RNSuzanne

Hi: I was wondering if any one has ever eaten at La Pergola. I keep hearing how hideously expensive it is. Can you give me an idea of exactly how much? How much also is the all-inclusive (gourmet) menu? Is there a different price for the six or 9 courses?
Regarding the hotel... does anyone have any specific transportation advice to use the buses to the activities in Rome? I also read it's a 25 minute walk through a garden. Is that true?

vetralla

guidebook writers tip: The Hilton is up above the city of Rome, if you are not staying there I wouldnt go all the way up just to eat at the (yes, very expensive) restaurant. I've lived here 42 years and do not feel its a necessary part of the Roman experience. The hotel is surrounded by manicured lawns, so I guess thats what they mean by garden.

Julie_Hurst

Hi, RNSuzanne. Last year I posted how we used the Rome bus system. If you are interested, click on my screen name & my posts will be listed on the left side. Scroll down to the "How We Used the Rome Bus System" (or something like that). It is long, so it may seem too much to deal with, but actually not. Once explained, the bus system is easy to use, plus fast & cheap. We did not use taxis. While not expensive when compared to other major cities, not convenient when out & about; usually need to have someone call for one. Also have to worry about getting ripped off by the unethical drivers.

Have fun, Julie

RNSuzanne

Hi thanks to you both. I will look up that post. I really seek specifically how much the meal might cost; we are staying at the hotel so it's out of the way location isn't a problem. I just want to know exactly how much it might cost us. Thanks again.

Elainee

We ate there! A very special meal and a special experience. Very beautiful room and view. But even if you are staying in the hotel you need to make reservations way in advance. Email the hotel and ask the price of the dinner. It is expensive and it is good to decide in advance if you want to spend that much. BUT...better value than drinks at the pool. A gin and tonic was outrageous in price and it was just a gin and tonic.

ekscrunchy

The price in dollars is $267 for 9 courses. I just read this is an article in Forbes on the world's most expensive tasting menus. Others included L'Arpege; two Alain Ducasses..Paris and Monaco; Masa in New York; Pierre Gagnaire.

ekscrunchy

Two others are Eigenesen Farms in Canada and Per Se in NYC. Just so you know...

traveller1959

The seven-course menu goes for 155 Euros. For a 3-star-restaurant, this is a quite reasonable rate. In Paris, you pay easily twice as much for the same quality of food, not to speak of New York.

I have eaten there, and I can highly recommend it. By far the best restaurant in Rome and probably the best in Italy.

The hotel has a free shuttle to downtown which runs frequently and takes only minutes. Very convenient. Walking is not recommendable, especially not the way back to the hotel because it is on a hill.

jabez

I'll be staying there for a week early November. This is my 4th week there.
You can walk to the vatican,but it's at least 45 minutes.
The shuttle works pretty good, but it stops too soon at night.
We also don't like to always be "forced" into ints schedule,so we often take buses.
If you go straight out the hotel and take a right, you can then walk down the street to the left to Medaglie d'Oro.
The bus stop is across the street.The 913 bus takes you to one of my favorite restaurants (Gusto-Piazza Augusto Imperatore ) ,which is not all that far from Piazza navona-You can also get off at Piazza Cavour and which is near Castel S' Angelo.
The 990,999,991 and 907 (913 does as well)buses take you to a metro where you connect to most anywhere.
990 also takes you to the Vatican where you can transfer to many buses that head to Navona area. 190 is a good bus there to go to the Forum area.

