The First Dolce

A gleaming 23-room jewel designed by a 19th century starchitect, with an ultra-glam restaurant, pastry shop and doting staff.

Equipped with its own pool and spa. But you’re in Rome—who needs them?

When the man who designed terraces to the Borghese Gardens, Italian architect and urban planner Giuseppe Valadier, originally whipped up this structure, he gave it all the eye candy he could—and it’s still everywhere today. Guest rooms are jewel boxes, beginning with the 215 square foot Prestige View Rooms, which are adorned with gleaming wood walls, floor to ceiling draperies that shroud your juliet balcony in grace, and copious perks—like push-button controls for the lighting and draperies; Illy coffee machines; ETRO toiletries; and gratis house-made pastries upon your arrival. Every room feels equally luxe, but Suite Dolce is worth a splurge for its walk-in rain shower and Saint Laurent marble-lined bath. Sweet, indeed.

You have a major sweet tooth, and the fanciful and Instagrammable pastries here were worth the flight alone.

Your incredibly modern chair at Velo looks like it was made of spun sugar…a fitting prelude to the nibbles to come. Should you treat yourself to a hazelnut mousse in a tangerine puree sphere or a rosemary creme brulee with tonka bean? Oh, who are you kidding; you’ll have both.

Velo - Patisserie-style cuisine