Hotel Stendhal

The Stendhal is housed in two classic Roman buildings with stone facades, shuttered windows, and a few small balconies. Handsome wooden furniture, fresh flowers, and neutral tones make spaces in the main building warm and cozy. Although traditional in style, the common areas here feel neither worn nor dated, as they can be at many other small hotels in Rome. Everything is kept clean and tidy, and though spaces are not overly ornate, they are elegant and well appointed. The tiny lobby is simple but appealing, with soft marble-like walls, a sleek wooden front desk, and large windows. Located off the lobby, the breakfast room has elegant yet homey decor, with a pastel-blue palette and charming elements such as bookshelves packed with books and statuettes, classic paintings, and warm lighting. 

First opened in late 2014, the annex is accessible through a heavy wooden door located around the corner from the main building. The space houses around a third of the hotel's units plus a tiny glass-enclosed breakfast room with a handful of tables, but little else. Decor here is more contemporary and stylish throughout, with a few pops of bright colors and an overall sleeker feel. 

The hotel is located on a wide, busy street across from Piazza Barberini and its famous 17th-century Triton Fountain. The area is full of stores and cafes, and some of Rome’s most famous historic sights are an easy walk away. The Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain are each a six-minute walk away, and Villa Medici and the Villa Borghese can be reached in about 10 minutes on foot. Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, Piazza Navona, and the Pantheon are all within a 20-minute walk of the hotel. Other major attractions located a little farther afield, including the Vatican, can be reached by metro. The Barberini metro stop is just half a block away and the hotel is a few blocks from high-end shopping along Via dei Condotti and Via Veneto.

The hotel’s 35 rooms are spread out over two buildings. The original structure houses about two-thirds of them, all decorated in an elegant, classic style with a pastel-blue palette, striped wallpaper, simple traditional wooden furniture, and carpeting. Units here are small for the price, and some have unappealing views of an air shaft or a dark alley. A few have slightly worn carpets. Rooms in the annex building (all Luxury Suites) were fully renovated in late 2014 and have a more contemporary style, with a soft, neutral color scheme and pops of orange, red, and yellow. Large velvet headboards, dark parquet floors, and bold prints on accent pillows and wall decorations make these rooms a little more fun and stylish. Amenities common to all rooms include flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, stocked minibars, and safes. Superior Rooms have CD players, robes and slippers, and Executive Rooms have small balconies. Units in the Luxury Suites section have espresso machines, and the largest ones have a sofa bed for an extra guest. 

The hotel serves a free continental breakfast daily, with cereal, bread, meats, cheese, tea, coffee, yogurt, and eggs. Guests staying in the Luxury Suites section don’t need to go to the main building, as there is a breakfast room in each building.  Wi-Fi is free, both in common spaces and rooms. A tiny bar located off the lobby serves a decent array of drinks until late at night in a cozy room with couches and armchairs. Underground parking and airport transfers are both available for a fee. There's no fitness center; if that's a priority, consider the nearby Hotel Romanico Palace.