When staying in Rome, it seems only right to stay in a hotel which matches the charm and sophistication of the city.
The InterContinental Rome has that and so much more. When our taxi arrived, our car doors were opened, we were warmly greeted, our luggage whisked away and we were escorted into reception. It was just the start of the wonderful service we received throughout our stay.
The stunning hotel which was built to accommodate visiting ambassadors and then served as the home of the American Embassy Library is exquisite inside.
The large grand marble stairs adorned with a red carpet, the perfectly placed fresh flowers around the hotel, the open feel of all the public spaces and elegant design throughout.
We stayed in one of the hotel’s King Junior Suites. It was absolutely beautiful with plenty of space and reflecting the hotel’s smart, clean and sophisticated décor.
The room had a separate lounge area with seating, a desk area and the large windows allowed views into the city.
Provided along with a fully stocked mini bar there are two bottles of filtered water, a coffee machine and tea bags by La Via del Tè.
The built-in wardrobes gave a very generous amount of space for all our luggage and clothes.
The bathroom, as well as being large in space and having a wonderful waterfall walk-in shower, was beautifully presented in white marble with gold detailing.
The toiletries, shower gel, shampoo, conditioner and body lotion are by luxury brand BYREDO. Additional toiletries are provided in the bathroom – a dental kit, mouthwash, razor kit, Q-Tip’s, cotton wool and a comb.
The bedroom, as lovely as you would expect, with king bed which gave us a wonderful night’s sleep. At turndown service, water was left at our bedside along with slippers.
One thing you absolutely cannot miss out on at the Intercontinental is Charlie’s Rooftop Bar.
It was the perfect place for us to enjoy pre-dinner cocktails. The talented bar team looked after us extremely well and we were glad we took their recommendations on cocktails.
I enjoyed the ‘WATER’ which was Greygoose vodka, aperol, passion fruit syrup, mango puree and lime juice.
And for my second drink I sipped on the ‘FIRE’, Plantation pineapple rum, passion fruit and mint soda, demerara syrup and lime juice.
It was too hard to say no and resist the snacks, especially the freshly-baked pretzel.
Whether you come for the views, the fabulous cocktails, the live DJ or amazing service, do not miss out at this fabulous rooftop bar.
For our evening meal, I don’t think we could have had a better dining experience in the whole of Rome than that which we had in VICI, the hotel’s restaurant which opened on 1st August. VICI’s focus is on quality and seasonal ingredients.
As any meal in Italy should, we enjoyed a glass of bubbles to start.
For our first course, we had the ‘Crudo di ricciola’, Amberjack carpaccio served with tomato and cucumber extract. It was incredible, fresh, light and full of wonderful delicate flavours.
Our second course, I enjoyed the best homemade Gnocchi I have ever eaten. It was served with clams, mollusks and sea asparagus. The Gnocchi held the strong shellfish flavours very well.
Pescato del giorno (catch of the day), which on our visit was Cod, was accompanied by sautéed sea asparagus, citrus butter sauce and caviar. The sauce alone was a taste sensation, the fish cooked perfectly. It was simply stunning.
We finished our meal with ‘VICI’s Tiramisù’, one of my most favourite Italian desserts. This twist on the classic delivered all the expected flavours with a fun twist.
The restaurant has an excellent wine list, but I recommend doing as we did and asking for wine pairings to accompany the dishes, which was a fun way for us to try some stunning Italian wines.
I can’t imagine anyone being disappointed with the abundance of options at breakfast. The buffet has a large selection of freshly baked pastries, breads, Italian cheeses, cold cuts, cereals and yoghurts.
We enjoyed the coffee, both ordering a latte. And whilst I enjoyed the offerings from the buffet, Mr B ordered the pancakes and said they were delicious.
Our one-night stay at the Intercontinental Rome may have been brief, but it was utterly perfect. The hotel, the suite, the drinks, the food and the staff, we were spoilt in all areas. I would happily and highly recommend staying on your next visit to the Eternal City.
https://rome.intercontinental.com/
