San Anselmo

We have previously stayed at sister hotel “Hotel Aventino” which was wonderful so decided to try San Anselmo this time and we were not disappointed. The hotels are located up on Avertine Hill in a quiet neighbourhood and if you don’t mind walking they are in easy walking distance of all the major attractions. San Anselmo is a very well appointed boutique hotel with plenty of beautiful spaces to sit and relax inside and out. Our deluxe double room was absolutely gorgeous, very comfortably, clean and spacious. The bathroom was also very spacious and well appointed. Breakfast each morning was fabulous with plenty of choices with tea or coffee brought to your table. You can choose to eat in the dining room or out on the terrace in the garden. Staff were very professional, friendly and helpful. We stayed for three nights and thoroughly enjoyed our stay here and would highly recommend it to others.

Sweet boutique hotel in a renovated early 20th century villa on the Aventine hill, an upscale residential area. I would stay here again without hesitation. The whole property is nicely decorated and well maintained. Everything clean and in working order. Many or all of the rooms are uniquely decorated so that no two are alike. My room had a small terrace and lots of sunlight during the day. Other rooms may be different. The hotel and neighborhood are quiet all day and night. Excellent reception, breakfast room, and housekeeping staff. Everyone I encountered was friendly and efficient. The San Anselmo is part of a three-property hotel group along with the San Pio (around the corner) and the Aventino (down the street). Each hotel has its own breakfast room and, I believe, bar, but the restaurant (called The Hill) is in the San Pio. The Hill is good-traditional Roman dishes with a twist served in a relaxed atmosphere with excellent service. The Aventine hill starts out at a moderate incline but gets steep toward the top, which is where the hotel is located. I stayed on the Aventine hill in order to be away from the crowds and noise that surround most of Rome’s major and minor attractions—but within an inexpensive taxi or easy walk to them. A taxi to the Vatican cost 11 euros. A walk back from the Pantheon took 30 minutes but it’s Rome so it’s a lovely walk! Tip: Mercato di Testaccio, down the Aventine hill in the Testaccio area, is the local covered but open air fruit, vegetable, meat, and bakery market and food hall.

We stayed in an 'economy' room (I think it was called) and it was small, perhaps not unexpectedly, but was beautiful. Each member of staff, day and night, were just exceptionally friendly and helpful. The breakfast was varied and good quality, and the hotel building itself in a quiet area and the building a stunning old home. The area was high end, probably higher a few decades ago, and the only downside (but not a big one) was that it was on top of a hill to which you had to return each time you came back from eating or sightseeing - it was uphill (but only ten minutes) which seemed painful after a tiring day of traipsing the streets of Rome. But again, the staff - the best people.

If you want a peaceful location in Rome, but still close to much of what Rome has to offer, this is a great choice. The room was well appointed and comfortable-- charming and luxe rolled into one. Service was impeccable, and it provided a surprisingly good value. You're just a quick walk from the Keyhole on Aventine Hill, and some spectacular views of the Eternal City. A potential minor issue for some people: you won't have a ton of restaurants within a five minute walk. But there are plenty of good choices beyond that. If you're okay with that, you can't go wrong. If (and when) we return to Rome, we will probably stay here (or one of their sister hotels)