The Eternal City is experiencing an unprecedented luxury hotel boom in 2025, but its not just about rooms and elegant lobbies.
Rome’s new wave of five-star, and even one seven-star, properties is rewriting the rules of hospitality by placing world-class gastronomy at the very centre of the guest experience.
From the architectural masterpiece Romeo Roma with its Michelin-starred Alain Ducasse restaurant to Robert De Niro’s star-studded Nobu Hotel Roma on Via Veneto, through Bulgari’s collaboration with culinary genius Niko Romito and Six Senses’ farm-to-table philosophy, Rome’s luxury hotels seem intent on becoming a gastronomic destination in its own right.
“It’s such an exciting moment to witness Rome redefine modern hospitality,” notes Maria Pasquale, bestselling author of “Mangia: How to eat your way through Italy. “With so many new luxury hotel openings, we see the city’s heritage being honoured while contemporary design, world class service and sophistication come to the forefront.”
This convergence of exceptional accommodation and extraordinary dining reflects a fundamental shift in luxury travel. Today’s discerning guests in fact don’t simply want a beautiful place to sleep. They are also seeking immersive culinary experiences of the sort that will define their entire stay. And Rome’s hoteliers are delivering with unprecedented ambition.
Romeo Roma: The seven-star standard-bearer
Romeo Roma is housed within restored 16th-century palazzo Piazza del Popolo. Image credit: Romeo Collection
Leading this gastronomic charge is Romeo Roma, a property so exceptional it transcends traditional five-star classifications to claim seven-star status.
Designed by the late Zaha Hadid Architects and housed within a meticulously restored 16th-century palazzo near Piazza del Popolo, Romeo Roma represents the pinnacle of contemporary luxury hospitality.
One of Hadid’s final projects, the hotel took a decade to complete after founder Alfredo Romeo purchased Palazzo Capponi in 2012.
The discovery of an archaeological site mid-build caused delays but ultimately added extraordinary depth to the property.
Curves dominate the palazzo’s makeover, with almost all interiors encased in a sinuous second skin that hides the original orthogonal rooms with sweeping surfaces inspired by baroque vaults.
At Romeo’s request, natural materials were installed throughout: Carrara Statuarietto and Nero Marquina marble, Makassar ebony wood, basalt, steel, and Krion by Porcelanosa.
Achieving Hadid’s trademark three-dimensional futurism in these materials required exquisite craftsmanship, including technology from the yacht industry.
The rigorously listed palazzo necessitated hiding external services in the cavity between old and new.
The resulting interiors feel like a five-star superyacht. Huge strips of glossed wood roll from floor to ceiling, carving paths through the reception with its eye-catching fronds clad in brass scales amid cantilevered desks of lava stone and ebony.
Various design ploys avoid potential claustrophobia, including oculi punctured through marble walls, partitions of veneered fins that enhance sightlines and offer the illusion of spaces that don’t exist in central Rome.
But what truly elevates Romeo Roma to rarified seven-star territory is its restaurant, which is widely considered the most extraordinary dining experience in the city. Under Michelin-starred legend Alain Ducasse, the restaurant has become Rome’s most coveted reservation, blending innovative French technique with impeccable Italian ingredients and Roman culinary traditions.
The atmospheric restaurant features Ducasse’s first Rome location, with its carefully planned kitchen fully exposed to diners. Long, thin slices curve through the low Macassar ebony roof, while microlights behind highlight its rippling surface.
Born on a farm in France’s Landes region, Ducasse discovered passion early for food, particularly French cuisine. By thirty-one he became head chef of all restaurants at Monaco’s Hotel de Paris, swiftly accumulating three Michelin stars.
By thirty-nine he had opened his own Paris restaurant, followed by a slew of wildly successful hotels and restaurants. In his success, Ducasse has not compromised on quality and authenticity, consistently prioritizing locally sourced ingredients.
The hotel’s 74 rooms and suites embody an avant-garde aesthetic. Image credit: Chris Dalton
The architecture captivates with flowing Zaha Hadid curves, the interplay of light and space, the seamless fusion of 16th-century heritage with futuristic design.
But it’s Ducasse’s restaurant that makes this hotel truly transcendent. Every course is a work of art, every flavour combination unexpected yet perfectly balanced.
Romeo Roma’s culinary philosophy extends throughout the property. Breakfast at Il Ristorante Alain Ducasse is a multi-course triumph featuring eggs royale, specially salted butter, and exceptional patisserie.
At night, glamour elevates as designer-clad women float in for the eight-course tasting menu, where blue lobster stars alongside freshly baked madeleines. Even minibar selections are curated by the culinary team, stocked with artisanal Italian products guests actually want to consume.
“Our objective is always to make our customers live a memorable moment,” Alain Ducasse told Luxury Lifestyle Magazine. “Dishes, obviously, play a key role. However, all the rest is also important, from beverages to service, from decoration to tableware.”
