Orient Express La Minerva — Hotel in Rome

This is the very first hotel under the Orient Express brand, newly opened this spring. We were already excited before arriving, and from the moment we checked in, everything exceeded expectations. At the entrance, the handsome front desk staff greeted us warmly with “We are waiting for you”—a simple phrase that instantly made us feel at home. From reception Viola to doormen, the service was consistently outstanding. Truly an amazing team!

Breakfast deserves a special mention. The live harp performance was stunning, and every restaurant staff member deserves 10/10, especially Luna. Their warm conversations each morning and thoughtful recommendations—like trying ricotta cheese with honey—made every breakfast both delightful and memorable.

The hotel pays incredible attention to detail. Due to an accident, I suffer from herniated disc, so the comfort of the room is especially important to me. The luxurious room design, elegant bathrooms, welcome fruit plate, super comfortable bed and minibar drinks all reflect a refined European “old-money” style. Even the hallways, elevators, and restaurant interiors show the brand’s dedication to quality. Both the design and the service were absolutely satisfying. The attention to every detail made me feel as if I were truly at home.

The location is excellent—perfect for both dining and sightseeing in Rome. Of course, Rome has so many attractions that we couldn’t see them all this time, but without hesitation, we will choose this hotel again on our next visit.

We didn’t see many Asian guests during our stay, so when I return to Taiwan, I’ll definitely recommend this hotel for sure. I genuinely loved our stay here and highly recommend Orient Express La Minerva to anyone visiting Rome！ My best wish to this...

This is a review of just their rooftop bar.

While I will argue a near objectivity for my 5 stars for something like The Palazzo Barberini, I am fully aware my 5 stars here are extraordinarily personal, subjective, and idiosyncratic. So take that as you will...

On a night in early October, starting to grow just too cold to sit outside, just as all the dinner service seemed about wrapped up, my wife and I asked if we could come in and just sit and have a bottle of wine.

Of course. Prego.

We picked out one of the cheapest, happily a Shiraz, maybe 35 Euros. Heat lamps every once in awhile wafted some precious warmth at us where we sat on the edge of the roof. They gave us marcona almonds, the nicest bowl of nuts we received in Rome. I don't remember if there were olives. We drank wine, pondering the fascinating rooftops of the baroque city, the intriguingly bland facades of gothic Sopra Minerva, and the ancient, massive wonder of the flanks of The Pantheon.

After not long we were alone, as patrons, in the large rooftop restaurant bar. We changed seats. A grand piano player regaled us with the cheesiest romantic pop hits of the seventies, making them deliciously charming through the alchemy of situation, time, and a heavy Italian accent.

Among thirty days of fabulous romance, this, this...

The name should be ‘Hotel ‘Dey Got Some Grand ‘Nerve!’ HUMAN ILTH! INEXCUSABLE! SCHIFOSISSIMO!!

Yeah, that’s right! ‘Dey got some GRAND ‘NERVE charging $700/night for the HUMAN FILTH that we encountered in our Junior Suite on a 2-night stay. I will now be reporting this hotel to SISP (the public health department in Rome), as the hotel has not responded to any of my emails or letters that I mailed to the management.

Apart from the old dingy carpeting, dust-covered windowsills, and filthy curtains, the 5-star rating was not enough for whoever was in charge of housekeeping to bother to routinely inspect the sanitary conditions of the bathroom. The corners of the floors had not been cleaned, nor had the wall tiles, as they had a veneer of scummy film on them, but the WORST was the 12” band of STICKY INVISIBLE GOO that had accumulated on the wall tiles adjacent to the toilet bowl! WE ALL KNOW WHAT GOES IN AND WHAT CAN JUMP BACK OUT of a toilet…ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING!!! AND THIS IS A 5-STAR HOTEL! We paid $700/night for this! The place should be condemned. INEXCUSABLE, INEXCCUSABLE, INEXCUSABLE! I have been in cleaner bathrooms on US...