Hotel Chapter Roma

"Kick us off with a description of this place: What's the vibe?Urban and artsy Chapter Roma feels like your coolest friend's very stylish townhouse. The turn-of-the-century palazzo has maintained its original design—including its fabulous staircase and exposed walls—even though it's now a hip pad, complete with works by local and international artists. What's the backstory?This is the very first hotel by Marco Cilia, an alum of several hip hotel start-ups in the United States and Europe. Cilia brought in designer-of-the-moment Tristan Du Plessis to actualize the urban-hip-vibe concept. What can we expect from the rooms?Rooms are among the largest in Rome, with equally large and very comfortable beds. The design melds contemporary details with steampunk; think, custom iron-rod furniture and rich hues. The best room is 404, a top-floor corner room that gets incredible light. How's the Wi-Fi?Free and fast. What's the dining and drinking scene like? Breakfast happens at the downstairs bar and lunch is sorted with Market, a sleek salad bar where you can also grab a juice to go.  But it’s Hotel Chapter’s new Mexican-inspired rooftop restaurant, Hey Guey, that’s got our attention. After a week of pasta and pizza, a plate of fish tacos and a couple of their signature Guey Coladas (rum, passionfruit, coconut milk) went down a treat. How'd you find the service?The service is focused and efficient. Playing up the hotel's overall theme, the concierge can organize street art tours. What's the crowd like?If Gucci creative director Alessandro Michele were to make a film, he might pull extras from this hotel. How's the neighborhood?The hotel is on the edge of Rome's historic Jewish quarter in the old Regola neighborhood. It's local and friendly, with lots of home-grown businesses and shops. Anything you'd change?We'd love to see a few more options at the breakfast buffet. What else should we know?Should you need a Sbagliato fix without going far, there's a bar on the ground floor. Got it. So what's the bottom line on this hotel?Enjoy Rome as an artist would—a successful artist, at that." - Erica Firpo