Returning,you can get

RNSuzanne

What great info! Thanks and kudos to you all. Jabez, your post was cut off, and I am quite interested... can you proceed, please?
We do, by the way, have reservations. Just wanted to know before we go if we could really afford it, and if it was worth it. Thanks again to all.

jabez

Got cut off.
Returning you can take a metro to Cipro and take the 907 or other buses across the street (head right). If memoryt serves me right, the 907 has a stop at Cipro, but you need to head right to the Cipro Piazza and cross the street for other buses. The 913,999,990,991 all stop at Via A Doria.
The buses will be coming from your right and will turn towards your destination at the Piazza.
Note: The only bus that I'm certain runs on Sunday is 913.
You can also return on the 913 from Piazza Augusto Imperatore (off V. Tomacelli street) or Piazza Cavour. The Piazza Cavour is an area where a lot of buses stop for awhile.
Bus 87 is also a good bus to remember. It goes from the Colosseum area to P. Argentina to P. Navona and up to Cavour.
You will learn all these locations quite easily once you are in Rome (with a decent map).

jabez

While I'm thinking of Rome buses:
From my old notes-

"From Barberini to Hotel
Departure from piazza barberini,1
walk 50 metres
go to stop Barberini
take Line No METRO A (BATTISTINI) to 3 stops METRO A ogni 3 min.
get off at stop Lepanto
walk 100 metres
go to stop LEPANTO (MA)
take Line No 913 (STAZ.NE MONTE MARIO (FS-FM3)) to 12 stops 913 ogni 10 min.
get off at stop PRISCIANO/MEDAGLIE D'ORO
walk 250 metres "

More than once we JUST missed a bus back, rather than pay 15-20 Eu. we would metro/bus it. Saved money and sometimes made it back only 10 minutes after the hotel shuttle.
to via alberto cadlolo,1 "



"Hilton to Navona
Departure from via alberto cadlolo,1
walk 250 metres
go to stop PRISCIANO/MEDAGLIE D'ORO
ake Line No 913 (AUGUSTO IMPERATORE) to 14 stops 913 ogni 10 min.
get off at stop CICERONE/CAVOUR
take Line No 30 (LAURENTINA (MB)) to 1 stops 30 ogni 10 min.
get off at stop ZANARDELLI
to piazza navona,30"


"From barberini to Navona
Departure from piazza barberini,1
walk 50 metres
go to stop TRITONE/BARBERINI (MA)
take Line No 116 (TERMINAL GIANICOLO) to 10 stops 116 ogni 12 min.
get off at stop RINASCIMENTO
walk 100 metres
to piazza navona,1"

"Barberini to Colosseum
walk 50 metres
go to stop TRITONE/BARBERINI (MA)
take Line No 175 (PARTIGIANI (FS)) to 8 stops 175 ogni 12 min.
get off at stop CELIO VIBENNA"


One more hint:
You will arrive at P Barberini via the hotel shuttle. They will actually stop (sometimes you have to request),but not pick-up on V. Veneto right after you go through the porto (right after Borghese).If you want to go direct to the Spanish Steps/Trevi, ask the driver where the Spagna metro statio is.. There's a "shortcut" from where you are at that takes you through a tunnel with escalators and moving sidewalks.

The hotel's location "sucks", but it's a great hotel. The exec. lounge is wonderful as are its breakfasts.
If you are eating at the great La Pergola, you may want to save cab fare.

RNSuzanne

Jabez: You are fantastic! Thanks for your patience and detailed instructions. Can you tell me (maybe I am an idiot), what this meant: "minutes after the hotel shuttle.
to via alberto cadlolo,1 "
It appeared one sentence ended, then I didn't understand the next (to via alberto...).

jabez

Suzanne
Alas my cut and paste was inaccurate.
"to via alberto cadlolo,1 "
should have been the last line to the paragraph above it.
You get off the bus and 250 meters (up a pretty steep hill) later you are at
alberto cadlolo,1-the address of the Hilton.
How long are you staying in Rome?

RNSuzanne

One week; October 2-9. Then we go on to Florence and Venice. Our total trip is 17 days. Because I am getting our airfare and hotel free (via miles and Hilton points), I must stay at Hiltons in each place (even though they tend to be out of the way) and must play my own guide, in terms of transfers, and mapping out a rough itinerary. These boards (and people like yourself) have been just fabulous!