The St. Regis Rome

On January 1894, the Grand Hotel de Rome (renamed St. Regis in 2000) was inaugurated by Cesar Ritz with a grand 16-course dinner for 100 guests, crafted by chef August Escoffier. For over a century (in 2024, the hotel celebrated its 130th anniversary), it has been the preferred address for royal families, diplomatic delegations, and VIPs. As proof of the level of privacy and discretion offered, one wing of the hotel is served by a dedicated elevator and can be completely separated from the rest of the structure. But what is most fascinating about the St. Regis is the admirable balance between historical legacy and the avant-garde: its sumptuous hall is home to the contemporary artworks of the Continua Gallery and the mixology counter of the very popular Lumen Bar, which also benefits from a very pleasant outdoor space. Here every day at 7 pm there is the scenic sabrage ritual that kicks off the evening, accompanied by piano notes, while a couple of days a week breakfast is graced by a harpist. All very classic but counterbalanced by the DJ sets that enliven other evenings. The 2018 renovation signed by architect Pierre-Yves Rochon has returned rooms with classic, refined elegance, in perfect harmony with the rest of the hotel. Some accommodations, such as the 300-square-meter Royal Suite, are worthy of a royal palace.