result—today’s Trevi Fountain—took architect Niccolo’ Salvi 30 years to build.

INSIDER TRIPS
The grandeur of Rome can sometimes lend it a brash, bold, and chaotic demeanour. The myriad of noise, traffic and tourists can detract from its more subtle beauties, preventing you from forging a true connection to the Eternal City.

One way to find a different meaning to Rome and develop a quieter, more emotional bond is to escape from the well-worn path and seek out some of her more overlooked, under-appreciated, treasures. Here are 7 lesser-known places to visit to help you to unlock the secrets of Rome:

GIANICOLO
Rome from the ground can be a complex web of streets and alleys, jarringly punctuated by churches and monuments, making it difficult to gain an overall picture of the city. Meandering up the winding roads of the Gianicolo, or Janiculum, will bring everything into focus as the panorama opens up before you.

As you head up the hill, pass by the stunning Fountain of Acqua Paola and admire the perfect proportions of Bramante’s Tempietto at the church of San Pietro in Montorio before reaching Piazza Garibaldi, Rome’s most beautiful balcony.

The jaw-dropping view stretches across the rooftops, domes and beyond, right to the foothills of the Apennine mountains. Time your visit either at dawn or sunset to see the city bathed in a perfect light and take a moment to soak up the wonders of the city laid out before your eyes.

CENTRALE MONTEMARTINI
Located south from the centre, in the gritty yet trendy Ostiense neighbourhood, the Centrale Montemartini is a former power station dating from the early 20th century. During the 1990s the space was used to temporarily house ancient statues and artefacts from the Capitoline Museums.

The success of the exhibition led to the display being made permanent and it has now gained fame as one of Rome’s most surprising and innovative museums.

Marble statuary and Roman mosaics are juxtaposed with industrial pipes and machinery to create an intriguingly contrasting space, harmonising the past and present. Despite its early success with locals, it remains under-visited by tourists so you will likely have the magical experience to yourself (http://www.centralemontemartini.org/en )

PALATINE HILL
Part of the combo entry ticket into the Colosseum and Roman Forum, many visitors prioritise the latter two and skip the trek up the hill. However, the Palatine is where it all began, and it will transport you right back to the fatal skirmish between Romulus and Remus in 753 BC that took place on this very hillside and cemented the founding of the city.

Rome and its extensive empire expanded outwards from the Palatine, and its importance was evident in the use of the site for the emperors’ decadent palaces (the word ‘palace’ is derived from ‘palatine’). Nowadays, the exertion to reach the top is rewarded with the spectacular ruins of these extravagant structures as well as a dizzying view over the Roman Forum.

NON CATHOLIC CEMETERY OF ROME
Formed in the Testaccio district, right alongside the imposing Pyramid of Caius Cestius built in 18 BC, this tranquil, beautifully-maintained, cemetery has been the final resting place for foreigners and non-Catholics since 1784.

A welcoming oasis of calm and quiet reflection, the cemetery houses the tombs of international artists and writers including English Romantic poets Keats and Shelley, painter Joseph Severn, American sculptor W.W. Story, beat poet Gregory Corso and, most recently, famed Italian author Andrea Camilleri who was buried here after his death in 2019.

SAN CLEMENTE
A short walk beyond the Colosseum, the fascinating church of St Clement visually helps to understand the timeline of how Rome evolved, layer upon layer, thanks to its three levels which span 2000 years.

The entrance is the present-day church which was constructed in the 12th century and boasts glittering original mosaics and inlaid marble flooring. Take the stairs down to find the second level, a previous basilica from the 4th century where faded frescoes, some of the oldest in Rome, depict the life of the saint.

A further set of steps bring you down to the oldest level consisting of an ancient Roman alleyway and the 1st century home of a nobleman featuring rooms dedicated to the worship of the pagan cult of Mithras.

VILLA FARNESINA
To get up close and personal with Raphael, simply hop over the Tiber river to this little-known stately palace built in 1508 as a holiday house for wealthy papal banker Agostino Chigi.

A lover of parties, pleasure and art, Chigi, as well as filling his residence with sublime artworks, also commissioned the young painter Raphael, for whom he was a principal patron, to decorate his walls. After being declared bankrupt and selling the artworks, Chigi’s palace was bought and renamed by the Farnese family, but the frescoes remained.

While many of the works were designed by Raphael but executed by his students (he was said to be too busy dallying with a local girl from a nearby bakery), he was personally responsible for the fabulous Loggia di Galatea and several other works dotted throughout the delightful villa. (http://www.villafarnesina.it)

VILLA DORIA PAMPHIJI
One of the most surprising things about Rome is the number of large open green spaces in proximity to the centre. Villa Pamphili, with its 184 hectares, is the largest public park in town and its sprawling plots of forest, fields, fountains and landscaped gardens provide a bucolic escape from the hectic city.

Originally the magnificent summer residence of Prince Camillo Pamphiji, it is still a popular spot among local Romans for picturesque dog walks, jogging, picnics and relaxing. Rome Luxury Suites prides itself on offering visitors to Rome a truly unique and curated experience – one they won’t soon forget. From galleries to art lovers’ tips, we share it all on our social media channels.

Rooms: 24

Price: from 216 EUR per night

Source: www.romeluxurysuites.com