"Initially opened in 1845 as Hotel d’Angleterre, this place became a classic over the 170 or so years that followed. There are 80 rooms, though something about this Rome hotel makes it feel as if there are fewer. Some (the Balcony Suites) are recently renovated, all have restored antiques throughout. The bar is one of the best hotel drinking spots in the city (the cheerful staff are very good at what they do and take pleasure in applying novel twists to classic cocktails), and Café Romano is an all-day restaurant serving excellent regional dishes and, inevitably, a certain amount of comfort food for homesick travelers. The hotel couldn’t be more central and the service is exceptionally warm, enthusiastic, and attentive. This is a place to book for its right-there-in-the-thick-of-it convenience and its particular quality—specific but difficult to pin down—of intimacy, courtesy, and conviviality." - Maresa Manara
