The Location

Over the years, Monti, Rome's oldest neighborhood and creative hub, has evolved into a vibrant haven for artists and culture enthusiasts. Despite its proximity to Rome's main attractions, Monti retains an off-the-beaten-path allure, far removed from the hustle and bustle of the city's tourist-heavy areas, making it a particularly idyllic place to stay. With a dynamic mix of restaurants and natural wine bars, vintage, design, and art shops, as well as lesser-known cultural attractions, it offers a unique amalgamation of creativity, history, and charm. To meet the moment, 36-room Casa Monti has opened as a warm, casual and eclectic stay in the heart of Rome’s oldest rione (neighborhood), whose interior spaces and artistic spirit capture the creative energy of the neighborhood.

The Proprietors

This is the third hotel and first Italian property for the family-owned Leitmotiv group, the boutique hospitality group behind Cœur de Megève in the French Alps and La Fantaisie in Paris. Leitmotiv does casual refinement well, in which they create upscale modern spaces with character, charm, and a commitment to community and creativity which is done especially well at new Casa Monti. This intimate, art-filled hotel is a celebration of the neighborhood's vibrant local culture as the location offers a dynamic setting for both locals and travelers.

The Design

Unlike many of our favorite stays in Rome, the interiors here, designed by Laura Gonzales, are less an homage to ancient Rome and more a celebration of modern Rome. The bright, vibrant spaces draw in the energy of the surrounding neighborhood, creating a sense of an artist’s residence rather than a traditional hotel. The lobby is adorned with frescoes by artisans at Pictalab (a Milan-based interiors firm of decorators, painters and high-end artisans) painted in shades of green to evoke scenes of Rome's iconic umbrella pines and flocks of swallows. Each floor is characterized by bird-themed allegories, with whimsical wallpapers by Florence Bamberger — a particularly felicitous touch that provides a grounding sense of place given the hotel's view of the lush Parco del Colle Oppio.

Gonzales invites guests into the world of an artist through a thoughtfully curated mix of antiques and commissioned artworks, with her signature bold use of color infusing every corner — from her studio’s botanical-printed curtains, headboards, and wallpaper sweeping the rooms, to her custom patterned furniture, like a green and blue checkered couch and patterned Pierre Frey carpets adding unexpected eclecticism and individualism to every space. Alongside the soft frescoes that adorn the public areas — from the reception to the spa and rooftop bar — subtle nods to Rome’s ancient past are woven into the contemporary design, like in the hand-laid mosaic at the rooftop bar, inspired by the myth of Romulus and Remus, the twin brothers who are said to have founded the city of Rome.

The Scene

It likely isn’t your first time in Rome if you’re staying at Casa Monti. The crowd is composed of stylish couples and cool international families who have likely been to Rome before and wish to explore a more locally-rooted neighborhood, where they can steer clear of the crowds more inclined to stay in Rome’s historic center.

The Rooms

Gonzales drew inspiration from the Italian concept of sprezzatura — the art of effortless elegance and relaxed ease. Her vibrant, signature style brings a sense of personality and craftsmanship to each room, while maintaining a natural feel. The result is a welcoming, home-like atmosphere that captures the artistic essence extant in Roman neighborhood life. Each room, conveyed through its well-blended color schemes and bespoke prints brings to life the spirited vibe of Italian culture that makes guests feel part of an artist’s world, where modern touches are thoughtfully considered: iPads are placed in each room for guests to easily communicate with the concierge; a switch by the bed whimsically opens the bespoke curtain to reveal a hidden TV so as to not disrupt the flow of the space, while a switch by the door prompts a red or green light that prompts housekeeping. The Susanne Kaufmann bath products and custom orange slippers add an elevated touch to an already supremely luxurious stay.

The Service

The staff tends to reflect the spirit of the neighborhood: they’re young, cool, friendly, and casual, while remaining professional and always available to help. The CBD gummies, custom silk eye masks and under-eye patches left bedside at turndown are a nice, personal touch to help elevate the ritual of bedtime.

