This Rome hotel has the best rooftop views in the Eternal City

In the historic centre of the Italian capital, Annabel Grossman finds a pocket of serenity at Orient Express La Minerva

May 28, 2026 - 17:15

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This Rome hotel has the best rooftop views in the Eternal City

An elegant new hotel in the heart of the city, La Minerva offers a quintessentially Italian stay combining Roman heritage with contemporary design

Location

Step out the front door of Orient Express La Minerva onto the Piazza della Minerva and you’re in the heart of Rome’s centro storico with its winding streets, pretty piazzas, and ancient monuments. The hotel is well-located to explore the Eternal City; it’s just moments from the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps are a 10-minute walk, and the Colosseum is around 20 minutes by foot.

Rome’s train station is a 15-minute drive, while Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport can be reached in around 35 minutes by taxi (a little more when there’s traffic).

Vibe

Orient Express La Minerva feels like a pocket of serenity in the midst of the Italian capital. A former palace built in 1620, La Minerva was home to the aristocratic, Portuguese Fonseca family during this century. It became a hotel in 1811 when it drew Europe’s well-heeled, including artists and intellectuals.

The Minerva Bar is filled with greenery and is candlelit in the evening

The Minerva Bar is filled with greenery and is candlelit in the evening (Alexandre Tabaste)

It took its current iteration as Hotel Minerva just last year and has been beautifully redesigned around the building’s Roman architecture to retain its history, while incorporating contemporary elements and a dash of Art Deco. The hotel is part of the Orient Express family, and you can see the railway heritage reflected in the decor, as well as the staff uniforms.

Read more: The best luxury hotels in Rome

Service

Highly efficient, but also personable – it’s hard to fault the service at La Minerva. Bags were whisked from our hands on arrival, cocktails tweaked to perfection and cappuccinos were refreshed before they could get cold. A very knowledgeable concierge service is on hand for restaurant and excursion recommendations and bookings, as well as arranging taxis. The overall effect is a completely seamless stay.

Bed and bath

The 93 rooms and suites at La Minerva are designed to evoke the history of Rome, while blending contemporary touches. They span from the Classic Rooms that are roughly 25 square metres up to Signature Suites – the largest of which, The Orient Express Suite, measures 190 square metres, featuring a living room, dining room and kitchenette.

Across all rooms, brown tones create a sleek and elegant vibe, with wooden furniture, leather accents, and teak and oak flooring. Supremely comfortable king-size beds boast crisp Italian linens, and bathrooms are spacious with marble sinks, powerful rainfall showers and Guerlain toiletries.

A Deluxe room with Art Deco accents

A Deluxe room with Art Deco accents (Alexandre Tabaste)

Food and drink

Situated on the seventh floor with stunning views of Rome, La Minerva’s rooftop restaurant Gigi Rigolatto is a major draw of the hotel. Expect handmade pastas (the cacio e pepe with artichokes is excellent), as well as fish dishes, including sea bream tartare, yellowtail carpaccio and roasted grouper; along with classics like grilled lamb, beef tenderloin with green sauce and a roasted spring chicken with lemon. Portions are generous, but it’s worth leaving room for dessert, which includes tiramisu, a creamy creme brulee with pineapple, and pistachio ice cream. The wine list is Italian-focused, and includes a number of vintage bottles, and there’s a carefully thought out cocktail menu using Italian craft spirits.

On the ground floor in the light-filled lobby is La Minerva bar, where guests and visitors can enjoy classic Italian dishes. It’s a beautiful space with a high glass ceiling, an elegant bar and comfortable seating – all surrounded by greenery. Breakfast is served in this space, too. It’s an elegant affair with a harpist playing and an extensive al carte menu, as well as a buffet of cereals, fruits, pastries and sweets. Both restaurants have a good range of vegetarian dishes, and a number can be adapted to vegan. Most dietary restrictions, including gluten-free and lactose-free, can be accommodated with prior notice.

A Suite terrace at Orient Express La Minerva

A Suite terrace at Orient Express La Minerva (Alexandre Tabaste)

Facilities

The SPA at Orient Express La Minerva is designed to be a blend of Roman thermal baths and an Ottoman hammam, offering a range of treatments and bathing rituals using products from luxury Italian brand Furtuna Skin in a calming space. These include massages, ghassoul clay wraps, rose-infused foot baths and kassa exfoliation, as well as face and hair treatments

There is a 24/7 gym with Technogym equipment and weights, as well as a Kinesis Room decked out with with foam rollers, medicine balls, balance domes, free weights and resistance bands. A personal trainer can be arranged upon request for fitness, yoga and Pilates.

The SPA offers a range of baths and treatments, including massages and wraps