9 Hotel Cesari

The hotel is situated in an ancient, pale-pink Roman building, lined with windows and wooden shutters. Though the reception area is tiny, a hallway leads back to the small lobby containing slightly dated living room furniture and a desk with a computer and printer. Antique side tables, trunks, dressers, cabinets with porcelain plates and trinkets, and even a sewing machine owned by the family who opened the hotel in 1787 adorn the hallways, along with vases of orchids and elegant, leafy arrangements. The best area to congregate is the rooftop bar and patio, where the ancient wooden beamed ceiling and funky modern dining area gives way to the open terrace of tables, umbrellas, plants, and fresh air. The space is mostly boxed in by neighboring rooftops, but it's still picturesque.

The hotel is in the midst of metropolitan Rome, on a narrow street with a restaurant patio 10 feet away and a souvenir kiosk right next door. There are what seems like hundreds of other restaurants and shops in every direction. The Pantheon and Trevi Fountain are within a five-minute walk. Within a 15-minute walk is the famous Via dei Condotti with its haute couture boutiques, the Imperial Forum, and the Colosseum, the alleys of the Baroque Rome, and the Piazza Navona. Saint Peter’s Basilica and Vatican City are about a half-hour away on foot, or about 18 minutes on public transportation. There isn't any hotel parking though there is a private lot nearby.

Rooms are remarkably clean and comfortable. All are equipped with heavy curtains, small seating areas, coffee- and tea-making facilities, mini-fridges, safes, and small flat-screen TVs. Single Rooms have tiny twin beds. The bathrooms are small but clean, with stand-up showers (some have bathtubs) and toiletries. An ancient looking hairdryer is attached to the wall. Most rooms look out onto the tiny narrow street or the adjacent buildings.

The hotel offers a 24-hour reception desk where staff can arrange taxis, tickets to events and attractions, and car or limo rentals. There is free Wi-Fi in the rooms and throughout the hotel. Though there isn't a restaurant, there is a breakfast buffet on the rooftop every morning, and full bar service throughout the afternoon and evening. Breakfast and drinks can be delivered to the room. The hotel offers laundry service and babysitting.