Hotel De’Ricci is a magnificent eight-suite palazzo in Rome that is as serious about fine design as it is about good wine. Baroque Travel takes a look
It’s a beautiful boutique hotel that was once a palazzo, located on a narrow lane a few steps from the Vatican City, Basilica of San Pietro, Piazza Navona, the Pantheon and other major sights. This is an area of Rome that is famous for its art galleries, historic wine bars and antique dealers. The hotel boasts an extraordinary cocktail bar and a wine cellar that is renowned. The general manager and staff are made up of seasoned sommeliers who ensure that customized selections are waiting in a wine cooler in every guest suite on arrival.
Yes, it’s a hotel for wine lovers with a cellar full of a wide and cultured selection of vintages to make any connoisseur happy. Experiences here include private tastings in the privacy of guests’ suites, wine tastings with major international producers plus special wine tours to discover the best wineries in the area. And then there’s the hotel’s famous wine cellar to explore, with its many treasures including rare vintages.
The eight exclusive suites are mind-blowing, with décor reminiscent of the 1960s. Each room boasts a fresco painted by artist Andrea Ferolla that features iconic landscapes and city views. The black tiled en suite bathrooms are spacious and elegant with retro washbasins. All the suites feature uniquely designed wallpaper, a seating area and a flat-screen TV. Some also offer a terrace.
Aperitiv in the terrace of a bedroom at Hotel De Ricci in Rome
There is no restaurant on the premises, just a dining room for Continental breakfast and a private bar, Charade, offering complimentary gourmet finger food to accompany a selection of drinks. You’ll find smoked salmon blinis with sour cream on the menu, as well as cheeseburgers and a classic turkey club sandwich with a vegetarian option. In addition, guests enjoy a daily aperitif in their suites that comes with a selection of small plates created to match the wines in their personalized cellar. Need we say more?
As the owners of the hotel also run the iconic restaurant Pierluigi, you can be guaranteed that everything you do eat at the hotel is going to be scrumptious. And while you’re staying there, make sure to reserve a table at this excellent restaurant – the seafood is legendary.
In keeping with its love of wine, the entire hotel is decorated with framed labels of the best vintages to be found in both Italy and France, and the wood-panelled floors are reminiscent of a luxury train journey in bygone days.
Guests find that staying at this charming hideaway is more like relaxing in a stylish apartment than a hotel. Thoughtful additions like dog beds, dog bowls and in-room breakfasts make one feel right at home.