Hotel Lord Byron

Hotel description

It’s readily apparent from the name that the Hotel Lord Byron is nobody’s idea of a stereotypical Roman hotel. And though there’s nothing wrong with Rome’s central grand hotels, there’s something to be said for a smaller and more intimate hotel, just off the Borghese Gardens in the upscale Paroli district.

Once a private villa in the Liberty style, an Italian variant of Art Nouveau, the Lord Byron has been renovated in a lush Art Deco style, a blend of modern and antique that feels effortlessly stylish, especially compared to the aging palace hotels and the ultra-modern design experiments elsewhere in town.

The location, though, may be the Lord Byron’s greatest advantage: though it’s a taxi ride from most city destinations, many find it’s worth the trouble, both for the near absence of sightseers and for the commanding hilltop location, with its spectacular city and garden views. Most rooms come with balconies or terraces, as well as marble baths, fabric-covered walls and massive, enveloping beds.

The neighborhood is not quite as rich with cafes and restaurants as some of Rome’s more traveled districts, but the restaurant, Sapori del Lord Byron will more than do in a pinch-it’s one of Rome’s finest, by any estimation.