Hotel de Russie
By Albert & Nouri Beesemer — booked and paid for by us. No sponsored placements. Ever.
The terraced Secret Garden is one of the great hotel gardens in Europe, and the bar terrace at aperitivo hour is the reason people come back. A Rocco Forte landmark.
- City
- Rome
- Neighborhood
- PIAZZA DEL POPOLO
The VV Review
Hotel de Russie, a Rocco Forte hotel just off Piazza del Popolo, is defined by its garden — the terraced "Secret Garden" rising behind the hotel is one of the great hotel gardens in Europe, and the bar terrace (Stravinskij Bar) at aperitivo hour is a genuine Rome institution, the reason people return again and again. The hotel itself is a polished, classic-modern luxury property, but the garden and that golden-hour Negroni are the soul of the place.
First Impressions
A discreet entrance off Piazza del Popolo opening to the terraced garden rising behind — the green theater that sets the de Russie apart.
The Rooms
Polished classic-contemporary luxury in the Rocco Forte register — generous and refined; garden-facing rooms are the ones to request.
Food & Drink
The Stravinskij Bar terrace at aperitivo hour is the institution — a Negroni in the Secret Garden is one of Rome's great rituals. Worth the price of a drink even if you're not staying.
The Neighborhood
Piazza del Popolo, on Via del Babuino — top of the historic center, walkable to the Spanish Steps, the Corso, and Villa Borghese.
Hotel de Russie is worth it for the garden alone — one of Europe's great hotel gardens and the best aperitivo terrace in Rome. Come at golden hour and understand why people keep coming back.
What We Loved
The terraced Secret Garden is Rome's best place to see and be seen — particularly at aperitivo hour in the winter months, when the garden is lit and the city's most interesting people gather here. Consistently one of the great hotel outdoor spaces in Europe.
Rocco Forte properties deliver a specific and reliable kind of luxury. De Russie is one of his finest — the location, the staff, the physical plant all operating at maximum output.
The best piazza in Rome for a hotel address. The twin churches, the obelisk, the view toward the Borghese gardens — and the neighborhood that radiates from it is residential and genuine.
The Rocco Forte spa here is among the better hotel spa facilities in Rome. The treatment menu reflects the broader Irene Forte philosophy.
Worth Knowing Before You Book
- 01The garden fills up for aperitivo. Arrive early or reserve a table.
- 02The hotel restaurant is one of the better hotel restaurants in Rome — non-guests book it, which is the reliable signal.
- 03Piazza del Popolo is north of the historic center. It is quiet and residential, but transport is required for most of the major sites.
- 04The hotel runs events and private functions. On busy weekends, the garden can feel less intimate. Ask when booking.