At once sceney and classic, having compromised none of its original Art Deco charm, Hotel Locarno is an enduring hangout for filmmakers, artists and Fendi-toting Romans alike. Indeed, this is the most Roman of Rome’s hotels, where locals still fill the wisteria-draped courtyard on a warm evening for aperitivo. With a rattling art-nouveau birdcage elevator and rooms individually decorated with period pieces, it looks and feels more like a quirky, aristocratic home than one of the city’s other grande-dame hotels.

Style & Surrounds

The design?

The spirit of Art Deco runs throughout the original 1920s property and annexed 1905 palazzo (which are connected by the central courtyard), with oil paintings, parquet floors and embellished ceiling stuccoes.

The scene?

On a busy evening, Locarno attracts a steady parade of polished bohemians and local celebrities in the courtyard, cocktail bar and, during the warm months, the rooftop terrace.

The surrounds?

Wedged between the Tiber and bustling Piazza del Popolo, the hotel is a short walk from shopping hubs Via Condotti and Via di Ripetta, with any number of high-fashion flagships, antique shops, the ateliers of hat-makers, jewelers and perfumers, and a slew of independent modern-art galleries such as the Gagosian, the Galleria Russo and Magazzino.

Day beyond the hotel?