When in Rome…
Do as the smart set does – and stay at the Lord Byron Hotel.
Wherever you are arriving from, you will notice as your car makes its progress across the city that you have entered quite a special residential area – polished, affluent, discreet, fragrant and full of fabulously ornate period buildings, some artfully converted into apartments. Fragrant because the trees were in full bloom when we arrived.
Lord Byron Hotel blends in beautifully among its lofty neighbours, the Belgian Embassy being one of them, and is a short walk from the Borghese Park and the Museum of Modern Art, another breath-taking architectural wonder.
Entirely designed by its owner, Amadeo Ottaviani ,this is an idiosyncratic establishment that clearly reflects his taste and some of his family’s history. The circular entrance to the marble-clad lobby is discreet, like the neighbourhood. The short walk to our bedroom is reminiscent of a gangway in a classic yacht because of the imposing polished walnut doors on each side, framed art deco posters and golf-related sculpture.
The room itself is elegant and light, with a small balcony looking over the intense greenery surrounding us. Bath products have been specially selected for their fragrance. Mr Ottaviani appears to have a penchant for Lilly of the Valley and the colour white. As we decide to explore the bar and restaurant areas, we find ourselves into a heaven of white flower arrangements – lots of them and all including the sweet scented Lilly drops. Bar and restaurant are on sub-zero level and if the desired effect is to make one feel as if in a subterranean atrium made of marble and glass, it is perfectly achieved. The cleverly positioned, marble-framed mirrors enhance the optical illusion and make the place look endless. It is quite ethereal and really hard to describe – it has to be experienced.
The hotel lounge area is akin to a private collector’s home and, just like the restaurant area, adorned liberally with portraits of women of different periods, including more contemporary ones of, one suspects, the owner’s wife.
We breakfasted there the following morning and the intense beauty of the food and flower arrangements on silver trays and in silver bowls struck us once again as surreal. It follows from the above that the quality of the breakfast was exquisite. No vast buffet offerings for famished hordes of tourists this… Rather, a superbly executed and served morning meal for the discerning.
A truly impressive establishment, with the benefit of the owner keeping an unobtrusive but obliging and smiling presence throughout the day. The literary minded will enjoy quotes by Noel Coward and St Augustin on the walls.
Super highly recommended for style, uniqueness and location.
Hotel Lord Byron Rome | Italy | Via Giuseppe De Notaris, 5 – 00197 ROMA
Phone +39 06 3220 404 / +39 06 3613 041 | Fax +39 06 3220 405 | info@lordbyronhotel.com
http://lordbyronhotel.com/
Like us on Facebook!
Follow us on Twitter!
