On an ancient street leading to the Tiber River, this hotel set in an old mansion blends contemporary elegance with Italian charm in a location perfect for exploring Italy’s most famous city.
Tucked away on a quiet street in the ancient heart of Rome, Hotel Vilon is truly one of the city’s best kept secrets. We nearly passed the hotel as we walked by the Fendi store and private suites nearby. However, once you step through the door and past the small entryway, it’s like entering a vibrant, bright and fairytale-like atmosphere.
The hotel feels like a natural extension of the outdoors with plants everywhere and bright textures, cool art and unique knick knacks adorning the walls. Every inch of this place feels elegant, but with an Italian charm too. With some of Rome’s best sights and shopping nearby, it’s the perfect place to escape on a Roman getaway.
Hotel Vilon is set inside a historic mansion that once belonged to the famous Borghese family. The building dates back to the 16th Century and has been carefully restored to preserve that old-world luxury, but also introduce a bit of a modern touch.
The property itself was held by the Borghese family for hundreds of years before becoming a school for girls and recently transformed by the Italian-based Shedir Collection. This privately-owned developer specializes in luxury hospitality and real estate and their attention to detail in recreating its ancient splendor has paid off.
The hotel has its own atmosphere from the moment you walk in. It has an art deco and modern feel with the artwork and décor and this sense of sophistication with its hundreds of years of history. It feels like absolutely everything has been thought through here to turn it into a stunning place to stay. It’s no wonder this property is popular among celebrities – even Harry and Meghan have stayed here!
“Hotel Vilon is set inside a historic mansion that once belonged to the famous Borghese family. The building dates back to the 16th Century and has been carefully restored to preserve that old-world luxury, but also introduce a bit of a modern touch. ”
This is a boutique hotel with only 18 rooms and suites available. Each one is flooded with natural light and has a cozy ambiance to feel like your own oasis in the center of the city.
You can choose one of the “Charming” rooms with a king-sized bed and marble bathroom complete with a rain-shower. These rooms either overlook the inner patio, the city or opt for a garden view with the Palazzo Borghese’s private garden in front of you. There are also “Terrace” rooms with all the luxuries of the other rooms, but with the addition of a private, furnished terrace so you can sip a cappuccino in your own little piece of Rome.
For a bit more extravagance, Hotel Vilon offers suites for more spacious accommodations with extras like jacuzzi bathtubs and sitting areas. The Junior Suites are around 450-500 square feet and overlook Via dell'Arancio or the Palazzo Borghese garden. The Vilon Suite covers over 900 square feet and features a living area with velvet armchairs and a private Turkish bath. This suite can also be connected with a Charming Room for a family stay. The final suites are the Terrace Suites with private terraces looking out onto the Palazzo Borghese garden. These suites are on the second floor with an abundance of natural light and 800 square feet of space.
Hotel Vilon is set on a cobbled one-way street that leads to the beautiful Tiber River. It’s the perfect base to explore the small alleys and streets of the Eternal City where you can easily do some shopping, find a café or see the sights Rome is so famous for.
The hotel is walking distance from from many of Rome's most iconic places like the Spanish Steps, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and Piazza Navona. The incredible Colosseum and Vatican City are only a 30-minute stroll away after you leave the front doors. For a bit of designer shopping, Via del Corso with all its incredible boutiques is just down the street.
“Hotel Vilon is walking distance from many of Rome’s most iconic places including the Spanish Steps, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and Piazza Navona. ”
For delicious Mediterranean cuisine, Hotel Vilon’s restaurant Adelaide is the place to be. Named in honor of the Princess Borghese, this restaurant has that traditional Italian hospitality paired with authentic Italian flavors brought to life by Executive Chef Gabriele Muro.
We came here for lunch with my entire family of six adults and two kids. It was wonderful to share a typical Roman meal (upgraded just a bit!) in a stunning location. We dined overlooking the patio and the space made me feel like I was in the garden room of an eccentric creative person. It’s a bohemian space that feels fabulous, elegant and chic! The food was wonderful and our parents were impressed with the Cacio e Pepe and our kids loved the Carbonara and bread.
We were so blown away by the food, we came back for dinner! For this meal, we ordered a wide array of dishes and each one amazed us with the creativity and meticulous attention to detail. Even my appetizer of “Some Carrots over the Rainbow” was mind blowing with its creamy, crispy and spiced carrots. We also ordered an array of pasta dishes to share like, Rigatoni all'Amatriciana and the Carbonara, and some more intriguing dishes like Guinea Fowl breast and a delicious Porcini mushroom option with pulled beef, cocoa crumble and celery gel. For dessert, I can’t forget the incredible Honey mousse with orange namelaka, cream and honey gelato!
With a menu that changes with the seasons, it’s easy to come back and try something new. Adelaide has such an intimate, quiet and romantic feel, I want to come back for a special date night … and leave the kids at home!
While a luxury boutique hotel set in the heart of Rome may not seem like a naturally kid-friendly place, we were so pleasantly surprised by Hotel Vilon. Our kids were graciously welcomed and loved it here. Even for lunch and dinner at Adelaide, the chefs made some accommodations for our kids and genuinely wanted to make sure they were well taken care of.
The Hotel Vilon is a beautiful hotel whether you’re on your own Roman Holiday or just visiting the city for business. The design and location of the hotel makes it feel like a little piece of home in Italy and you’re only steps away from all the places that make Rome special. I also have to mention the staff here – the team members are exceptional at ensuring you have everything you need. We can’t wait to return here again!
