04 May, 2018
If you've ever wondered what a modern Italian palazzo would look like, this city sweetheart has taken those thoughts and made them tangible. A restored 17th-century palace, the Elizabeth Unique Hotel leaves a staggering impression with its double-height entrance, white-marble floors, arched walls, luxurious yet up-to-date yet interior and carefully curated contemporary art collection. Tucked away on a small street off Via del Corso in the city centre, it's perfectly positioned for first-time visitors wanting to explore Rome's sights and pick up some Italian flare before getting stuck into what they really came for: some serious eating and drinking.
Each of the 33 rooms carefully treads the line between sumptuous and understated; this is a lesson in understated elegance. Bedecked with wooden floors and antique wallpaper, gold detailing and deep-blue hues of velvet-upholstered furniture curate a feeling of utter opulence with added edge. All rooms are spacious but the junior suite is worth the extra stretch if you can. When in Rome...
You should really order an espresso and a brioche to be consumed standing at a bar like a true Italian. But as you're on holiday, we'll forgive you for wanting to sample the full breakfast/brunch menu (served until a leisurely 2.30PM daily) which is a a veritable spread of freshly baked pastries, cereals, seasonal fruit, Italian cheeses and meats and eggs however you like them.
The bistro is open from from 12.30PM and offers a broad variety of snacks, sandwiches and mains, all modern interpretations of international classics. Many of the ingredients come directly from Italy's family estates, which explains why even some simple mozzarella and tomatoes is heavenly.
The Bar Bacharach & Bistrot, named after the composer and pianist Burt Bacharach, is a beautiful space that opens up to a wooden terrace - an idyllic spot for aperitivo. The cocktail menu has an extensive selection of classic Italian cocktails (negronis, we're looking at you) and some of the country's finest wines.
Like many city hotels, there is no spa or gym but some of the suites do have saunas. All rooms have a coffee machine and Bose speakers for those who can't be dissuaded from their morning routine. The hotel's proximity to the Villa Borghese also gives runners access to one of Rome's most picturesque routes.
The hotel offers "mansion" rooms in a separate building 10 metres away. While equally spacious and sophisticated in design, we recommend staying in the main building to get the real experience of sleeping in a palazzo. Don't miss the art collection spread around the building, which was curated by the Russo Art Gallery, a fifth-generation art curator and one of the most prestigious in Rome.
The walk to and from your hotel will take you past some of the capital's top sights. Head east and you'll get to Piazza di Spagna, home to the Valentino empire with its museum, three-storey retail space and private residency of the man himself. Head north on the Via del Corso and you'll get to Piazza del Popolo with its Egyptian obelisk - the tallest and second oldest in Rome. At night, it's worth taking the stairs up to Pincio, which offers some of the most magnificent views over the city and opens up to the beautiful gardens of the Villa Borghese.