logo
I stayed at Rome's Pinterest-perfect hotel — this is my honest review

I stayed at Rome's Pinterest-perfect hotel — this is my honest review

Metro21-04-2025

A vintage yellow Fiat 500 sits outside the doors of Casa Monti, reminding you – just in case you managed to forget on your journey from the airport to the hotel – you're in the heart of Rome.
Taking its cues from an artist's residence, this Italian boutique hotel manages to honour the ancient Monti neighbourhood surrounding it, while offering something fresh and modern at the same time.
It's a bold claim, but it's quite possibly the nicest place I've ever laid my head.
Behind the elegant beige facade and towering arched entranceway, you'll find your fingers itching to reach for your phone every two seconds in a bid to commit the maximalist beauty of this place to memory.
Spread over six floors, this place feels more like an exclusive apartment building than a hotel. With just 36 rooms (26 rooms and 10 suites), it's lavish and intimate.
Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here.
It's easy to get swept up in a daydream about living here, especially with the views it offers of cobbled streets and quintessentially Roman clay tile rooftops. https://www.instagram.com/p/DIWYpiKqwtk/
With the city as its muse, the hotel celebrates the art of la dolce vita , but not in a stuffy way. It's all laidback Mediterranean luxury, less museum or gallery and more Italian interior design Pinterest board.
If London restaurants like Circolo Popolare or Jacuzzi are your home decor inspo, you'll feel like you've died and gone to heaven.
Almost every detail has been thoughtfully curated, even the stairwell, which is adorned with eye-popping wallpaper that's a playful, modern twist on ancient Roman paintings. Be sure to watch your step as you admire it.
The location is a perfect 10. Walk down the street (Via Panisperna), turn the corner and boom, there's the Colosseum. Sing to me Paolo.
There are two standout facilities at this hotel — one is the spa, the other is on the roof, but we'll get to that later.
Bathed in sunlight through floor-to-ceiling windows, the spa is decorated with marble, jazzy tiles, lemon-printed textiles and antique vases.
There's an outdoor terrace where you can soak up the sun, rattan loungers to laze on and several treatment rooms where every inch of your body can be pampered.
The pièce de résistance, though, is the jacuzzi.
As you ascend the marble steps, you'll feel like you've entered another time and place.
I half expected men in togas to appear and start feeding me grapes and fanning me with palm leaves.
That's the vibe this place exudes; you feel like a goddess.
You're spoiled for choice when it comes to deciding where to eat at Casa Monti and each spot is prettier than the last.
There's a bar, which is close to the lobby and open from breakfast to dinner, as well as a restaurant with a terrace on the ground floor and an outdoor patio.
The hotel serves up classic pasta dishes with a twist, and the menu changes seasonally. You can't go wrong with the cacio e pepe if it's available, though.
The breakfast (included) is a delight, with a continental spread including fruit and yoghurt, toast with a selection of spreads, meats and cheeses, as well as sweet and salty cakes and pastries.
For an aperitif, take the elevator up to the sixth floor where you'll find a real hidden gem.
The rooftop bar only has a few tables but it packs a punch thanks to the gorgeous views it offers. You won't spot the Trevi Fountain or Pantheon up here, but you will get an eyeful of classic architecture.
And what's even better is that the cocktail menu is as fun and creative as the venue.
Try the La Nonna, made with Hendrick's gin, marmellata d'albiocca, latte di mandorla Adriatico, Stillabunt, limone, and soda — a refreshing citrus drink inspired by (and named after) an Italian grandmother.
If you prefer something a little more hardy, there's the L'artigiano containing rum, Barolo chinato Mulassano, bitter Fusetti, and amaro Amacardo red.
There are 10 types of rooms, the most basic being a Cosy Room (one-person occupancy).
The biggest is the Terrace Apartment. This sleeps up to five people in three bedrooms and has its own 32sqm terrace.
I've already waxed lyrical about the interior design, which is all the handiwork of Laura Gonzalez, the 'queen of colour'.
Her signature style continues in each of the bedrooms, with a real theatrical flair thanks to bold printed statement wallpaper and matching fabric headboards.
Even the bathrooms are dreamy, with striking red tiles on the floor and in the shower. More Trending
Don't forget to look in the wardrobe for complimentary slippers, which are impossibly chic — bright red and orange, with a martini glass and an olive embroidered on each foot.
No judgement if you slip them in your suitcase to take home.
Prices at Casa Monti Roma vary depending on the day of the week, but standard prices for a one-person Cosy Room in April start from €375 (around £322) and rise to €575 (£494) for a Comfort Room for two people.
Suites start from €1,335 (£1,008) per night.
Time: Rome is one hour ahead of the UK.
Weather: The average daily maximum temperature in April is around 18.8°C, rising to 23.4°C in May and 27.1°C in June.
Adaptors: UK to EU travel adapter, however at Casa Monti the rooms all have international electrical outlets.
Currency: The local currency is the Euro.
Visas: You do not need a visa to visit any part of Italy, and can stay for short periods of up to 90 days.
Check in/check out: You can check in from 3pm, and you'll need to check out before 12pm.
Disability access? The hotel has a wheelchair-accessible registration desk, and an accessible path to the elevator. Doorways have also been designed for wheelchair access.
Standout feature: The location and the spa with stunning views over the city.
Perfect for: Couples, business travellers and solo travellers who want to feel bougie as hell.
Not right for: Large groups.
MORE: 'Gritty' European city gets new direct UK flight – helping us reach Italy's prettiest destination
MORE: I'm a picture editor — photos of this magnificent country don't do it justice
MORE: Cable car driver who skipped Naples trip says life was saved by cup of coffee

