Heart Hotel

Hearth Hotel is housed in a former convent built in the early 1900s. The four-story building has a peach facade and elegant arched windows on the ground floor. Today, the hotel has modern appeal with a white front desk displaying the hotel name in big letters. A map of the world and the slogan “People from the earth in the heart of Rome" have been painted in black on the white wall behind the desk. The lobby bar is contemporary with color-changing LED lighting. Clean-lined black sofas offer a spot for guests to sit and relax while enjoying a drink, and on the walls hang a mix of black-and-white photographs of Rome and edgier photography. Breakfast is served in a white room with exposed ceiling beams and white tables with funky, silver globe centerpieces. An outdoor terrace with bistro tables offers a spot for guests to enjoy breakfast while taking in views of the Vatican Museum. The hotel sees a wide range of guests who want a modern property with simple offerings and proximity to Vatican City. 

The hotel is located in the historic center of Rome with pizza shops, gelaterias, shops, and cafes nearby. There’s also a metro station, Ottaviano, within a five-minute walk. It’s just outside Vatican City, and guests can walk to St. Peters Basilica, the Vatican Museums, and the Sistine Chapel in 10 minutes or less. Most other tourist sights are going to be a bit of a trek on foot (the Spanish Steps, one of the nearest sights in the city center, is over a half-hour walk.) It’s around a 15- to 20-minute drive to the Colosseum and Trevi Fountain. Ciampino Airport and Leonardo da Vinci Airport are both around a half-hour drive from the hotel.

Rooms at Hearth Hotel are spacious with clay-colored tile floors, cranberry-colored accent walls, and modern decor including soft white headboards, black-and-white photos, and sleek gray desks and nightstands All rooms are air-conditioned, though some guests complain the air-conditioning is not strong enough. Other standard features include safes, flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms have small stand-up showers and limited amenity kits. Some rooms offer views of the Vatican, and a Junior Suite is available with extras like a couch, a separate shower and tub, and more plentiful amenity kit. Guests recommend staying in the top-floor suite -- it doesn't have the separate shower and tub like the junior suite, but it does have a large terrace. 

The hotel provides a free breakfast buffet including items like cold cuts, cheeses, fresh fruit, and pastries. The property is certified by the Italian Celiac Association, and provides a gluten-free array of breakfast items, as well. An outdoor terrace provides a spot for dining al fresco and taking in the Vatican views. The hotel has a modern lobby bar, and the hotel staff is helpful and multilingual. Airport transfers can be arranged for a fee. There is no parking; if that's important, consider the nearby Hotel Twenty One, which has an underground garage. While there is a guest computer in the lobby, there is no dedicated business center -- however, staff at the front desk can print documents for guests.