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A part of the unique UK-based Rocce Forte group, the storied Lodge de Russie is a complicated lodge that exudes glamour with out being extravagant, a traditional five-star lodge with a contemporary contact. Situated in a trendy space of Rome between Villa Borghese and Through Margutta, subsequent to Piazza del Popolo and never removed from the Spanish Steps, it shares a locale with a few of Italy’s most well-known names in trend, and hosts some high-profile friends, together with Kate Hudson who’s a visitor throughout my keep.
The Look
As soon as inside, friends can go away a busy Rome summer season behind them. Whereas the lodge’s foyer space boasts eye-candy within the type of brightly-coloured fruit-shaped vases holding towering ferns, the guts of this lodge is within the gorgeous courtyard they’ve named Piazetta G Valadier. The piazza-like alfresco eating space is house to the Stravinskij Bar, sheltered on three sides by the tall terracotta buildings with fairly pale blue shutters that home its 120 rooms and suites. That is the place you will additionally discover its iconic — and maybe not-so-secret — backyard, a verdant, strollable wall full with balustrades, trickling fountains and chirping crickets.
There’s additionally a spa with a saltwater hydropool, sauna and Turkish steamroom, a health club, and two superbly appointed frequent rooms which can be something however. There’s additionally a lodge cat known as Mona, a distinguished resident who could honour you with a greeting at breakfast.
Service
Earlier than I can open the taxi door, a doorman in high hat and tails dashes to help me and ushers me contained in the constructing and straight to a entrance desk clerk who promptly checks me in. My luggage are proper behind me. As a part of the five-star service, check-in is a breeze as most of your particulars are gathered previous to your arrival, foregoing the odious process of presenting your bank card and passport. Within the blink of a watch, I’ve a desk booked on the bar for lunch and I am guided to my room with my luggage arriving not more than 10 minutes later.
The Room
Of the 120 rooms, I’m in a traditional room on the second ground which has shuttered home windows overlooking rooftops over Vicolo del Borghetto, the quiet avenue beneath. Pay extra, and you will overlook the central courtyard (not that anybody’s complaining about overlooking Roman rooftops over the other aspect). My room is elegant, with contemporary reduce flowers, wood floorboards, a marble and silver lavatory and a walk-in wardrobe with full-length mirror. In the course of the night there’s a turndown service and I’m supplied with two bottles of water, glowing and nonetheless, with glasses, slippers by the mattress — and every part I had rapidly thrown on high of it folded and put away.
On my final morning I request room service because the restaurant would not open earlier than I go away, and proper on the dot of 6.15am a white tablecloth-covered trolley is wheeled into my room with a vase filled with flowers and your requested meal choice beneath silver cloche dome servers. If breakfast is already included in your room charge, the lodge solely provides a small service cost to the invoice for it to be delivered to your room.
Meals + Drink
On an exceedingly scorching afternoon, Stravinskij Bar is a high-quality place to settle in for an apertivo. Whereas I am there — on the hottest time of the day — the bar is quiet, tables are sheltered by umbrellas and a lightweight mist of water helps hold friends cool. From round 5pm onwards, issues begin to get busy as friends and the well-heeled Romans flock to the well-known courtyard, and issues stay busy all through the night time. The bar is understood for its glorious concoctions created by “grasp bartenders”, together with a variation on the Aperol spritz with berries, saffron and passionfruit. They come accompanied with fancier snacks similar to rosemary-roasted almonds, olives and vegetable chips (which helps take the sting out of the 23 euro price ticket). I am right here for a lightweight lunch and for the primary time in a month I go for a really non-Italian lentil burger, which comes coated in toasted quinoa and accompanied with lightly-dressed leaves and a tomato and basil salad (in all probability, the most effective salad I’ve had all the journey). Bread basket, olive oil and a really good balsamic assist spherical out the meal.
Le Jardin de Russie, the lodge’s fine-dining restaurant, gives conventional Roman meals similar to pastas, meat and seafood dishes (together with lobster). It is also the place breakfast is served within the mornings, hosted by a charismatic maitre d’, and seated outdoors beneath the backyard. The buffet-style breakfast is served from its jaw-dropping eating room, hand painted by Italian artist Gio Bressana, who has efficiently managed to convey the gorgeous backyard outdoors inside for friends to take pleasure in throughout wetter months of the yr.
For breakfast, there may be an irresistible array of contemporary fruit and natural yoghurt, Roman maritozzi, fruit flans stuffed with creme patisserie, pane al pomodoro, even a bowl of smashed avo. Eggs are made to order (for the very hungry). Espresso — at all times a double espresso in Italy for me — is superb.
Out and About
From right here, Rome is at your fingertips. Particularly, its buying district. You are by no means too removed from an historic web site within the dwelling museum that’s this metropolis — a stroll via to the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain and Piazza Navona will in all probability take you half-hour. And it is a 12 minute minute taxi experience to Rome Termini, costing round 10 euro — though in case you’re staying right here, cash might be no object.
The Verdict
It is a quintessential Rome expertise. If it would not fairly fit your price range, go to for an apertivo to take in the ambiance.
Our Rating Out of 5
★★★★★
The Necessities
Basic rooms begin at 1070 euro ($A1570) an evening in excessive season. Through del Babuino, 9, 00187 Roma RM, Italy; see roccofortehotels.com
Spotlight
Ready for Kate Hudson to wave to me from her studio on the sixth ground which ignored the courtyard I used to be eating in.
Lowlight
There was a little bit of noise coming from different rooms throughout the day (largely room doorways closing) and typically coming from surrounding rooms late at night time, however nothing actually intrudes on night time’s sleep.
