6 Best Hotels in Rome, Italy

The friendly sisters of Santa Brigida oversee simple, straightforward, and centrally located accommodations in one of Rome's loveliest convents, with a rooftop terrace overlooking Palazzo Farnese. You won't find iPhone charging docks or flat-screen TVs here, and breakfast is served only after the sisters have finished their morning prayer. Still, the atmosphere is serene, and the rooms are perfect for their rates. The Brigidine sisters, who wear a distinctive habit and veil with a caplike headband, are known for their gentle manner; they sometimes offer guests tickets to the papal audience. Breakfast is included, and you can elect to eat other meals (€25 per meal) here as well; however, your money might be better spent on meals elsewhere. The guesthouse entrance is around the corner from the church at Via di Monserrato 54.

Near the most expensive shopping street in Rome, Via Condotti, and one block from the Spanish Steps, this group of hotels and apartments is all about peace, comfort, and location. Common areas and guest rooms in the main building have elegant, walnut period furnishings, gilt-edge mirrors, and top-notch linens and fabrics in warm, relaxing tones. The guest rooms exude a classic charm, though they tend to be on the smaller side. There are annex rooms and larger apartments with fully equipped kitchens spread out over seven buildings in the neighborhood.

Located blocks away from Piazza di Spagna, Crossing Condotti is a chic, apartment-style escape in an 18th-century palazzo that comes with a curated pantry stocked with complimentary snacks and a library lounge. Rooms and suites are outfitted with vintage furniture by the likes of Hans Wegner and stocked with bath products by L'Occitaine.

Formerly the retreat of a rich noble family, this 15th-century house is now one of Rome's most intimate and luxurious hotels, with gorgeous terraces and a rooftop bar affording views of the never-ending theater of the Spanish Steps. Even the Hassler, Il Palazzetto's iconic sister hotel on the other side of Piazza Trinità dei Monti, can't make this claim. The four tranquil guest rooms are outfitted in soothing taupes and creams (three look out over the Steps); none of them have room service, but guests enjoy full use of the facilities at the Hassler. Without the 24-hour attention of the Hassler, and with their sense of privacy and independence, Il Palazzetto's accommodations feel more like small, luxury apartments than hotel rooms—something that's seen as a major perk by guests, who tend to book up the rooms months in advance.

Set within the former cloister grounds of the Santa Chiara order, with beautiful gardens, Le Clarisse makes you feel like you're staying at a close friend's villa, thanks to the comfortable size of the guest rooms and personalized service. This charming oasis features simple but classically styled accommodations with terra-cotta-tiled floors, wrought-iron bed frames, and oak furnishings; some rooms open onto a bright courtyard surrounded by a Mediterranean garden of grapevines and olive and lemon trees.

Fresh flowers in the foyer and personal attention from the staff help make this small, family-run residence close to Termini station feel like a gracious home. The lobby's glossy floors, elegant door moldings, and handsome wood Empire-style desk and chairs make a sweet impression. There are only six rooms, each of which is traditionally furnished—accentuated with fine draperies, warm wooden parquet floors, and authentic decorative stucco ceilings.