Have had to add a last minute 2 night stay to my Italy trip in 2 weeks.

Suggestions on a great hotel in Rome? Close to shops, food and a nice view?

Looked at the Hassler, Eden and a couple of others and rates are sky high so close to booking, Hilton is booked out, as are quite a few others

Best hotel - Hote de Russie.

Best boutique hotel (bed & breakfast only) Portrait Suites.

Thanks!
Just checked both..and both no availability!

OK, so you will have to compromise. Try hotel Raphael in Rome - small and not perfect by any means, but OK. If you can consider being just outside Rome, then try Park Hotel Villa Grazioli, or my favourite, La Posta Vecchia (about 30 mins drive from centre). Depends on whether you are there for leisure or business. If business, then obviously no good.

The Rome part of the trip is partly for business and do need to be as central as possible for one person...never been to Rome before and want a safe location and hotel. Outside the city centre is probably not a great option.

Will be using a driver for airport pick up/return, but no other car during the 2 days.

I'm a little hesitant to suggest this in the Luxury Hotel forum, as it is a solid business hotel but not luxury. Regardless, I will go ahead. As background, I used to go to Rome regularly on business. I loved staying in the historic city center. Of all the places I tried (Eden, Intercontinental, Inghilterra), this is the hotel to which I returned over and over.

Hotel Minerva

It is adjacent to the Pantheon, and is a wonderful location. All I had to do was walk to the outdoor cafes by the Pantheon, sit, have a beverage, and have a wonderful sense of place. There were good restaurants within a 2 or 3 block walk. And really, from here, I would walk to almost anywhere in the historic heart of the city.

The Eden and the Intercontinental have a wide range of rooms, and it is possible to get one that is very small. The Minerva is much more consistent in room size. Rooms aren't amazing but neither are they awful - and I have had awful at the prior two.

There is also the St. Regis. I have a trip report on this forum.

I can't put my finger on why, or name a better option, but I absolutely hated the Hotel de Russie. Maybe it's because I just didn't want to be in Rome at the time and I was letting that color my opinion of the hotel.

Hotel Locarno. It's neither grand nor luxury. But there must be a reason why it is the most legendary hotel in Rome. Home of artists, poets, scientists. Alain Elkann has just written a novel about it.

Must not be my week!

Miernva, St Regis, Eden all have nothing, and Inter only 2 of the 3 nights I now need!

AHHHHHHH!

I can see myself ending up in some dodgy B&B with no aircon!

I visited Rome in 2007 and stayed at the Empire Palace Hotel Close enough to things but away from throngs of tourists. My friend and I really liked it and the service was top notch.

Granted it was 4 years ago, but I have recommended the hotel to other people and they liked it too.

Did you try Hotel Raphael? It's a Relais & Chateaux.

Hotel Forty Seven is fine and well located.

^
My biggest disappointment ever with Savoy in London (before refurbishment).
Hotel de Russie has nothing special, I wish I had stayed at St-Regis or Hassler.

Try the Excelsior. It's in a great location and it's very nice. We've stayed at the Hassler, LOVE it!, but sometimes the "Luxury Collection" has good deals that include the Excelsior in Rome. Good luck!