Albergo del senato ...McDonalds AND the Pantheon?
 

We are considering staying at the Albergo del Senato in Rome but I have just read that it is in close proximity to not only the Pantheon but McDonalds as well. Anyone know how close? Seems rather an expensive hotel to be sharing space with the Big Mac maker.

They are both in the Pantheon "piazza". The area surrounding the Pantheon is quite hectic, and the McDonald's is not the main reason...! People congregate all day & all night long there. If you want a less hectic location, just go a block or two away from the square. By the way, I've been to that McD's, and it's quite good! :-)

Albergo del Senato sits quite close to the Pantheon, really just steps away.
The MacDonalds is directly all the way across the Piazza from the Pantheon, so you are not really facing it at the Hotel.
I stayed once at the hotel. and was able to actually almost forget the McD's was there.

McDonalds, KFC, Starbucks..they are getting to be everywhere in Europe and a hotel's "proximity" to any of them is certainly no measure of excellence, value, or anything else.

McDonald's is at the far end of the piazza, about a block or two away ( at least) from Albergo Del Senato. This hotel has a wonderful location, which puts you within easy walking distance of many of the major tourist attractions of Rome. Don't worry about McDonald's ruining it for you, you won't even remember that it's there.

The McDonald's in Piazza della Rotunda is easy to miss. It becomes miniscule in the presence of the Pantheon. Furthermore, in order for McDonald's to get approval, they agreed to alter the facade design to suit the surroundings. You sort of have to look for it.

Because of the geographical layout of the piazza, you cannot see McDonald's from the rooms at the Del Senato.

Hi Minx-
I don't even remember seeing a McDonald's there when we stayed at the Del Senato.

We loved the hotel and the Piazza della Rotunda so much-- would not hesitate to stay there again.

Have a great trip!

The McDonald's is no more noticable that any other restaurant in Piazza della Rotundo. It's not like it has huge golden arches in front of it. We have stayed at the Albergo del Senato a number of times and I can assure you that the McDonald's will in no way lessen your enjoyment of the hotel or the Piazza. BTW we found the Piazza fairly quiet at night, certainly nothing compared with Campo di Fiori and their packs of teenagers.

Let me add my voice to the chorus: the McDonald's is pretty unnoticeable. And none (?) of the windows at the del Senato face or could even possibly face the McDonald's.

Great hotel, funny guys at the desk and the bar. Enjoy.

I'm not sure how you would miss MacDonald's there. It is right on the piazza facing the Pantheon. Although there are no giant golden arches, the signage is pretty obvious (but not blatant). I've been on the piazza looking up at people on the balcony above MacDonald's which is clearly a rental apartment and thought "I wonder if they knew when they rented it was above a MacDonald's". But I think it's over reacting to think that the presence of the MacDonalds somehow destroys the "quality" of a rather expensive hotel in the neighborhood.

I was there in December and did not even see the McDonalds, thank God.

As others have said, you can't see the McDonalds from any room at the Del Senato. Although not a block or two away from the hotel, it is located on the far northern portion of the Piazza della Rotonda and the Del Senato is on the east, about a 20 second walk away. Piazza della Rotonda is very peaceful at night and doesn't get busy until 9 am. I stayed at the Del Senato for the fourth time last month. I'm sorry to say that the usual helpful and friendly service is not what it used to be.

I agree with Patrick,it's pretty hard to miss the McDonald's. There's also one near the Piazza di Spagna.That's the way it goes.It's still hard to beat the location of the Albergo del Senato.

The original question stated that the McD and the hotel were 'sharing space.'
They are both on the same square, but it is a very large square, and they are not next to each other.
I personally thought the McDonalds was pretty easy to spot across the square (they give out very good maps with their coffee, by the way) but whether it's Piazza Rotunda in Rome, Wenceslas Square in Prague, Strada Nuova in Venice, or the Champs Elysees, chain restaurants are everywhere, and they are not trying to hide themselves.
If you visit or stay at a large, central, touristed square, these places are pretty hard to miss, but they are here to stay.

If you'd like a more quaint view, except for the Pantheon itself, Piazza Rotunda to my mind is not particularly 'olde worlde', there are shops, banks, etc.

A little off topic....can anyone tell me the name of the bar on the OTHER corner of the Piazza? In other words, as you look at McDonalds with your back to the Pantheon, the place next to but on the corner to the right of McDonalds.

Terrific response and so very helpful.Some of the replys were very relevant as to our final decision. I believe we'll 'goforit' and book.
Thanks a bunch to all.

But where is the Starbucks and Subway?

Well if they got rid of that fountain & oblisk in the piazza, it's not like it would be missed the damned things are all over the city, they would have plenty of room to put in a *real* McDonalds.
Complete with really big archs (Romans do love arches ya know), a large kiddie playground and open up the closed streets to traffic for the drive-thru :).
Plus at their present location those narrow spiral stairs down to the bathrooms are mobbed.
Regards, Walter

Hi
As Americans we tend to forget that to the Europeans McD, Pizza Hut, KFC are as much a treat, especially to the families and teens as authentic Italian pizza, Beer halls etc are to us visiting. I stayed at the santa Chira hotel by the Pantheon about 1 1/2
years ago and can't recall the McD. Enjoy it. it's part of world culture. I traveled over Europe and have seen American fast food all over. Besides, where do you go when you need a toilet.

I have to chime in that when I go to the food court in the Flora mall in Prague, the two busiest restaurants at lunchtime are always McDonalds & the fast food place that serves Czech meals!
"Paradise Lost" might have something... if they make the piazza into one big food court, there would not only be a huge McD's, but room for a Subway, KFC, AND a Starbucks!... and while we're at it - maybe a Sbarro's...(OK - I'm going to hide now!) :-)