Lavish recreation of 18th-century palatial extravagance
Convenient, central location close to Termini Station
Wellness center includes sauna, Turkish bath, and whirlpool tub
Candlelit restaurant serving Roman-style cooking
Rooftop terrace with sun loungers and city views
Rooms with free Wi-Fi and minibars
Elegant cocktail bar with live music
Temperamental air conditioning in some rooms
Some rooms small with poor sound insulation
There is a fee to enter the wellness center
The 112-room Welcome Piram Hotel is a centrally located pick with a drab exterior and recreated world of 18th-century extravagance within. From gilded rococo-style furnishings to a sea of fine marble, the lobby and common spaces are grand and palatial. Rooms are more subdued in decor, though bathrooms are finished in marble. There is a full-service spa, restaurant serving Roman-style cooking, and cocktail bar with live music. A rooftop garden has views over Rome and loungers for sunbathing. A less-fussy pick is the Augusta Lucilla Palace nearby.
Scene
Historic, central hotel
Despite its rather drab shuttered facade, the inside of this restored 18th-century building is anything but -- through a pair of carved wooden doors, the lobby has plush velvet upholstery, golden drapes, gilded marble-top tables, and crystal chandeliers. Guests check in at a heavy, ornate front desk before traversing the travertine marble floors, under stuccoed ceilings, to the hotel's original turn-of-the-century elevator. Interiors and furnishings are traditionally elegant or borderline kitsch depending on your taste, but the hotel has clearly pulled out all the stops in trying to recreate the ambience of a flamboyant but formal 18th century palace.
Location
Close to Termini Station and many walkable attractions
The Welcome Piram Hotel is situated just 200 meters from the transport hub of Termini Train Station in the heart of Umbertinian Rome. Many of the city's sights are within walking distance, such as the beautiful Opera House and stunning Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, both just a couple blocks away. The Repubblica Metro station is also very nearby meaning easy access via public transport to the rest of Rome.
Rooms
Marble-finished bathrooms and gilded mirrors
The hotel has 112 rooms, all of which are neatly decorated with traditional wooden furnishings, gilded mirrors, and parquet or marble flooring. In-room technology includes free Wi-Fi and satellite television with pay-per-view movies. Bathrooms are finished in marble and include bidets and wall-mounted hairdryers. Double-glazed windows ensure minimum street noise, though some rooms have thin walls with poor sound insulation.
Features
Full-service spa and rooftop terrace with view of Rome
Surprising for this type of hotel, the property includes a full-service spa with a Finish sauna, Turkish bath, and emotional shower (with colored lights and scented essences). Entry to the wellness center is charged but includes a 'wellness kit' and the whirlpool tub is coin-operated. Weather permitting, there is also access to a rooftop terrace with sunbathing area on the 7th floor. The on-site Queen Giovanna restaurant serves traditional Roman-style cooking in refined, candlelit surrounds, while the Apotheke Cocktail Bar serves evening drinks with live music. A full breakfast is also served up every morning, which can be taken on the roof garden with views over the city.