The first thing that strikes you about the Hotel de Russie is the silence. In a country where the car horn plays a perpetual backing track, it’s unusual to experience such all-encompassing quiet from the comfort of a hotel room (with the exception, of course, of the occasional peal of church bells — this is Rome, after all).
It’s all the more remarkable bearing in mind that the hotel is right at the very heart of the city. A short stroll down Via del Babuino brings you to the Spanish Steps, while the Trevi Fountain is not much further. The kind of moneyed clientele the Hotel de Russie attracts, however, is unlikely to make it further than the posh shops
of nearby Via Condotti.
Typical of a Rocco Forte hotel (or indeed of Sir Rocco himself), the de Russie exudes smooth, effortless style. The colour scheme is coolly autumnal, yet there are hints of sauciness to be found in, say, the Robert Mapplethorpe flower photographs on the wall of your room or the naked bust (of the classical variety) on your desk. The eclectic mix of ancient and modern is a theme that runs throughout the place.
There’s warmth, too, to be found in the hotel’s staff, who manage to be friendly without adopting the grinning, fawning manner that’s all too common in five-stars. And there seem to be an awful lot of them, so you don’t have to look too far when you need a bit of help.
Rooms are equipped with all the mod cons you might expect from a 5-star hotel. But if you really want to push the boat out, you could try the Nijinsky Suite on the top floor, which has its own terrace, his and hers walk-in wardrobes, a steam room and a dining room for ten people. Not to mention the de rigueur 50-inch plasma.
The hotel boasts a small but perfectly formed turquoise spa (or “wellness zone” as it’s described — that means there’s a gym as well). “It is a small space that holds many products,” is how one member of staff put
it to me. Those products come courtesy of Caritas, Decléor and BodyCoffee, the last of which is based on the healing properties of coffee, which is somehow appropriate in a caffeine-mad country such as Italy. There’s also a hydrotherapy pool, a sauna and a Turkish bath.
The Stravinskij Bar is a buzzy place that attracts the city’s movers and shakers. But perhaps the crowning glory of the Hotel de Russie is its beautiful terraced garden, planted with palms, orange trees and roses.
In warmer months the Jardin de Russie restaurant sets its tables outside, allowing guests to sip their de Russie martinis before dining alfresco on executive chef Nazzareno Menghini’s seasonal, rustic Italian creations.
As if to stress the serenity of the place, the garden even contains a butterfly reserve.
It’s so quiet you can almost hear their wings beating.
Hotel de Russie, Via del Babuino 9, Rome
+39 0632 8881, hotelderussie.it
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