Review of Rose Garden Palace, by Joanna Monkhouse

The Rose Garden Palace is the longtime home of Rome's most prestigious luxury hotels and la dolce vita of the 1950s. Elegant and contemporary, the luxury hotel is a blend of modern and classic with an occasional oriental twist. On entering, the guest first passes through a glass portico then between two huge antique wooden doors: this mixture of old and new is symbolic of the overall design ethic of the Rose Garden Palace.

The facilities

The luxury hotel's marble-floored, airy lobby and bar are filled with comfortable and individual sofas and chairs, another clever coordination of differing styles. The restaurant has an original Italian menu and a charming outdoor terrace surrounded by the rose bushes that give the hotel its name. The breakfast buffet is served outside in summer or on the mezzanine level that can double as meeting rooms. There is an internet point for guests on an antique desk, the low chair ensures that no guest takes too long a turn. The Rose Garden Palace also offers a spa in the basement with a 6x6m hydrotherapy pool, gym, sauna and massage facilities (behind a curtain in the spa reception) - a rarity in Rome and particularly in this price range.

The rooms

The Rose Garden Palace is a relatively small luxury hotel of 65 rooms, including 6 suites. All rooms sport parquet floors and wooden furniture including an antique piece or two in each, complemented by the muted colours of the fabrics. Linen sheets grace the beds. There are plenty of lamps but the search for the master switch is still on. The bathrooms feature alcoved baths, mosaic tiling and marble.