What it’s like staying on the InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace, IHG’s newest luxe providing in Rome

The InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace offered the author with a complimentary one-night keep. The opinions expressed beneath are completely the writer’s and weren’t topic to assessment by the lodge or any exterior entity.

Be careful, luxurious lodges all over the place. InterContinental’s new Rome location is a sign the model is reasserting itself on the desk of high-end hospitality.

I have been curious concerning the InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace because it was first introduced a number of years again. The InterContinental model final graced the Everlasting Metropolis within the spot the place the Lodge de la Ville now stands, and on the time, individuals heralded that model shift for the reason that previous InterContinental felt just a little, nicely, previous.

I have been fearful about InterContinental, as its mother or father firm IHG Lodges & Resorts acquired ultra-luxury manufacturers like Regent and Six Senses in recent times to spice up its luxurious portfolio. Was InterContinental changing into the uncared for luxurious baby whereas its mother or father doted on the shinier, much more luxurious new siblings?

A one-night keep this summer season on the new InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace proved that the InterContinental model may be very a lot right here to clear its throat and remind IHG loyalists and vacationers all over the place that the “I” in IHG stands for InterContinental. That is very a lot a luxurious model that’s value trying out.

What’s the InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace?

The InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace is a part of a wave of lodges reviving life on Rome’s famed Through Veneto — a luxe thoroughfare of cafes and nightclubs made well-known by director Federico Fellini’s movie “La Dolce Vita.” Close by, you will discover the W Rome and the Rome Version. The Rosewood has a lodge below development throughout the road. Nobu Lodges additionally plans to open a property close by.

InterContinental’s debut arrived after a multiyear intestine renovation to what was the Ambasciatori Palace Lodge. Previous to that, it had stints as a house for touring ambassadors in addition to a library for the close by U.S. library. Let’s simply say luxe linens, sultry bars and eating places, and turndown service are a greater search for the constructing than bookshelves.

The lodge options 160 visitor rooms and suites, a Roman outpost of Scarpetta New York Metropolis — courageous of an American model to open an Italian restaurant in Italy, however extra on that later — Charlie’s Rooftop Bar and the foyer bar Anita’s (as in Anita Ekberg, the star of “La Dolce Vita”).

Learn how to e book a keep on the InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace

My whole keep was complimentary, however you’ll be able to e book a keep on the InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace instantly by IHG’s reserving platform to benefit from the full suite of IHG One Rewards advantages.

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My junior suite was going for simply greater than 1,000 euros ($1,088) per night time on the time of my keep, and that seems to be the going price by the remainder of the summer season. An entry-level King Basic room begins at 626 euros ($682) per night time — not a discount by any stretch however extra inexpensive than the Lodge de la Ville and about 150 euros much less per night time than entry-level rooms on the Rome Version across the nook.

Award night time availability exhibits King Basic rooms begin at 99,000 IHG One Rewards factors per night time and improve later within the yr. Remember: Should you’re an InterContinental Ambassador member, you can even make the most of your complimentary weekend night time reward right here.

The placement

The InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace’s perch on Through Venuto comes with actual property bragging rights, given the storied historical past of the road. It is a cosmopolitan, worldwide vibe: Each a Lamborghini dealership and the U.S. Embassy are mere steps away from the lodge foyer.

It is a 35-minute Uber or taxi experience from Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport at a 50-euro ($54) flat price.

I instantly wished for an extended keep, as there was a pleasant mixture of cafes, bars and eating places close by. The Trevi Fountain is a 10-minute stroll away, whereas the Pantheon is an 18-minute stroll. Roma Termini, the town’s primary rail hub, is a 17-minute stroll away.

One of many nice issues about InterContinental is it is a model with vary. You’ll be able to anticipate a big selection of choices on the vibe and design entrance earlier than you stroll by the entrance door: There’s the plush greenery and brilliant colours of the InterContinental Danang Solar Peninsula Resort in Vietnam, the thatched roofs and lagoon views of the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa or the smooth metropolis lodge vibes of my hometown InterContinental Boston.

The InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace leans extra into its historic roots with a contemporary elevation. You may discover a smaller check-in space tucked off the facet of the entryway. The primary foyer is the showstopper with massive, brilliant columns and a sweeping marble and red-carpeted staircase that I envision would be the backdrop of many social media uploads from the lodge. The lodge web site, sadly, is leaning extra towards renderings in the meanwhile, however take my phrase (and photographs) for it: The precise lodge is a stunner.

Possibly as a result of it is the summer season of People fleeing to Italy, or possibly it is the IHG connection, however the visitor profile skewed considerably extra American than every other property I toured over a number of days in Rome. Households, youthful vacationers, older vacationers and pal teams — all largely American — gave the impression to be holding the lodge in enterprise and the bars buzzing.

The rooms

While you head to your visitor room or suite, the InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace feels a world away from the brilliant foyer downstairs, as if it determined to embrace its brooding facet on the elevator experience up. The corridors characteristic darkish charcoal partitions and doorways accented by brass lighting and door {hardware}.

However do not let this provide you with any preconceived notions: I opened the door to my King Junior Suite and located a brilliant, inviting house. It additionally had one of many extra elegant loos I’ve seen from the main lodge manufacturers in fairly a while. I observed an identical mild, refined aesthetic within the visitor rooms and a one-bedroom suite I later toured throughout my keep.

As for the junior suite I used to be staying in, it featured an entryway with a spacious closet for stowing baggage on one facet and hanging garments on the opposite. There was additionally a bar space that includes glassware, a Nespresso machine and a minibar. The design scheme was mild and ethereal because of many floor-to-ceiling home windows (together with a frosted glass one within the walk-in bathe), white partitions and excessive ceilings.

A dwelling space with a small sofa and facet desk, in addition to a desk, have been nice for lounging. The bed room with a king-size mattress was simply off this dwelling house behind doorless entryways on both facet of the desk. There are sensible TVs in each the bed room and dwelling space, and blackout curtains allow friends to sleep just a little extra soundly. My room did not have balcony entry, however you’ll be able to e book one (for a better nightly price).

There have been some black-and-white prints in the lounge and bed room with museum lighting, however the largely naked partitions and film body molding gave the house a minimalist magnificence with out feeling chilly. Pops of coloration got here by with brass {hardware} and pendant lighting over the nightstands, in addition to a black leather-based headboard that includes built-in studying lights.

The piece de resistance for me was the toilet. The house was attractive with marble with gold inlay, giving it a luxe look with out feeling cheesy. Outsized robes and bathtub sheets have been a plus, however the huge walk-in waterfall bathe was an surprising deal with — and never a lot smaller than some lodge rooms I’ve encountered. As talked about, the opaque floor-to-ceiling window within the bathe added to the spaciousness.

The lodge supplied wall-mounted Bal D’Afrique facilities, and there was each a rest room and a bidet. Twice-daily housekeeping is the norm on the InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace.

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CAMERON SPERANCE/THE POINTS GUY

Earlier than I had even set foot within the lodge, I scoffed just a little on the thought of bringing Scarpetta — a coveted New York Metropolis-originating Italian restaurant model — to a lodge in Rome. However one shouldn’t misconstrue this as opening an Outback Steakhouse subsequent to the Sydney Opera Home.

The romantic house simply off the primary foyer options intimate tables and cubicles in a mixture of cranberry and inexperienced velvet, wooden paneling and dim lighting. A separate bar space with excessive ceilings is a cheerful hour scorching spot by night time and a breakfast buffet by morning.

Again in the primary eating space, the true hits from Scarpetta got here from government chef Riccardo Ioanna’s kitchen.

Little touches just like the trio of olive oil, eggplant caponata and mascarpone butter to accompany the bread basket set the stage that this may be a meal all concerning the particulars. A chef shock courtesy of Ioanna featured eggplant caviar and seared black cod topped with a strawberry compote; it was a pleasant mixture of candy and savory to kick off the meal.

Our waiter was a stellar information on navigating the menu, and we left him in control of deciding what must-try dishes we wanted to pattern. I am remorse not packing a second abdomen.

We kicked off the meal with a mixture of objects from the crudi part of the menu: The Japanese A5 Wagyu “In Smoke” dish (36 euros, or $39) arrived below a smoky dome and included a puffed piece of pastry to pair with the decadent slices of crimson meat. There was additionally a hearty tuna sushi roll with carrots, shiitake mushrooms and truffle oil (20 euros, or $22) and a shrimp carpaccio (26 euros, or $28).

