Introduction As we know, Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese opened its doors after a thorough refurbishment this summer. I stayed at the hotel for a few nights roughly a month after it reopened. Background My previous stay at Sofitel in Rome was disappointing. The hotel was in poor condition, the service indifferent and the platinum treatment minimal.Hotel management seemed to take my feedback seriously, I received a partial refund as compensation and I was welcomed back to experience the new hotel after the renovation. A guest relations manager promised to take care of my booking herself.Prior to my stay, I emailed her but she had moved to another property in Rome. However, a general manager was kind enough to do a reservation for me. He offered a special rate which, quite frankly, was still rather high, almost 400€ per night. Practically, I received a flexible rate for the price of non-flexible rate with free breakfast. Arrival A taxi driver dropped me off at the hotel around noon. The first thing I paid attention to was the white painted facade. The building used to be yellow.The same color theme continues inside. Gone is the previous old-fashion décor including red carpets, crystal chandeliers, dark wooden wardrobes and other antique furniture. Fortunately.Jean-Philippe Nuel, French interior designer who also is behind the refurbishment of Molitor hotel in Paris, has transformed the tired palazzo into a modern and minimalist boutique hotel. Check In I was directed to a reception that consisted of two separate green desks, resembling giant diamonds. I had booked a superior room and received one-level upgrade to a luxury room. Quite disappointing.I saw that the next category, a prestige suite, was still available on Accor’s mobile app and I was asked whether I would like to pay 300€ for the suite upgrade. I politely declined.The hotel upgraded my room by the book and thus I don’t have reason to complain as such. On the other hand, I don’t understand why they couldn’t put me in suite that anyway was available. They had the opportunity to impress me but decided not to. Platinum members gets exactly same treatment as gold members since there isn’t lounge at the hotel.I was then informed that my luxury room wasn’t ready yet. Since I had to wait about an hour I went for lunch. When collecting keycards, a welcome drink voucher for two persons was also given. It could be used for anything, champagne included. I had a signature cocktail (20€). Room The hotel has three room categories which are superior, luxury and suite. My almost all-white luxury room was on the second highest 6th floor facing south, peaceful Via Lombardia.The room wasn’t very spacious, quite small actually: 28 sqm, only 3 sqm larger than the superior room! I asked to see both room types and the difference was very, very minimal – as one might think.There was only one lounging chair in the luxury room. I wonder where the possible other guest sits. I requested another chair since I was traveling with my partner. Luckily, it was soon delivered.The room also included a coffee table but no separate desk so the basic rooms aren’t perfect for business purposes. The bed was ever excellent Sofitel MyBed.Amenities included Illy coffee machine, Dammann Frères teas, three bottles of water (replenish daily), and the typical good Hermès bath products. Yet, I don’t know where the luxury was since all amenities are exactly the same in every room category.Air conditioner wasn’t working properly. Every time I opened balcony doors, the air condition stopped working and it had to be fixed by a technician. This was done three times. After that it worked.Welcome gift was a delicious, albeit small fruit platter. I have to say I expected a little bit more, considering how expensive the hotel is and how small the difference between the booked and the upgraded room is.A day before check out, a guest relations manager called me and asked how is everything. I gave her my straight feedback. After that I moved to prestige suite.The corner suite on the 6th floor was really comfortable and large, more like a small apartment. It had two small balconies and windows pointed three directions. The interior design was similar than in superior and luxury rooms.Sofitel Rome has seven suites now. Earlier they only had three. My recommendation is to book the suite since the upgrade game is nothing but gambling, plus the fact that superior and luxury rooms are nothing special. Service Hit and miss, really. The front desk staff were kind and helpful but the turndown service wasn’t done every evening. One evening I requested some more water and toiletries but neither of them were delivered when I came back a few hours later. Dining Breakfast is served in the beautiful rooftop restaurant, Settimo, that becomes a fancy dinner place in the evening. One can sit either inside or outside on the terrace. Style is garden-like and focus of the cuisine is local.Breakfast selection is decent. Especially pastries and sweat treats are to die for. All the food, wines and cocktails I tried in the dinner service were delicious with one exception, vitello tonnato, that was tasteless.Service was rushed and inaccurate: dishes were brought to table before wine orders were taken, food got cold when waiting for the wines, and I was charged for something I didn’t order. Location The location is as good as before, naturally: away from the hustle and bustle and yet in the middle of city. One can listen nature’s sounds wafting from the beautiful Borghese park that is practically across the street. And just behind the corner are many restaurants, shops and sights. Piazza di Spagna and Fontana di Trevi, for example, can be reached in 10 minutes by foot. Overall The hotel is a nice base in Rome but it’s expensive even to be Sofitel. In my opinion, I paid way too much for what I got in return (except the last night in sute). It’s definitely not the best Sofitel but it probably is the best Accor hotel in Rome. I think the hotel would fit better into MGallery than Sofitel collection. Gym There isn’t many facilities at the property. A very small fitness room is new at the hotel but personally I would have appreciated more a spa with swimming pool and sauna. In addition to the gym, there is only the Settimo restaurant. It’s pretty lame for a five-star luxury hotel.