One of my favorite hotels in Rome is the Rose Garden Palace Hotel. Just off the famous Via Veneto, and a stone’s throw from the American Embassy, it enjoys one of the best locations in the city. The hotel is partly owned by Steve Perillo, the third generation owner of Perillo Tours, the world’s largest tour operator to Italy. Perillo and his Italian partner bought this 19th-century building in 1998 and named it after the rose bushes in the courtyard.
One might expect a hotel owned by a tour company to seem impersonal or touristy. In the case of the Rose Garden, nothing can be further from the truth. The 59-room, six-suite property feels more like a small, luxury boutique hotel featuring a cozy lobby, the perfect mix of modern and classic design and ample-size guest rooms offering every amenity. There’s even small spa and indoor swimming pool.
Most surprising is that there’s little evidence of organized groups and the hotel attracts at least as many European visitors as Americans. Guests can enjoy the food of the hotel restaurant Il Roseto in a formal dining room or at the bar. The chef’s delicious minestrone makes the perfect late afternoon snack, when dinner is still hours away.
By Kathy McCabe
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