Food & Drink

There’s something for everyone at the restaurant, with both indoor and botanical outdoor seating. The menu possesses all of the highlights you’re likely to find in the Italian trattorias in the neighborhood but with a modern twist. The carpaccio di frutta e verdura di stagione is a worthy start, a fresh and flavorful antipasti that highlights seasonal vegetables and fruit topped with a delectable homemade tomato coulis. The mezze maniche all’amatriciana and the tonnarelli cacio e pepe are the crowd favorites, but if you need a break from pasta, we loved the fresh filetto di branzino with zucchini. A few steps away, the bar-cafe is open all day, and in the evenings guests and visitors descend up to the rooftop terrace bar to indulge in refreshing cocktails, like the ‘Back to the City’ made with gin, classic vermouth, amaretto, and bitters, which we found to be a particularly gratifying sundowner to take in the sweeping views of Monti’s nearby parks and pine trees.

Wellness

Albeit simple, devoid of all of the bells and whistles you may find in the larger and more equipped spas across other luxury hotels in Rome (like a sauna, steam room, or pool), the Casa Monti spa is small but mighty — we’d even venture to say: near perfect. Located on the fifth floor, it’s uniquely situated on the rooftop, providing a singular “Roman bath” experience you won’t find anywhere else in the city. The wellness area is compact, to be sure, with the sole feature being a decadent marble jacuzzi flanked by two hand-painted terracotta jugs, situated regally against a wall of subtle Roman frescoes. The room is bathed in a golden light cast from the sun soaked terrace overlooking the city; a few wicker daybeds with botanical cushions sit beside the tub and a few more out on the terrace from which guests can enjoy their herbal tea alfresco while they await a Susanne Kaufmann facial or body treatment. At Rome's first Susanne Kaufmann spa, guests can select from a variety of facials, body treatments, wellness rituals, and beauty services. We particularly love the Toning Body Treatment, which is designed to help improve the skin's elasticity with a body scrub and a toning body massage — a nice way to combat the many pasta dinners! We also love ending the day with the Hibernation Sleep Ritual, which helps prep the body for a peaceful night’s sleep with a full body massage and facial.

The Impact

We love that Leitmotiv hotels are committed to adhering to sustainable practices, like eliminating single-use plastics and incorporating energy-saving room sensors to reduce environmental impact. In an effort to eliminate waste, bathrooms are stocked with refillable, full-sized bottles of shower essentials — such as shower gel, shampoo, conditioner and lotion. The on-site restaurants support the regional economy and lower their ecological footprint by prioritizing locally-sourced, seasonal ingredients and products.

Beyond

The bohemian neighborhood of Monti, located just a stone’s throw from the Colosseum is one of Rome’s most dynamic neighborhoods. Slightly removed from the tourist path of Rome’s historic center, the residential neighborhood attracts younger crowds given its abundance of cafés, cozy wine bars, restaurants, and vintage shops. At the top of Monti, you’ll find timeless restaurants like Rocco Ristorante and La Matriciana dal 1870, casual favorites like Trattoria Monti Roma and La Taverna dei Fori Imperiali, beloved pastry shops, such as Regoli Pasticceria (where we recommend Rome’s iconic pastry, the maritozzo, and cool wine bars like Blackmarket Hall. Monti is also known for having some of the best independent fashion and design shops, as well as vintage shops, such as Blue Goose and Flamingo for second-hand and designer wares, and Piccioni Fabio, whose extensive collection of repaired costume jewelry dates back to the early 20th century. If you’re there on the weekends, you won’t want to miss the vintage and handcraft market at Mercato Monti. For a dose of culture, you’re only 25 minutes from Rome’s historic quarter, but in the neighborhood, you can visit some lesser-known spots, like neo-classical exhibition hall, cultural center and museum, Palazzo delle Esposizioni.

When To Go

We recommend visiting in the fall and spring to take advantage of Casa Monti’s alfresco spaces — from the main restaurant, to the spa terrace, and the rooftop bar.

The Drawbacks

Truly none that we can think of.