The hotel’s 74 rooms and suites continue the avant-garde aesthetic, seemingly carved from gorgeous wood with beds, hot tubs and televisions built into slathers of Makassar ebony.
Technology-forward amenities include “emotional showers” with engineered settings for water flow, scent, and light. Five suites on the piano nobile boast restored 17th-century frescoes, with two featuring mezzanines reached by Krion staircases incorporating sculptural bathtubs.
The spa offers escape with its glowing Sicilian salt chamber, non-drip steam room, and sauna overlooking the verdant Roman courtyard.
The most extraordinary feature is the long slim pool running under dark arches, flowing into the hotel’s garden where it transforms into a glass-bottomed arc enabling swimmers to paddle above ruins of a 2,000-year-old Roman bottega discovered during construction.
The aim, as Romeo says, is “to make the most beautiful hotel in the world – one that looks like no other.” But ask any visitor what defines their Romeo Roma experience, and the answer inevitably centres on food.
De Niro’s Nobu Hotel Roma: Where Hollywood meets culinary excellence
Nobu Hotel Roma reimagines one of the city’s most iconic addresses into a sanctuary of modern luxury
If Romeo Roma represents the pinnacle of European culinary sophistication, Nobu Hotel Roma brings global star power and Japanese-Italian fusion to Rome’s luxury landscape.
The 117-room property on the iconic Via Veneto marks the latest collaboration between Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, Hollywood legend Robert De Niro, and producer Meir Teper, a trio whose hotels and restaurants have redefined luxury hospitality worldwide.
Nobu Hotel and Restaurant Roma officially opened its doors with a traditional Sake Ceremony on November 6, 2025, marking the brand’s debut in the Italian capital.
The time-honoured Japanese tradition symbolising new beginnings and good fortune was attended by the three shareholders alongside distinguished guests, media and Rome’s leading tastemakers.
Local dignitaries and cultural figures joined the official celebration, underscoring Nobu’s unique position at the crossroads of culinary excellence, hospitality and design.
Located in Rome’s historic heart, the hotel reimagines one of the city’s most iconic addresses into a sanctuary of modern luxury, where Japanese minimalism meets Italian sophistication.
Designed by the acclaimed Rockwell Group, the hotel’s aesthetic combines warm Roman textures with Nobu’s signature style, creating a serene, contemporary space that bridges the two great cultures of hospitality and design.
De Niro’s personal involvement in the project culminated in his receiving Rome’s highest civic honour, the Lupa Capitolina, during the hotel’s grand opening festivities in early November 2025.
The ceremony featured a traditional Japanese Kagami-Biraki ritual, symbolizing harmony and prosperity, and underscoring the cultural bridge that Nobu Hotel Roma represents between East and West, tradition and innovation.
The city’s most anticipated culinary destination showcases Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s globally acclaimed menu
And new it is. Nobu’s Rome restaurant represents the brand’s most ambitious Italian venture, bringing legendary signatures like black cod with miso and yellowtail jalapeño to discerning Roman palates while incorporating local ingredients and culinary traditions in innovative ways.
The city’s most anticipated culinary destination showcases Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s globally acclaimed menu in a relaxed yet refined setting, with guests able to savour signature dishes including Black Cod Miso, Yellowtail Jalapeño and Rock Shrimp Tempura, alongside seasonal creations that celebrate Italian produce.
For a more intimate dining experience, the Sushi Counter gives diners a front row seat to the artistry of Nobu’s sushi chefs.
The cacio e pepe sushi has become an Instagram sensation, but it’s far more than a novelty – it represents genuine culinary innovation that respects both Japanese technique and Roman tradition.
“Attending the Nobu Rome Hotel launch on the famed Via Veneto was another perfect example of this renaissance – an incredible blend of gastronomy, culture and design that signals a new era for Rome’s high-end travel scene,” author and gastronomical expert Maria Pasquale said.
Beyond the signature restaurant, Nobu Hotel Roma features a rooftop bar with sweeping city views, serving Japanese-inspired cocktails alongside Italian aperitivi and offering a selection of small plates, sake and cocktails.
The hotel includes an intimate sake lounge showcasing rare bottles from small producers and hosting regular tasting events led by master sommeliers.
The hotel’s spa incorporates Japanese bathing rituals, along with a state-of-the-art wellness and fitness centre, and versatile event spaces ideal for both private gatherings and corporate occasions.
Even the in-room amenities reflect the culinary focus, with selections from Nobu’s own line of premium teas, Japanese snacks, and Italian artisanal products, plus 24-hour in-room dining from the Nobu Restaurant.
Bulgari Hotel Roma: Imperial grandeur meets Michelin-starred innovation
The 106-room property balances imperial Roman grandeur with contemporary refinement
Completing Rome’s trinity of gastronomy-first luxury hotels is Bulgari Hotel Roma, which opened in the Campo Marzio district near the Mausoleum of Emperor Augustus.
