My husband and I just returned from a 2 week tour of Italy. During the middle of our stay we decided to return to Rome the night before our flight instead of the day of. We had started our trip out with 2 nights at the Sofitel, but were not overly pleased with the accommodations and decided to try the Hotel Piranesi as it was listed in our guide book. We called and were able to book a junior suite. We arrived late after a long day of train travel. The reception was very welcoming. The front desk person even informed us of a strike happening the next day and offered to confirm our flight times. We were ushered into our suite and were pleased. Upholstered walls, hardwood floors and a beautiful bathroom, cedar lined closet, 3 balconies. The only complaint was the television was tiny and one of the bulky kinds, but we weren’t planning on being in the room so not a big deal. We took an evening stroll in the Piazza del Popolo and it was beautiful! We returned to the hotel and decided upon a nightcap at the bar. I had a bit of a cold so I asked the barman to prepare a hot toddy and told him the ingredients. It was perfect! He served us cake and a chocolate croissant to snack on. We hadn’t had dinner so this was a welcome treat. We spent some time in the sauna before we retired for the night. Breakfast the next morning was delightful and we took in the view from the roof top terrace before our departure. The concierge had arranged a private car to the airport upon our request. Everything was just wonderful and we certainly will return.

The single rooms are small and well laid out. The wall paper was worn and had a few obvious repairs making the room somewhat shabby. The bathrooms are up to date and very well appointed. My single room had a pretty walk out deck so be sure to request it as my friends room did not have this feature. My first night there I woke at 3:00 a.m. in unbelievable heat. Checking the next morning I found out that they shut off the AC at 12:00 to economize. I requested they not do that for the next three nights and they where kind enough to accommodate me. The breakfast is in the basement. It was very stuffy no A/C but the room is pretty. The front desk also does the concierge work. They were all very nice and helpful but sometimes busy convenient. It was a very convenient location but not a good value, very average.

My family (my wife, our daughter, and my parents) had a remarkable stay at the Piranesi.

We live in Italy part of the year and are familiar with Rome and its hotels. This was our first visit to the Piranesi and we will return.

The hotel itself has a smart, elegant feel without ovetones of any aloofness or pretension. The rooms have a clean, sharp look that are inviting and combine warm wood tones with crisp linens.

The terraces, french doors, and high ceilings add the perfect compliment to the directoire style furniture. This is not of course forgeting the modern, marble bathrooms and air conditioning that will be appreciated by any of us who insist upon visiting Rome in the summer.

The roof top bar is fab! Looking out over the Piazza del Popolo and the Borghese gardens drives home the realization that the Piranesi is in the premier area of Rome for fun, elegance, and, oh, by the way, two Caravaggios accross the square.

Yes, you could stay at the de Russie (literally, accross the street)and pay three times as much, but why? Enjoy Rome, and spend your time and money on other memories than a hotel bill.

Sir Michael Farell Massa, KHS
Lady Wendy Alison Massa, LHS

Very centrally located on Via del Babuino between Piazza del Popolo & the Spanish Steps, opposite the De Russie Hotel

Rated 4 stars, but should be a maximum of 3 stars, principally because of its location.

Additionally, we were NOT told that one cannot drive right up to the front door … traffic is restricted and only those who are licensed (i.e. taxis) are permitted on the road. After driving in circles around the Giardini Borghesi entirely too many times, we finally phoned the hotel to learn that they would send the doorman to meet up on the other side of the Piazza del Popolo and he would guide us back to the hotel. Once my son, daughter and I departed with him, my husband had to return the car to Europcar in a subterranean parking lot and make his way to the hotel. He was exhausted and dripping wet by the time he arrived … he ended up taking a rather long and roundabout route that had been recommended by Europcar. He desperately needed a shower and a drink!!!

We booked a jr. suite which turned out to be a largish room with a double bed and 2 roll away cots. The mattresses were hard, the sheets not high quality, no extra pillows.
The bathtub/shower was so poorly designed that it leaked every time one took a shower. We had to ask for extra towels.
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No Internet because the owners are still thinking about it (this is not 1990! and a hotel in Rome that represents itself as a 4 star hotel should have internet access!) I had to walk to an Internet café on the other side of the Piazza del Popolo to check e-mail.

Breakfast was the standard cold meats, cereal, fruit salad, etc. The staff cleaning up in, what appeared to be, a kitchen adjacent to the dining room was very noisy.

We would have been thrilled had it been rated a 2 star hotel, but it wasn’t. Will not stay here again.