Why book?
Hotel Maalot is a new five-star hotel that draws a young, upmarket crowd looking for colorful, individually-designed rooms outfitted with modern artwork and flea market finds. The restaurant and lobby area are slightly more soothing, with potted palms and low-slung rattan ceiling fans overlooking silky sofas and tiled tables.
Set the scene.
Miami contemporary art hung alongside 17th-century Roman frescoes. Zebra print armchairs beside bookcases of Taschen design bibles. Florentine bric-a-brac, zebra print armchairs, and potted palms. Maalot is more than a hotel: it’s the chic new go-to hang-out in Rome’s centro storico neighborhood, home to the Trevi Fountain, modern art space Galerie Sciarra, and shopping street Via del Corso. The 30 rooms, spread across four floors, attract a cool, creative crowd, but it’s the ground floor restaurant and bar that draws locals and visitors alike with its peacock-blue chesterfields, excellent house cocktails, and menu of Roman classics.
The backstory
RPM Studio design was enlisted by Shedir Hospitality group, the brains behind Rome’s elegant Hotel Vilon, to outfit the first ever Maalot property. From the outside, it’s unassuming: a plain wall opposite a McDonalds, tourists hurrying by. But take a closer look and you’ll spot the plaque noting that famed opera composer Gaetano Donizetti once lived here. Inside, it’s energetic and warm, with emerald walls and big mirrors, and a mishmash of Italian and American modern art at every turn.
The rooms
Rooms are bright, colorful, with lots of light. Bed headboards are big, boldly patterned, and bespoke. We’re talking maximalist here, but it works. The décor is eclectic: framed Vogue covers hang on rich, burnt red walls, while plump floral scatter cushions lie beside statement onyx lamps and delicate brass mirrors. Bathrooms are generous, with spa-style rain showers and black-and-white Calacatta Arabescato marble on both the floor and the walls. The one-bedroom suites come with a sofa bed, and all rooms offer views to Via del Corso, complete with a discreet window stool for people-watching.
Food and drink
The Don Pasquale restaurant is a talking point—so much so that the Maalot sells itself as a restaurant with rooms, rather than a hotel. Everything on the menu is classic Roman, from the breakfast Maritozzi (soft brioche buns stuffed with cream) to the classic cacio e pepe spaghetti. Standard hotel food also makes the list, including a club sandwich and the house burger.
The neighborhood/area
The Maalot is a refreshing change of pace from the faded hotels in Rome’s historical Trevi district. The area is a must-see, with its mix of monuments and must-see sights, including the Trevi fountain, the Pantheon, and Piazza Navona.
The service
Friendly but discreet. In other words, perfect.
Via delle Muratte, 78, Rome 00187
Italy
https://www.hotelmaalot.com/