If You’re Headed to Rome This Summer, This Boutique 5-Star Hotel Is the One to Book

As an art history major who's spent years working with interior designers, I’ve walked through my fair share of galleries and furniture showrooms. But nothing prepared me for the visual punch of Pietro Ruffo’s work throughout art’otel Rome. The hotel’s entire visual identity was dreamt up by Ruffo, a Roman-born artist known for merging political history with cartography and astronomy. And his pieces don’t decorate the hotel—they narrate it. (There’s even a full gallery within the hotel, with rotating exhibitions curated in tandem with his vision.)

The elevators (as seen in the mirror selfie above) are wrapped in a psychedelic fresco of mythological beasts and astrological figures, each rendered with Ruffo’s signature precision and subversion. While the exterior is filled with sharp lines and modernist nods, the inside hits you like a warm, scented breeze: layered textures, sculptural lighting and mirrored panels that bounce the artwork across every corner. My suite had a corner view of the ancient ruins below, which felt perfectly juxtaposed with the contemporary furniture and whimsical, celestial accents inside. There was even a custom zodiac pillow I briefly considered smuggling home, and a black-and-white tiled bathroom that felt more like a spa in a Richard Serra exhibit. (More on the room below.)

My favorite part, however, was when I pressed the button to the elevator—it felt like I’d stepped into a Renaissance fever dream, with dragons, cherubs and constellations. I was then brought to the patio, where the floor of the terrace is covered in custom tiles inspired by celestial maps—line-drawn constellations in cobalt blue that swirl beneath the lounge chairs and dining tables. (I nearly spilled my Aperol photographing one tile that reminded me of a Botticelli star chart.)

All I can say is that his art hit especially hard for me as an Aquarius—equal parts dreamer and disruptor. I’ve always been obsessed with star maps and origin myths, and Pietro’s work felt like a love letter to both. It made me want to stay up all night on the terrace just to see where Jupiter was hovering.

As you could probably guess, each room at the hotel feels like stepping into an architect’s dream sketch—only fully realized in lacquered black panels, celestial tiling and backlit mirrors. I stayed in a Junior Suite, where the king-sized bed was dressed in crisp Egyptian cotton sheets, and a Turkish cotton robe waited by the bathroom door like an invitation to lean in and lounge. There was a Dyson Supersonic dryer in the closet (alongside a matching Airwrap), Kevin Murphy toiletries in the bathroom and a Roberts Radio humming next to a curated stack of art books—definitely a space designed by someone who knew how creatives travel.

Still, the balcony might’ve been my favorite part. Wrapped in Pietro Ruffo’s cobalt celestial tilework, it felt like a private portal to both the Roman skyline and another universe entirely. Inside, moody lighting and espresso on demand (thanks to an in-room illy machine) only added to the feeling that this wasn’t just a hotel—it was a curation come to life.

Let’s just say: art’otel Rome knows how to make an entrance. From the moment I walked into the marble-clad lobby—where Ruffo’s celestial tile wall greets you like a cosmic compass—I could feel the energy of a space that’s both lived-in and completely new. The staff struck that rare balance between attentive and chill (shoutout to Iole, who handed me an Aperol spritz before I could even ask for one).

Location-wise, you’re tucked into Piazza Sallustio—close enough to hit the Trevi Fountain on foot, far enough to feel like you’ve escaped the tourist frenzy. You can spend your mornings lounging on a balcony that overlooks the Horti Sallustiani, and afternoons soaking in the wood-fired sauna downstairs. And whether you’re hopping on a Vespa sidecar tour through the Colosseo or just vibing with a negroni at YEZI’s Aperitivo Hour, the staff makes it easy to plan your perfect itinerary with transfer arrangements and local-only food recs. (Side note: Go to Fiaschetteria Marini for the best eggplant parmesan of your life.)

I’ll admit I was skeptical when I saw the words “Asian fusion” and “Rome” in the same sentence. But YEZI, the hotel’s restaurant, delivered (and offered a welcome break from all of the Italian carbs). Think: yuzu-drenched hamachi crudo, tempura that actually crackled and cocktails infused with lemongrass and smoke that felt more Milan mixologist than hotel bar standard. One night, we had a multi-course tasting menu—each dish more photogenic than the last—and I still dream about the black cod with miso.

The art’otel Rome isn’t trying to be everyone’s cup of espresso—it’s more niche, curated and contemporary in a way that still nods to the surrounding ruins. From Pietro Ruffo’s astrology-laced murals to the Dyson in the closet and black cod at YEZI, every detail feels intentional. It’s the kind of hotel that reminds you why design matters—and why you should always say yes to a trip to Rome.