Honeymoon Review: Rome Cavalieri

Why go?

For luxury comfort and sweeping views over Italy’s most romantic city.

Honeymoon style:

As a general rule, city breaks demand a certain level of effort. Days are punctuated by gallery visits and restaurant pilgrimages, occasional blisters, and frequent use of google maps as opposed to midday margaritas and lounging by the pool. But at the Rome Cavalieri you can have both. Couples can spend the day exploring and eating their way through the historic streets of Rome before flopping onto a poolside sunbed and soaking up the afternoon sun. This is a perfect hotel for those keen to experience the vitality of the city of Rome whilst indulging in ultimate honeymoon luxury.

Set the scene:

There is a continuous uplifting buzz in the Rome Cavalieri foyer. Guests come and go, flushed with excitement, laden with bags from the city’s most sought after boutiques and designers, or fresh faced with the unmistakable post spa glow as they head out to explore the city. Couples zip back and forth into the city centre by way of private car or the complimentary shuttle service before diving into the vast outdoor pool or losing a few hours in the spa. Come aperitivo hour, the Tiepolo bar becomes a honeypot for glamorous twosomes donning their latest purchases and sipping negronis before heading to supper.

Rooms:

All of the rooms are spacious at Rome Cavalieri but it is the Imperial rooms that go above and beyond. Perched high, overlooking the eternal city, each room comes with its own private balcony offering breath-taking views of the Vatican, Pantheon and Coliseum. Interiors are of classic hotel glamour. Think marble bathrooms with Acqua Di Parma bath products, plush super-king beds, elegant antiques, and aristocratic furnishings of saffron yellow and royal blue. Perhaps the most notable thing about staying in an Imperial room is the exclusive access to the hotel’s Imperial club and Cavalieri grand spa. Couples can enjoy breakfast in a quieter, more refined setting and indulge in complimentary coffees and classic Italian refreshments all day. For ultimate honeymoon luxury, upgrade to one of the hotel’s suites. The most romantic being the Penthouse suite which features a stunning glass ceiling, private roof garden, and whirlpool spa.

Food and drink:

High above the city on the panoramic rooftop of the Rome Cavalieri sits the only three Michelin starred restaurant in Rome, La Pergola. Serving Mediterranean inspired masterpieces with renowned chef Heinz Beck at the helm, expect dishes of oysters with artichoke mojito, deep-fried zucchini flowers with caviar, and turbot with sweet pepper and green gazpacho. It’s worth noting that the waiting list is long and that being a guest at the hotel does not guarantee you a booking so if you fancy a taste of Becks’ delights, be sure to book ahead. For a more relaxed alfresco lunch, poolside restaurant Uliveto serves an all-day menu of salads, pastas and brasserie classics as well as a sumptuous and plentiful breakfast buffet with a particularly tempting selection of Italian Pasticceria.

The story:

Since opening its doors in 1963, Rome Cavalieri has maintained an enviable position as a hotspot for the sophisticated and stylish. With an alluring old-school glamour, the hotel oozes classic charm. Staircase banisters gleam and marble floors are so polished that one could happily reapply one’s makeup in the absence of a mirror. Walls and corridors are punctuated with the hotel’s private collection of over 1000 original pieces of art work and antiques. Perhaps the most spectacular are the three magnificent Tiepolos sitting in the hotel’s entrance lobby adjacent to the suitably named Tiepolo bar. Couples can enjoy a front row view of this Rococo mastery accompanied by soothing live piano and an excellent cocktail list.

Family-friendly:

It’s a bold statement to say that the Rome Cavalieri have thought of everything when it comes to children, but they really have thought of everything. Generously sized rooms mean that cots can easily be accommodated without creating a squeeze. Rooms can be adjoined for families. There’s a children’s pool, acres of green for them to explore, and even a dedicated children’s menu at restaurant Uliveto . During the summer, the hotel has a kids club offering complimentary arts and crafts, arcade games and a Nutella bar.

Spa:

One could spend all day in the spa at Rome Cavalieri. Couples dip from hot and cold plunge pools, his and hers saunas, and a magnificent amethyst Turkish bath until they find their way to the soothing relaxation lounge (a replica of a traditional Roman rotunda). Working with beauty experts La Prairie and Natura Bissé, the selection of massages and treatments is not to be missed. From deep tissue massages and anti-aging facials to chakra stone massage and foot reflexology, it is near impossible to avoid at least one trip to the spa. Perfect for a post wedding treatment is the Mediterranean Journey. A custom-designed massage is followed by a blissful antioxidant facial treatment to revitalize and rejuvenate the skin.

Location:

Central is often the key word when it comes to choosing the location of a hotel but one stay at Rome Cavalieri is sure to change your mind. First and foremost, there is the view. One would be challenged to find a more beautiful view than that of the Rome Cavalieri. Hazy morning coffees or nightcap negronis on a private balcony overlooking a picture perfect framing of Rome are made all the more enjoyable experienced in the comfort of one’s dressing gown. Particularly at night, the view from Rome Cavalieri is enough to make one believe that the city is glittering just for you. One never feels too far from the action, with the Vatican City a 10 minute drive away and the hotel’s incredibly efficient complimentary shuttle service ready to whizz you into the city centre.