After more than a year and a half, Rome’s iconic Hotel Eden has reopened its doors. The new iteration is even more luxurious and classically elegant than its predecessor. Baroque Travel finds out more
A stay at the Hotel Eden in Rome has always been a legendary experience. The hotel, which originally opened in 1889, has hosted a long list of royalty, heads of state and celebrities from all over the world, including many Hollywood actors and actresses.
The hotel was bought by the renowned Dorchester Collection in 2013, which also owns The Beverly Hills in LA and the Hôtel Plaza Athénée in Paris. Since then, it has been completely revamped, meticulously recreating its historic opulence and adding a modern sensitivity. With its ideal location between the Spanish Steps and the Villa Borghese in Rome, the hotel is everything that one would expect of a modern luxury establishment.
You can’t possibly go wrong if your designers were responsible for revamping the exquisite Hôtel Plaza Athénée and redesigning Karl Lagerfeld’s apartment. And the dartists certainly did not disappoint. From the moment you enter the lobby which is festooned with gold and marble to the time spent relaxing in La Libreria, the sumptuous bar where the walls are decorated with frescoes, the floors boast geometric marble patterns and there’s a secret bar, you know you’ve landed in paradise.
The 98 private guest rooms and suites are light, bright, airy and spacious, with high ceilings and large windows. Decorated in neutral shades, they are comfortable and welcoming. Plush, too – lamps are from Murano, closets have antique mirrors, curtains are made from exquisite Italian textiles and the bathrooms are marble, and offer Bottega Veneta toiletries.
The hotel’s four signature suites are quite exceptional, with elegant interiors and breathtaking views. The largest and most exclusive is the Bellavista Penthouse Suite, which offers a study, living room, dining room, bedroom and a telescope for stargazing. Located on the hotel rooftop, it features unmatched views of Rome. Accessible only by private elevator, it’s decorated in 1930s-style.
The hotel’s two restaurants are headed by Fabio Ciervo, an award-winning chef who is passionate about healthy eating (he originally trained with Michel Roux at the Waterside Inn). The gourmet restaurant La Terraza at Hotel Eden features nutritious gastronomic fare that focuses on wellness. A special event is the chef’s table where up to eight guests can watch 30 chefs at work in the kitchen that Ciervo designed. The second restaurant, Il Giardino Ristorante & Bar, features a small outdoor terrace. It’s perfect for breakfast or evening cocktails, as well as casual lunches and dinners.
A new addition is the hotel spa, a small, intimate space with just four treatment suites. It offers various treatments including facials and massages using exclusive products from the US and Italy.