The Orient Express has long been associated with the world of luxury. This legendary experience provides guests with an indulgent escape in a timeless glamorous hotel.
This year, the sophisticated experience finds a new home in the heart of Rome. The Orient Express La Minerva is the brand’s first ever hotel, where heritage architecture and elevated hospitality unite to bring a new level of luxury to the Eternal City.
Situated in the 17th-century Grand Hotel de la Minerve, Orient Express La Minerva opened in April 2025 as the brand’s first hotel. This is a bold move and a strong first statement as the brand expands beyond their legendary train voyages.
Nestled on Piazza della Minerva, less than 200 metres from the Pantheon, the hotel offers a serene yet central base for discovering Rome’s historic treasures. Its location near Piazza Navona, Campo de’ Fiori, and the Spanish Steps makes it impossibly convenient for travellers.
Architect and designer Hugo Toro, the Paris-based AD100 talent, spearheaded the Grand Hotel de la Minerve’s transformation.
Toro drew deep inspiration from Rome’s layered aesthetic, he layered Art Deco elegance and contemporary refinement onto the palazzo's authentic Roman architecture.
The restoration of the property preserves original elements like the statue of Minerva and marble columns, set beneath a newly installed glass-domed drawing room that serves as the vibrant hotel bar lobby.
The hotel contains 93 rooms and 36 suites, each uniquely crafted to reflect Rome’s eclectic personality. Spaces range from 25 sqm classic rooms to 235 sqm luxury suites, including the standout Stendhal Suite named for the famed French writer who once stayed here.
At La Minerva, no two rooms are alike: guests can expect bespoke bedside trunks, woven-leather wardrobes, hand-painted ceilings, sculptural pedestal sinks, shell-shaped travertine sinks, and vintage record players.
Some rooms feature original frescoes or panoramic terraces with views over the Pantheon and Bernini’s iconic elephant statue.
La Minerva Bar, housed beneath a glass roof and flanked by marble columns, offers Mediterranean snacks and cocktails in view of the goddess Minerva statue. A mix of history and elegance.
Set to open in May 2025, Gigi Rigolatto crowns the rooftop with Riviera-inspired dining and one of Rome’s most spectacular 360-degree views, encompassing St. Peter’s Basilica, the Pantheon, and Altare della Patria.
Later in 2025, wooing food and cocktail lovers will be Mimi Kakushi, an award-winning concept inspired by 1920s Osaka, offering a refined East-meets-West experience.
Guests receive signature luxury with 24/7 “conductor” service via WhatsApp, bespoke minibars stocked with Italian goods, and access to multiple event spaces like the glamorous 165 sqm, Olimpo Ballroom which features marble sculptures by Rinaldo Rinaldi, and vintage-forward meeting venues themed after Orient Express carriages.
The hotel also proudly holds Green Globe Certification, using locally sourced cuisine, avoiding single-use plastics, and upholding Italian hospitality ethos.
Orient Express La Minerva sets a new standard in Rome’s luxury hotel scene. A hotel that melds history, design, and service under one iconic romance-filled roof.
This is more than just an item to tick off your bucketlist. It’s a tribute to the golden age of travel, reimagined for the modern connoisseur. With its arrival in Rome, the Orient Express now boasts its most stylish address, where art, architecture, and hospitality converge in unmistakable Italian grace.
