It is hard to resist the pleasures of Rome, a city filled with world-renowned paintings; sculptures; thousands of colorful cafés; and hundreds of ancient buildings still standing and often used as offices, homes and museums. Certainly, Rome is the cradle from which all that is best about Italy emerged. It is difficult to open a new hotel in Rome without connecting it to the city’s history, art and culinary tradition. When Rome EDITION opened last year, it was the perfect fit for a city that lives and breathes all things extraordinary.

© Nikolas Koenig

Conceived in collaboration by global entrepreneur Ian Schrager and Marriott International, the 74-room, 17-suite Rome EDITION is all about sophistication and attention to detail. Since its opening, the property has attracted both guests and locals to its public spaces, culinary venues and meeting rooms. The hotel is just a few steps from la Veneto, one of the most vibrant streets in the city. Many of the most popular attractions in Rome are close by, including Piazza Barberini, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain and Borghese Gardens.

Built in the 1940s and formerly occupied by an Italian bank, the building now housing Rome EDITION was designed by Cesare Pascoletti and Marcello Piacentini. The hotel’s stunning central staircase of rare cipollino marble from the quarries of Apuane is testament to their artistic talent. Other original features saved include the courtyards, statues and lighting fixtures.

© Nikolas Koenig

Rome EDITION offers three bars, a rooftop lounge, bar and pool, a show-kitchen restaurant, a wellness space with gym and treatment rooms, and a courtyard garden. All 91 rooms and suites include the design and furnishings the EDITION brand is known for, meaning muted tones, accents of walnut wood and custom-designed furniture.

The hotel chose Paola Colucci as head chef. Known as one of the best chefs in Rome, she is a firm believer in the emotionality of food and the importance of interacting with her guests. Her kitchen at Rome EDITION’s signature restaurant Anima is open-fronted and screened with ambered glass. Alongside her best friend and business partner, Chiara Magliocchetti, Colucci’s two daughters, Alice and Flaminia Spognetta, make up the female-led culinary team. Menu items include the chef’s version of spaghetti with roasted tomatoes and veal with tuna sauce, as well as tomato and burrata. The light-filled restaurant, with chartreuse and blue upholstered furniture, is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

© Nikolas Koenig

The hotel also has a large and lush garden that is both a piazza and dining space. It is a unique Roman streetscape that leads into the heart of the hotel, an indoor-outdoor space with more than 400 plants and lots of jasmine tumbling over the façade. The garden provides outdoor seating for Anima on one side and a relaxed all-day terrace on the other, offering a menu of light dishes available throughout the day until late evening.

© Nikolas Koenig

The hotel’s lobby, with its 22-foot-high ceilings and porous travertine floors and walls, is like a work of art. Located on the ground floor are two unique bars, Punch Room and Jade Bar. Punch Room is an award-winning speakeasy-inspired bar concept that follows the standard set at other EDITION properties worldwide. Jade Bar is an intimate mixology destination designed to attract true connoisseurs and aficionados. Advanced techniques create a kaleidoscope of cocktails from a limited range of spirits and seasonal ingredients, effectively creating a gallery of flavor which changes throughout the year. The intimate, jewel box-like space has floor-to-ceiling green antique marble, picked out with accents of satin brass and gold. Located on the seventh floor, The Roof offers unobstructed views across the city and offers a large bar area and a travertine plunge pool. Here, Chef Colucci offers raw and cooked dishes inspired by the Mediterranean Sea.