Why book?
An elegant five-star hotel run by Italian aristocrats in a historic palazzo with an impressive art collection and pool.
Set the scene
There’s something incredibly soothing about walking into Palazzo Dama. A private stone path leads you away from the beeping horns and sirens of Lungotevere, under archways draped in jasmine, to a peaceful walled courtyard where classical music plays and vintage bicycles are propped up against flower pots. When I visited, an elegant older crowd mingled by the swimming pool as white-suited waiters handed out pisco sours from the hotel’s Peruvian-themed bar.
The backstory
Italy’s aristocratic Malsapina family has owned Palazzo Dama for generations. When they left Rome for Venice, they decided to keep the property and turn the family home into a hotel that would showcase their glamorous lifestyle. You can almost see the legendary parties they threw here, thanks in part to the hotel decor: huge chandeliers dripping from the ceiling, and a serious collection of artwork—including originals by Warhol, Picasso, and Dalí on nearly every wall (the Malsapinas have long been patrons of the arts).
The rooms
While the main areas within Palazzo Dama don’t scrimp on bling, the rooms and suites are a lesson in understated elegance. The rooms aren’t huge, but the pared-back decor (cream walls, velvet curtains, crisp white linens), high ceilings, and big windows mean they never feel cramped. Junior suites have their own sitting areas and are best suited for families, but the double rooms (at a lower price) can accommodate an extra single rollaway bed and a baby cot.
Bathrooms are elegant if a little faded, but there’s something charming about the octagon stone tiling and Edwardian vanity basins. Products are as luxurious as you’d expect: Acqua di Parma toiletries plus soft Egyptian cotton towels and robes. Coffee from the in-room Nespresso machine is a treat, as is the individually controlled air conditioning (not always a given in Rome).
Food and drink
The owners have sidestepped traditional Italian cooking for Japanese-Peruvian fusion at Pacifico. Chef Jaime Pesaque serves up Nikkei cuisine (five-fish ceviche, Wagyu carpaccio, salmon with almonds and yuzu) alongside South American takes on Italian plates, including lobster linguine with Peruvian chili pepper. The adjacent—and very glamorous—Pisco bar draws a discerning local crowd who stop by for South American-inspired cocktails, including their signature Pisco Sour.
Breakfast is taken at Pacifico, with the option to eat outside by the pool in the summertime. The buffet steers classically Italian (read: sweet), with freshly made cakes and cookies (the marshmallows went down a treat with our seven-year-old) plus granola and yogurts. For something more substantial, it’s worth ordering from the à la carte menu, included in all room rates. Fruit salad is prepared on the spot, with big chunks of fresh melon and kiwi; the bacon, spinach, and mushroom omelette alone is worth stopping by for breakfast.
The neighborhood/area
This is one of the better bases from which to explore Rome, a five-minute walk from Piazza del Popolo and 10 minutes from the Ara Pacis museum and Via del Corso, a popular shopping boulevard. It’s also perfectly positioned for a stroll over the Regina Margherita bridge, towards the upscale residential area of Prati, with boutique shops and very good neighborhood eateries.
The service
The staff are unfailingly warm and attentive. There’s not a huge roster (the doorman doubles as a porter), but they never seem harried or rushed off their feet despite the hotel being at full capacity when we were there.
For families
While Palazzo Dama may not look like a family-friendly hotel (there’s a lot of glass, angular edges, and valuable art around), children are very welcome. There are high chairs in the restaurant and bar, and cots can be placed in most rooms.
Eco effort
The hotel is working on its sustainability efforts. They currently use eco-friendly toiletries and locally-sourced produce (as often as possible) to support the local community and lower emissions.
Accessibility
There are two accessible rooms and an elevator to all floors.
Anything left to mention?
Palazzo Dama is exactly what a five-star boutique hotel should be: elegant, refined, and utterly unique. No two rooms here are the same; no two stays here will be the same. Rather fittingly, given the owners’ artistic leanings, the hotel offers monthly creative programs, including calligraphy workshops, cooking classes, food tours, and private boat trips along the Tiber.
Lungotevere Arnaldo da Brescia, 2, Rome 00196
Italy
http://www.palazzodama.com/
+39 06-8956-5272