Soho House Rome: The Coolest Hotel In The City
Heading to Rome and got your eye on the shiny new opening from Soho House? I checked in earlier this year for a weekend exploring the city. Read on to find out why it’s worth a visit.
What is Soho House?
Soho House is a private members club started in 1995 by Nick Jones, in a bid to create a space for local artists and actors in London. It came from humble beginnings, with the first “house” opening in the space above Nick’s restaurant, the French brasserie, Cafe Boheme.
These days, you can still find Cafe Boheme in the heart of Soho. And whilst the restaurant remains relatively unchanged, Soho House has established itself as a global brand. It’s a place to connect, be inspired and re-charge. Or, simply to while away the evening with good conversation and a Picante.
Do I need a membership to stay?
Yes and no. If you want to go alone, yes you need a membership. But as each member can bring 3 guests with them, if you know someone with a membership, you can visit with them as a guest. But ultimately, yes, one person will need a membership for you to stay.
Where is Soho House Rome?
You’ll find Soho House tucked away in San Lorenzo, a part of town not frequented much by tourists. It’s charming, and feels very local, but location is what lets this hotel down in my opinion. You can’t walk to any of the main sights, and the transport system in Rome leaves a lot to be desired, so we found ourselves grabbing taxi’s most of the time.
First impressions
On the corner of Via Cesare de Lollis, the pastel-pink building Soho House calls home demands attention. Most Soho House properties are old, full of history and given a new lease of life during the renovation. Their Rome outpost, however, is a new build, and you could argue it looks slightly out of place nestled amongst the architecture in ancient Rome, but I was a big fan of the contrast.
Stepping inside, you’re instantly enveloped in the familiarity of Soho House. The biggest reason I love visiting their hotels is that the service is unrivalled, and our stay in Rome only solidified why I love it. From the moment we walked in staff couldn’t do enough for us, we’d landed much earlier than check-in, but our room was ready and they took our bags up straight away. And they were only too happy to help with restaurant recommendations – giving us a hand-scrawled list of their favourite spots in the city.
The bedrooms at Soho House Rome
There’s 49 bedrooms and 20 long-stay apartments at the hotel, and each one adopts excellent design and functionality, as is standard across all the Houses.
Expect a king-sized bed as standard, complete with the signature Soho House bedding (the bedding is actually one of my favourite things about these hotels – it’s just so comfy).
There’s 10 different room types to choose from:
Tiny
- 20 sq m
- King size bed
- Sleeps two
Small
- 26 sq m
- King size bed
- Sleeps two
Medium
- 31 sq m
- King size bed
- Sleeps two
- Balcony
- Option of twin beds
Big
- 39 sq m
- King size bed
- Sleeps two
- Freestanding bath
- Balcony
Large
- 44 sq m
- King size bed
- Sleeps two
- Freestanding bath
- Balcony
XXL
- 114 sq m
- King size bed
- Sleeps two
- Freestanding bath
- Balcony
Studio
- 33 sq m
- King size bed
- Sleeps two
- Kitchen
- Dining and lounge area
One-bed apartment
- 45 sq m
- King size bed
- Sleeps two
- Kitchen
- Dining and lounge area
Two-bed apartment
- 74 sq m
- Two king size beds
- Sleeps four
- Kitchen
- Dining and lounge area
Three-bed apartment
- 130 sq m
- Three king size bed
- Sleeps six
- Kitchen
- Dining and lounge area
We checked into a Medium room and it was absolutely stunning. Undoubtedly one of my favourite hotel rooms I’ve ever stayed in. Bright, airy interiors opened up to a spacious balcony. A slight drawback for us was that we were overlooking a building site, and it was quite an eyesore on the otherwise enviable view over Rome.
The devils in the detail at Soho House, there’s Cowshed toiletries for you to use during your stay, and travel size ones for you to take home. In the bedside drawers, you’ll find universal travel adapters. Small things like this are what elevate a hotel stay for me.
What’s the food & drink like at Soho House Rome?
Cecconi’s
You could argue that it’s a brave decision to open an Italian restaurant in Rome, but Cecconi’s is a Soho House institution, so it’s only right it finds a home here. Expect creamy burrata, carpaccio, homemade pasta and plenty of seafood, alongside the classic wood-fired pizzas.
House kitchen
You can also grab food from the House Kitchen on the 9th floor featuring Soho House classics. We started our trip with a Cacio e Pepe and whilst it wasn’t as good as the ones we sampled in the city, it was a pretty good runner-up.
What amenities are there at Soho House Rome?
Photo Credit – Soho House Rome
Soho Health Club
On the 7th and 8th floors of Soho House Rome, you’ll find the health club. There’s a gym, a cryogenic chamber therapy, an ozone machine session, a massage, and classes, including yoga sessions, on the balcony.
Rooftop pool
The 10th-floor rooftop has an outdoor pool with views overlooking the city. It wasn’t open when we visited, but having been to other Soho House’s with a similar setup, I know it’ll be the perfect place to relax on a summer’s day.
Cinema
They’ll shortly be opening a 42-seat cinema, perfect for those rainy evenings when you fancy staying in.
How much does Soho House Rome cost?
Rooms start from €160 per night
So, is it worth it?
I’m a big fan of the Soho House brand, and their Rome outpost didn’t disappoint. Most of the bedrooms have balconies, and we were able to enjoy ours even in February. The service was brilliant, there’s plenty of choice food-wise, and the amenities are unrivalled. Book a stay here, and I’ll doubt you’ll be disappointed.