The 106-room property balances imperial Roman grandeur with contemporary refinement, but its true crown jewel is Il Ristorante – Niko Romito’s Michelin-starred dining room that has quickly become a pilgrimage site for food enthusiasts worldwide.
Romito, widely considered one of Italy’s most important contemporary chefs, brings his philosophy of “accessible luxury” to Bulgari.
His approach involves reimagining classic Italian dishes through modern technique while respecting traditional flavours and the integrity of ingredients. The results are simultaneously familiar and revolutionary.
Romito’s influence extends throughout Bulgari’s culinary program. He personally oversees the breakfast service, elevating the morning meal with house-made pastries, artisanal cheeses from small Roman producers, and rotating regional Italian specialties.
The hotel’s bar program features cocktails inspired by Romito’s flavour combinations, and even the room service menu bears his distinctive approach to Italian cuisine.
The hotel also offers exclusive culinary experiences for guests, including private cooking classes with Romito’s sous chefs, guided tours of Rome’s historic food markets with hotel culinary staff, and special multi-course tasting dinners that showcase seasonal ingredients from specific Italian regions.
Six Senses Rome: Sustainable gastronomy in a Palazzo setting
Six Senses Rome, the brand’s first urban Italian property, brings sustainable, wellness-oriented dining to the city’s luxury landscape
Six Senses Rome, the brand’s first urban Italian property, brings sustainable, wellness-oriented dining to the city’s luxury landscape.
Occupying historic Palazzo Salviati Cesi Mellini with 96 rooms designed by Patricia Urquiola, the hotel focuses on nutrition without sacrificing sophistication.
The main restaurant emphasises organic, locally sourced ingredients from Six Senses’ farm partnerships in the Roman countryside. Menus change seasonally, employing fermentation, slow cooking, and minimal processing to maximize nutritional value and taste.
Six Senses offers immersive culinary programming including chef-led cooking classes, guided tours to Rome’s historic food markets, and foraging excursions where guests learn to identify wild ingredients.
These experiences deepen connections to Italian food culture and the land that produces it.
The legacy hotels respond: Elevating the culinary game
Under Michelin-starred legend Alain Ducasse, Romeo Roma has become Rome’s most coveted reservation. Image credit: Kévin Tchobanian
Rome’s established luxury properties haven’t remained static amid this gastronomic revolution. Iconic hotels that defined Roman luxury for decades are significantly upgrading culinary offerings to remain competitive.
Hotel Excelsior on Via Veneto, a pillar of Roman society since the early 1900s, has renovated its restaurants and brought in celebrated chefs. The hotel now offers multiple dining venues with distinct identities, from traditional Roman comfort food to contemporary Italian fine dining.
Rocco Forte’s Hotel de Russie has expanded beyond its renowned Stravinskij Bar to include cooking classes, wine tastings, and collaborations with visiting chefs from worldwide Rocco Forte properties.
The commitment extends to spa treatments incorporating edible ingredients and healthy post-spa cuisine.
The legendary Hotel Hassler Roma has elevated its Michelin-starred Imàgo restaurant, continuously innovating contemporary Italian cuisine while maintaining its spectacular Spanish Steps view.
“These classic hotels embody Rome’s soul and represent timeless elegance,” notes Elena Rossi, a Rome-based luxury tour guide.
“But they’ve recognised that excellence alone isn’t enough anymore – you need exceptional, destination-worthy dining. The new hotels raised the bar, and the legacy properties have risen to meet that challenge.”
A new golden age
Designed by the Rockwell Group, Nobu Hotel Roma’s aesthetic combines warm Roman textures with Nobu’s signature style
Rome’s luxury hotel landscape in 2025 represents fundamental reinvention. Modern luxury hospitality places gastronomy at the centre of guest experience, with properties like Romeo Roma (Alain Ducasse), Robert De Niro’s Nobu Hotel Roma, and Bulgari (Niko Romito) creating destinations where dining rivals, and even often surpasses, the accommodation itself.
This gastronomic revolution complements rather than replaces Rome’s existing luxury offerings, creating a spectrum of experiences serving every luxury traveller’s preference.
Legacy properties like Hotel Excelsior and Rome Cavalieri maintain their classic appeal while elevating culinary programs to meet new expectations.
The result is a golden age for luxury hospitality in the Eternal City, where world-class accommodation and renowned dining converge to create experiences worthy of Rome’s magnificent history and cultural significance.
For travellers who appreciate both architectural beauty and culinary artistry, Rome offers an unparalleled combination of the contemporary and timeless.
The gastronomic luxury hotel boom shows no signs of slowing. Rosewood Rome is scheduled to open in 2026 featuring 157 rooms, rooftop spa, and multiple dining outlets.
Industry insiders expect Rosewood to follow the gastronomy-first model established by Romeo Roma, Nobu, Bulgari, and Six Senses, likely partnering with a celebrity chef to create a destination restaurant.