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

All the Father's Day freebies you can get to treat dad this Sunday worth over £150 – from free pints to day's out
All the Father's Day freebies you can get to treat dad this Sunday worth over £150 – from free pints to day's out

Scottish Sun

time34 minutes ago

  • Scottish Sun

All the Father's Day freebies you can get to treat dad this Sunday worth over £150 – from free pints to day's out

From football to free steak, there's something for every dad's taste DEALS FOR DADS All the Father's Day freebies you can get to treat dad this Sunday worth over £150 – from free pints to day's out Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IT is almost our dads' big day but if the budget's tight there are still plenty of ways to celebrate them without breaking the bank. Father's Day is on Sunday, June 15 and we've put together a list of free or small cost activities to guarantee your dad has the best time. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Father's Day is almost here on Sunday June 15 Credit: Getty Dads go free There are many places across the country that are giving dads free entry for one day only. Dads go free all weekend at the Whitehouse Farm Centre, 30 minutes north of Newcastle. An adults entry costs £15.95 online or £16.95 on the day as a walk-in. The free ticket must be bought with a full paying child's ticket on June 14 and 15, while existing dad members of Whitehouse will get a free hot drink. "Superhero dads" will also get free entry to Woodlands Leisure Park in Devon if the ticket is bought online in advance and with a child's ticket. Tickets for an adult range from £20.93-£26.78 according to the website. The park has plenty of exciting things to do on the day, including rides, soft play area and even a small farm to meet some furry, four-legged friends. Other parks that offer similar deals include, Twinlakes Park and Wheelgate Theme Park, Powderham Castle and Dartmoor Zoo. Sea Life Centers across the country are offering free entry for dads from June 10 to 16. A standard entry ticket starts at £31 online. 4 Sea Life Centers are offering dads free entry Credit: SADIE OSBORNE The Eden Project in Cornwall is not only letting dad and grandads in for zero on Sunday, but they get a free pint if they dine in. A standard ticket is £38 online or £42 on the day. Food and Drink Why not take dad out for a bite to eat and drink to show how much you love him. Frankie & Benny's Italian restaurant chain, Frankie & Benny's is offering dads a free steak or pint if you pre-book a table for this week. The steak usually costs £22.75, so the deal could save mum and kids plenty of money. The steak offer is limited to the first 1,000 bookings and can be redeemed with any child's meal, all other bookings will receive a free pint or bottle of Peroni. Prezzo Another Italian chain, Prezzo, also has some pretty good offers up for grabs. Not only will dad get a free pint of Peroni on Sunday, but if he has a decent dad joke to tell, his drinks will be free for the rest of the day. The Coconut Tree But if Asian food is more to your dad's taste, then take your dad to The Coconut Tree where he can get three dishes for free when accompanied by a full-paying adult. The T&C's say: "For each paying customer, one Father, Grandfather or caregiver can choose 1 Hopper, 1 Curry Dish & 1 Side for free. Valid on Sunday 15th June 2025 