As the Eternal City, the best hotels in Rome are infused with history. But arguably, only a handful come with the full package: a rich past (with a papal connection), an unbeatable location, regal accommodations, sumptuous drinking and dining, a full roster of wellbeing amenities, curated local experiences, and attentive service. In the heart of the city, Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome appears to have all that, and more. We checked in to find out more. 

While this stay was complimentary, all thoughts and opinions are our own. 

Review of Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome

If location is everything, then surely Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome can’t be beat. The hotel is housed in a stunning crescent-shaped palazzo on the edge of the Piazza della Repubblica, one of Rome’s main squares. From here, the best of the city is within easy reach, from the Fori Imperiali and Trevi Fountain to the city’s incredible museums and churches. 

Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome facade of hotel
Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome is a stunning, crescent-shaped palazzo

But the hotel also features a tangible dose of history that few others in the city can boast of. It’s built over the ruins of the ancient Diocletian Baths, which were commissioned by Emperor Maximian and date back to 298-306AD. The baths once stretched over 13 hectares and accommodated up to 3,000 people, and while anyone can visit the museum complex, only guests of Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome can enjoy spine-tingling views over some of the complex’s hidden ruins. Glass panels in the hotel’s basement event spaces offer a glimpse of this unique piece of Roman history.

Even without knowing this esoteric historical tie, the hotel impresses at first glance. I arrive at the imposing 19th-century marble façade and pass through a collonaded walkway. Entering the lobby, the immediate impression is one of unfettered luxury, with marble, glass, and metal paired with modern lighting, grand colonnades, and – on one wall – a masterpiece by artist Mario Sironi titled La Geografia, which I later find out is the preparatory sketch for his mural, Italy Between the Arts and Sciences. 

Regal rooms

Befitting a building with a palace in its name, Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome houses 232 elegant rooms and suites across two wings. All are rendered in sumptuous neoclassical style, though each one features unique characteristics – some are duplexes, others have Jacuzzis or historic features, and a few even have private balconies. 

I got a sneak peek at some of the other room categories one morning, and my personal favourites were the Premium rooms in the hotel’s Clementino Wing. Originally built in 1706 by architect Carlo Fontana, this wing was once Pope Clement XI’s public granary and still features the original timber roof alongside period-appropriate furnishings. 

Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome Junior Suite with Piazza View
My Junior Suite with Piazza View

The spacious Junior Suite Piazza View I stayed in might not have papal ties, but it’s sumptuous and effortlessly combines restrained glamour with comfort and modernity. Visually, royal-appropriate blues are balanced by shades of whites and creams; adding to the suite’s grandeur are a plush, deep blue carpet, and neoclassical-style tables and armchairs. All of this is matched with creature comforts: an imposing desk where I spend a few hours’ working, a large flatscreen to catch the morning news, downy soft robes and slippers, and an opulent marble bathroom boasting a sweeping double vanity stocked with Acqua di Parma amenities, a rainshower, and a separate bathtub offering a thoroughly indulgent way to start the day. 

The best part, though? As the suite’s name suggests, postcard windows framed by heavy silk draperies offer a birds’-eye-view of the Piazza della Repubblica – with its iconic fountain of the naiads – and the historic Diocletian Baths opposite. 

Glimpses of the Eternal City

Historic surrounds and princely suites are only the beginning of a stay at Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome. Guests here have access to a full complement of facilities and experiences, whether they want to delve under the skin of the city or simply kick back and relax. 

Each morning begins in the La Fontana breakfast room, where the luxurious buffet – which includes Italian pastries and international bites like sushi and hummus – is paired with live music, piazza views, and, if you’re feeling extra, Champagne. 

Being in Italy, kicking off each evening with an aperitivo is a must, so over two nights, I checked out the hotel’s best spots for sundowners. Just off the lobby, Akwa Bar is a glamorous spot for a pre-dinner drink. I must say, sipping a martini surrounded by the bar’s grand Ionic colonnades and a glittering Murano chandelier almost fools you into thinking you’d stepped onto the set of a James Bond movie. 

The next evening, I headed upstairs to Seen by Olivier, where I enjoyed a well-balanced Negroni overlooking the Piazza della Repubblica – the rooftop’s restaurant area, rendered as a secret garden, serves sushi and Brazilian-inspired plates. 

For my dinner, though, I headed to Ineo, the hotel’s Michelin-recommended restaurant. An intimate, sophisticated space featuring low lighting, textured wall panelling, sculptural accents, and marble flooring and tables, the restaurant lends itself to romance – though it’s equally approachable for this solo diner. In these glamorous surroundings, chef Heros de Agostinis dishes up decadent menus anchored in Rome but laced with global flavours. Over two hours, I was treated to a creative symphony of flavours and textures in a menu that includes precisely presented plates like handmade maccheroni in madeira sauce with Eritrea beef stew and 24-month aged parmesan, and Lamb picanha with Kerala curry, fermented beetroot and blackberries – all shown to best effect with a masterful wine pairing by the restaurant’s sommelier. 

Exquisite experiences

Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome lobby
The lobby of the property sets the tone

Anantara hotels are known for crafting unique local experiences, and during my stay at the Roman outpost, I enjoyed two that brought the city to life. I’ve been to Rome several times but one morning during this trip, I strapped on a helmet and jumped into a Vespa sidecar to get a different perspective on the Eternal City. Over several hours, I whipped past icons like the Pantheon and Vatican City, and also experienced a first: the midday canon firing on Janiculum Hill that’s been a tradition since Pope Pius IX introduced it in 1847. (Though, with so many tourists snapping photos of us zipping past in the Barbie-pink Vespa, I’ve also never felt more like a reluctant celebrity).  

Anantara Palazzo Naiadi also has several wellness facilities, including a state-of-the-art, glass-encased gym that’s ideal for my morning workouts, and a little rooftop pool – a luxury in central Rome. But it’s undoubtedly the signature Anantara Spa, which draws on Rome’s traditional baths and the Anantara brand’s eastern origins, that’s the standout. 

On my last afternoon, I slipped into the spa for the Diocletian Bath Ritual, which is inspired by the historic bathhouse on which the hotel is built and infused with ancient ingredients. Over 90 minutes, my skin was exfoliated with a salt and laurel scrub; wrapped in salt-pan mud for healing and detoxification; and finally, soothed with a customised massage using St John’s-wort oil. The result? Total relaxation and glowing skin.

Final thoughts

Anantara Palazzao Naiadi Rome is exactly the kind of luxury hotel I enjoy. It’s beautiful, yes, but it’s elevated in every aspect of its well-rounded offerings and comes with friendly staff and plenty of history. From the luxurious breakfast and wellness offerings to the considered local experiences – all delivered, as is the rest of Rome, amid the backdrop of historical architecture – this hotel hits all the marks for a superlative stay in the Eternal City.

Learn more about Anantara Palazzao Naiadi Rome or Book through Booking.com

But wait, there’s more…