The Vibe: Glamorous and gritty.
The Area: Chapter Roma straddles the border between the Regola neighborhood and Jewish Ghetto, the perfect backdrop for this boutique hotel’s bold industrial-luxe aesthetic. With the sumptuous Via Giulia to one side, the no-nonsense trattorias of the Jewish Ghetto to the other, and the bohemian Trastevere neighbourhood just across the river, the location is perfect for experiencing the authentic side of the Eternal City while staying within striking distance of its A-list attractions.
The DNA: A late-1800s neoclassical building is home to the new 42-room Chapter Roma, the first property in hotelier and Rome native Marco Cilia’s Chapter Italia portfolio. Channeling a rebellious spirit in its design, Johannesburg-based designer Tristan du Plessis says he created the interiors for “a youthful, irreverent, and social set of guests.” Patterned rugs along with the “colors and textures of the bustling city streets” create a specific Italian ambiance with communal spaces emboldened by statement pieces by artists including Willy Verginer, Alice Pasquini, and Cyrcle. As an updated reimagining of Old World Italia, mixed metals like raw steel, brass, copper, and bronze stand out against exposed brick and vaulted ceilings. Boasting steel-covered Roman arches, the bar is an inviting hybrid space for work and play, while an upcoming daytime market will offer organic food and a signature restaurant, set to come online later this year. The biggest challenge, Cilia points out, “was to deliver that international outlook and experience, but stay true to Italian tradition and respect the local architecture and heritage.” However, he adds, “Rome is ready to welcome and embrace a more lifestyle and design-driven hospitality product.”
Suite-Me-Up: “The century-old stripped-away walls are beautiful in all their imperfections,” Plessis says of the guestrooms, with nearly each room featuring plush velvet-lined and Italian midcentury-inspired beds and contemporary furnishings. “The rooms were intended to be comfortable with a pared-down glamour that doesn’t feel forced.”
Seen: Hospitality Design, Sleeper Magazine, Wallpaper*
Accolades: Condé Nast Traveler Hot List 2020, Wallpaper* Best Urban Hotels 2019
✅ free WiFi • size matters: 42 rooms & suites (17-45m2) (183-484 sq ft) • hotel opened: 2019 • interior design: Tristan du Plessis • bathroom amenities: L:A Bruket ❌ no parking available • no pets allowed • 24-hour front desk • wheelchair accessible
