If you like House & Garden, you'll like Casa Monti. Designed by Laura Gonzalez, the hotel is a haven of detail, spirited pattern combinations and tongue-in-cheek references to the ancient city. I've spent a lot of time in Rome and whilst I love the frenetic energy of the city's squares and rowdy roads I have never found it to be a relaxing place. Want a coffee? Make it speedy! The best places – like my favourite Bar San Calisto in Trastevere – are raucous affairs. Casa Monti is a true antidote to this, without compromising on flamboyance. Stepping into this hotel is like stepping into one of the hundreds of hushed, cool cathedrals around Rome – grand and embellished, but calm and rejuvenating.
Every detail is considered and richly decorated, down to the dapperly dressed hotel staff who warmly greeted us in puffed sleeve blouses and velvet loafers. “Romans cultivate their interiors, they create meticulous universes, layering on creative references,” explains Laura. “That is how I envisaged Casa Monti, imbued with an intimate atmosphere like a Roman home; open onto neighbourhood life, it invites Romans to step inside and enjoy.” Whilst the hotel certainly feels individual – from the frescoes that greet you in the lobby to the wacky wallpapered staircase – it simultaneously feels like a satisfying culmination of contemporary style. The pseudo-Grecian references (think Luke Edward Hall's inky artworks) and wavey cornicing, the bamboo furniture and richly patterned fabrics: it's the best of today's decor moments, all with extreme elegance and playfulness.
The Susanne Kaufmann spa is a design highlight. Cushions and curtains printed with lemons complement the buttery lime-washed walls, yellow tiled floors and retro wicker furniture to create a 1980s European glamour. With a golden marble hot tub that looks over the whole city, I'd have happily whiled away the day there like a louche Roman Emperor.
This is by no means a ‘style over substance’ affair, though. Whilst decoration is paramount, so too are comfort and experience. The curtained canopy opposite our luxuriously puffy bed theatrically opens to reveal a TV, for example. The bathroom is beautifully tiled in shades of red, but still sturdy and functional. Everything is easy at Casa Monti.
The hotel has 26 rooms and 10 suites spread across six floors, including the top floor ‘Roman Suite’ which boasts a vast terrace with one of the best views in the city. It's part of the Leitmotiv group, which has hotels in the French town of Megève and Paris. It's the best scale of hotel in my opinion – boutique, with individualised service and decor, whilst still reassuringly established and smooth-running.
The rooftop bar, adorned with a spectacular mural, would be a great spot even if you weren't staying in the hotel. Come for the view, stay for the mixologists' zingy take on classic Italian cocktails. The food is a little more fussy than my preferred type of traditional Roman fare, but it will suit you well if you're looking for a refined menu. The tiramisu and panna cotta were particular highlights.
Venture beyond the hotel and the cobbled streets of Monti, the oldest district of Rome, has plenty to offer, from classic trattorias to trendy vintage shops with better prices than you'd ever get in the UK.
The hotel has something for everyone, whether you want a super reliable, comfortable stay with sparkling service, or a design-forward experience with plenty of interior inspiration.