only." Hoppers start at £4, whilst curries £9 and sides £4 - meaning you could say a minimum of £17. Free cash schemes if you're struggling Many of us are still struggling with the high cost of living - but there's help you can get. New or expectant parents can get up to £442 a year to spend on food through Healthy Start scheme. Some new parents can get £500 via the Sure Start Maternity Grant. The money is designed to help you cover the costs of having a child. Councils also offer support through the welfare assistance schemes, to help cover the costs of essentials, from buying new furniture to food vouchers. The amount you can get varies but an investigation by The Sun found that hard-up Brits can apply for help worth up to £1,000. Discretionary Housing Payment is a pot of money handed out by councils to those struggling to keep a roof over their heads. A scheme is available for those who find themselves unable to cover housing costs, though the exact amount varies as each local authority dishes out the cash on a case-by-case basis. Many energy forms offer grants to help cash-tight customers. The exact amount varies depending on your supplier and you circumstances, but could be as much a £2,000. TGI Friday's Some TGI Friday's locations are giving dad a free drink when dining with family, if the table is booked in advance. Greene King pubs Dads can get a Jack Daniels whisky at Greene King pubs when dining with a guest between 12 and 18 June. Sign up to Greene King's mailing letter to get the voucher. Wetherspoons Some Wetherspoons branches are offering drink vouchers or discounts on meals, it's best to check with your local Wetherspoons for information. Beefeater & Brewers Fayre Beefeater & Brewers Fayre are offering a free drink or dessert with the purchase of a main meal, but offers vary by location. Desserts start at £5.19 according to the menu. Las Iguanas South American-inspired chain, Las Iguanas, is offering a free Corona or soft drink with a main meal, with a maximum of six drinks per booking. Fun, free gifts If your dad prefers to open a gift on his big day, then there are some ways to get cheap presents for him. Vodafone customers can get free socks from Sockshop and only pay £2.95 for postage. The offer is available until June 12 or until 30,000 pairs have been snapped up. Co-op is giving away Walk a Mile with Dad t-shirts from July 11. There are 5,000 available and can be picked up on Co-op's website. 4 There are plenty of ways to treat him without breaking the bank Credit: Getty Adventure dad If your father is more of a thrill-seeker then head down to Bournemouth Pier, are giving dads a free zip-line ride. A single rider ticket costs between £20 and £27. It is also hosting a weekend festival of music, food and fun for all the family. Clacton Pier is offering dads free rides all day on June 15 after doing something similar on Mother's Day. The offer is also available to grandfathers, uncles and guardians over the age of 18 when a Big Day Out Band is bought for a child. Travel Morebus in the Bournemouth region is offering free travel for fathers travelling on Sunday - as long as they are accompanied by a child buying a dayrider ticket. Football fun For the active dads, Toca Social in Birmingham is giving 100 dads the chance to play for free on Sunday.

Si Ferry to open Italian restaurant Grosso in Dennistoun
Si Ferry to open Italian restaurant Grosso in Dennistoun

