Crossing Condotti

Hoteliers in Rome seem to feel the pressure of thousands of years of civilization — most hotels strive to be as monumental as the city they serve. A place like Crossing Condotti, by contrast, shows there’s wisdom in keeping things relatively understated. It’s not your typical hotel, but these nine swanky accommodations in a townhouse just off the Spanish Steps are probably truer to the notion of contemporary Roman luxury than any number of marbled, colonnaded grand hotels.

Instead it’s a glamorous little pied-à-terre with five contemporary rooms and a single junior suite, all with generous touches like L’Occitane bath products in the bathrooms; the master room and junior site come with their own LED-lit chromatherapy hamam for a singularly relaxing experience. Paintings and antique furniture from the owners’ private collection add an unusually sophisticated touch of homeyness.

Given Crossing Condotti’s scale, the interiors matter perhaps more here than in the average hotel. There’s neither room service nor a restaurant. What you have is something closer to that old travel cliché, a home away from home, where instead of going to the business center you simply ask the staff if you can borrow a laptop, and they gladly oblige. That said, the amenities are resolutely with the times — several rooms offer an iPad, and every room includes complimentary wi-fi.

A common kitchenette includes Nespresso machines and a refrigerator with free soft drinks. All rooms come with complimentary hot drinks and a selection of snacks — all you need before you hit the streets. This is more or less at the center of all things retail in Rome, and you’re surrounded by more restaurants, bars and historical and cultural sites than you could care to name. Forget the grand old echoing lobbies full of marble. After a long day scrambling around Rome, what you’ll want is a relaxing bath and some high-end linens to wrap yourself in — and of course that’s exactly what you’ve got at Crossing Condotti.

Please note: Guests should notify the hotel in advance if they will be checking in after 6:30PM.