Our stomachs have been deliciously stuffed and on the verge of a crudi coma by this level, however we could not move up the restaurant’s iconic dish. The Scarpetta spaghetti (22 euros, or $24) was an ideal remaining carb of our week (okay, positive, possibly the ultimate carb of that day) in Italy with its easy but tasty mixture of basil, tomato and parmesan cheese. It, too, arrived on the desk below a dome and introduced with a enjoyable flourish. Who does not love a grand reveal with their pasta?

I am glad to report the style had as a lot wow issue because the presentation.

On the drinks entrance, we sampled the Margherita Italiana (16 euros, or $17) — an Italian twist with tequila, Aperol and Cointreau. The Negroni Mediterraneo (additionally 16 euros, or $17) was a enjoyable summery replace to the traditional Italian cocktail with tangerine Campari. There was additionally a Cracker Jack Sundae (14 euros, or $15) comprised of caramel popcorn and peanut brittle that was a decadent candy deal with to cap the meal.

Service was quick and extremely attentive with out being overbearing, and we even shared a number of laughs over how daring it was to convey a New York Italian spot to Rome. (The employees is essentially Italian and Ioanna was born in Puglia for these truly involved by this.)

In Italy, “Scarpetta” means the act of sopping up the sauce left on a plate with bread. Let’s simply say there was loads of Scarpetta-ing at our desk that night time.

Upstairs, Charlie’s Rooftop Bar — owned by Scarpetta’s mother or father firm LDV Hospitality — is a smooth indoor-outdoor place. It serves night cocktails good for kicking off the night time or having fun with as a nightcap in your manner again to your room. A DJ retains issues energetic and melodic, and enjoyable employees affords suggestions on a litany of cocktails. The 23 euro ($25) mezcal and rhubarb Dancing Embers was a private favourite.

You’ll want to try the loos at Charlie’s for a mixture of eclectic wallpaper depicting numerous scenes of monkeys, tigers and pandas having fairly the social gathering within the jungle. After all, the showstopper right here is the view of the Everlasting Metropolis.

Charlie’s has a nod to New York Metropolis in design, with numerous black-and-white photographs within the entry hallway resulting in the bar. That, coupled with its downstairs sister restaurant’s New York roots, is likely to be just a little baffling to friends (and probably a turn-off to these searching for just a little extra Roman taste in, nicely, Rome). Nevertheless it finally pays off with scrumptious drinks and meals I am nonetheless serious about weeks after checkout.

Rounding out the InterContinental’s eating trio, Anita’s off the primary foyer is the lodge’s all-day bar and lounge idea. It homes a number of the morning breakfast buffet (one of many largest spreads I noticed over the span of greater than per week in Italy). The inviting library vibe is ideal for sipping espresso and studying a e book or feasting on the big selection of charcuterie, recent fruit, pastries and made-to-order eggs accessible within the morning.

Spa

The InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace has a health club with a wide range of cardio gear (treadmills, ellipticals, stationary bikes), free weights and energy coaching machines.

Whereas the lodge does not have the palatial spa and wellness services of its sibling, the Six Senses Rome, up the street, the InterContinental does have two devoted therapeutic massage rooms close to the health services devoted to a extra streamlined mixture of therapeutic massage therapies. It isn’t the biggest spa facility on the town, however these are stunning remedy rooms with impressively massive showers steps away from the place you will hopefully eliminate any aches and pains.

• The Rome Version: Simply across the nook from the InterContinental, the Rome Version leans extra into the approach to life luxurious lodge scene with a vibe that appears like a nightclub that occurs to have lodge rooms upstairs.
• W Rome: Marriott Bonvoy loyalists have an possibility simply across the nook from the InterContinental with the W Rome, that includes a mixture of trendy and quirky designs amid a historic palazzo.
• Lodge de la Ville: The palatial, Italian gem on the prime of the Spanish steps changed InterContinental’s former Roman location and excels in service and magnificence — at a hefty price that surpasses costs on the InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace.
• Six Senses Rome: The InterContinental’s pricier sibling property leans extra into well being, wellness and sustainability and manages to really feel faraway from all of the motion regardless of being steps away from the Trevi Fountain.