Glasgow Times

timean hour ago

  • Glasgow Times

Si Ferry to open Italian restaurant Grosso in Dennistoun

Si Ferry, assistant manager at East Kilbride FC and presenter of the Open Goal podcast, is set to open an Italian restaurant called Grosso at 424 Duke Street in Dennistoun. The venue, expected to open in August, will occupy a unit that formerly housed a Lloyds TSB bank. READ MORE: Foodies hail new Glasgow restaurant as 'fantastic addition' to busy area Glasgow World has revealed early plans for the restaurant, which include striking tiled interiors, an open kitchen with a pizza oven, and seating for up to 50 guests. Construction is currently underway, led by a team of builders working to a design created by Glasgow-based Lucid Interiors — the award-winning studio behind projects such as The Gleneagles Hotel, The Fingal in Leith, and Seamill Hydro. Si told Glasgow World: 'When I lived in Dennistoun, this is the type of place I was looking for, somewhere everyone can come, really affordable, good food that folk will love. "I want this to be for local people and I want people to come to Dennistoun for breakfast, lunch or dinner and go to some of the other bars as well." READ MORE: Glasgow shopping centre welcomes exciting new food spot Ferry, originally from Dundee, began his football career as a youth player at Celtic. As host of the Open Goal podcast, he has interviewed many leading figures in Scottish football and taken the show live to venues including The Hydro and SWG3. Now focused on bringing his dream restaurant to life, Ferry is curating a menu inspired by his favourite dishes, developed with the help of two talented chefs — pizza specialist Ally Beattie and award-winning pasta chef Chris Rouse. The menu will feature a blend of comforting and elevated Italian favourites. Early dishes include prawn and crab linguine, 12-hour longhorn beef shin ragù, crispy roast chicken penne, and spaghetti rigate with vodka sauce. Pizzas will range from classics like margherita and pepperoni to sausage and pepper, with room for more adventurous toppings. READ MORE: New Colombian food spot opens up at the Barras Ferry revealed that the collaboration with his chefs came about through a chance conversation with former footballer Aiden McGeady: 'I met Aiden McGeady, just by chance, and said I was thinking about the restaurant. "When I said it would be Italian, he said Chris Rouse is your guy. Chris actually played at Celtic with me when he was a young kid. "I didn't remember that, but I did remember him from when he was at Celino's. I tried a couple of his pasta dishes and I just fell in love with his food. "The three of us have got together and we've come up with this concept of Grosso.' Si's passion for food is deep-rooted and, by his own admission, played a role in his football journey. He shared: 'Food was a big part of what happened in my football career. I was always overweight when I played football. I was told to stay on a strict diet but we had an Italian restaurant at the bottom of the road when I was at Swindon, Fratellis. "I ended up being really good pals with the owner, I still speak to him now, they had a chicken and asparagus risotto that would blow your mind - full of cream and butter, I was eating that about four times a week. 'That's probably the reason my football career went the way it did - fantastic Italian food. "So I may as well make a new career out of that. I think, for footballers, you live such a rigid life with food Monday to Friday, maybe on a weekend, you get some pizza or pasta and it's something to look forward to. 'Friends, I have in football like Scott Arfield and Charlie Mulgrew, they are excited about the restaurant. "I've asked Slaney to talk to Kieran Tierney about visiting. I've invited Lewis Capaldi to come in as well. "I'm actually doing a bit of training now to help out front of house. It will be nice to have people I've known for years coming in with their families and enjoying the food. "Most of all, I'm looking forward to the people who live here in Dennistoun seeing what we are going to do.' Grosso will join a strong lineup of local food and drink favourites along Duke Street, including Tibo, Redmond's, Zennor, Coia's, La Bodega, and Mesa — further cementing Dennistoun's growing reputation as a vibrant destination for dining and hospitality.

Bvlgari Kaleidos: Colors, Cultures and Crafts
Bvlgari Kaleidos: Colors, Cultures and Crafts

Time Out

timean hour ago

  • Time Out

Bvlgari Kaleidos: Colors, Cultures and Crafts

Classical elegance and Mediterranean heritage meet daring innovation in the artisanal jewellery of Bulgari, the Rome-based luxury house that's become synonymous with exceptional craftsmanship over its 140-year history. This show, the brand's largest in Japan and its first in a decade, offers an opulent journey through nearly 350 pieces of jewellery and contemporary art. Its name a portmanteau of the Greek words kalos (beautiful) and eidos (form), the show presents a kaleidoscopic narrative where colour is both the medium and the message. It showcases Bulgari's use of hues as a hallmark of its innovation, from the postwar 'chromatic revolution' in gemstones to the vibrant combinations that define the brand's legacy today. Divided into three thematic chapters, the exhibition explores colour through scientific, cultural and sensory lenses. Contemporary artists Mariko Mori, Lara Favaretto and Akiko Nakayama offer personal meditations on the theme, while scenography by architect Kazuyo Sejima and design studio Formafantasma unites Roman grandeur with Japanese minimalism.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store