An address suspended between discreet elegance, sustainable vision, and a rooftop that looks upon the city from a different perspective.
In the heart of Rome, between Villa Borghese and Via Veneto, the Sofitel Roma Villa Borghese stands out for an elegance that has no need to flaunt itself. It is a soft luxury, almost whispered — one that is felt more than seen.
The atmosphere here is different, almost European in the most authentic sense of the word: a subtle balance between Rome and Paris, between identity and dialogue. This is not a French hotel transplanted into Italy, but a place where two cultures meet and recognize each other. Even the brand’s symbol — two interlocking rings — tells exactly this story: France binding itself to the destination without overshadowing it.
Housed in a nineteenth-century palazzo and completely reimagined in 2019 by architect Jean-Philippe Nuel, the Sofitel Roma Villa Borghese is today the smallest Sofitel in the world — and the only one in Italy. An intimate scale that becomes an asset: more attention, more intimacy, more precision in the details.
The rooms, bright and enveloping, play on light tones and refined materials, creating an immediate sense of calm. Comfort becomes a sensory experience, enhanced by the Sofitel MyBed™, while small rituals — such as the candle ritual, when at dusk the lights dim, evoking what once happened in the Ville Lumière — contribute to an atmosphere that feels suspended, almost outside of time.
It is precisely this sensation of suspension that is one of the hotel’s most distinctive elements. The eyes become the protagonists: the privileged position offers unique glimpses of the city, making guests feel they inhabit another dimension, somewhere between sky and Rome.
The hotel’s contemporary spirit also manifests in a new vision of responsibility. After obtaining the Green Key certification, the Sofitel has recently also achieved BREEAM — an international system that assesses the sustainability of buildings and infrastructure.
Two different but complementary recognitions: while Green Key focuses on operational management — energy consumption, waste reduction, and staff and guest engagement — BREEAM concerns the structure itself, its environmental impact, and its performance over time. A dual level of commitment that speaks to something real and structural, not merely proclaimed.
The kitchen follows the same ethos, with a growing focus on sustainability and mindful resource management. Above all, it reflects that ongoing dialogue between Italy and France that lies at the heart of the Sofitel concept, both in its food and beverage offering.
On the seventh floor, the rooftop is home to Settimo Roman Cuisine & Terrace, where nature seems to permeate the space and the view — from the dome of St. Peter’s to Villa Medici — amplifies a sense of openness. Here, chef Giuseppe D’Alessio interprets Roman cuisine through technique and contemporary sensibility, with a French touch that never intrudes. Not a fusion, but a conversation.
Rome is never merely a backdrop. It is a visual language, an attitude, an aesthetic that allows itself to be traversed and reinterpreted. It is in this spirit that it enters the Netflix series Emily in Paris, bringing with it a new narrative of the city.
Among the locations chosen, the Sofitel Roma Villa Borghese stands out for a scene filmed on the panoramic terrace of Settimo Roman Cuisine & Terrace, where the interplay of relationships and lightness finds an immediately recognizable visual setting.
Emily Cooper — played by Lily Collins — accustomed to moving through Parisian atmospheres, here traverses Rome with fresh eyes, offering a story that is at once glamorous and surprisingly intimate.
Adding another layer to this dialogue is executive chef Giuseppe D’Alessio, who translated the spirit of the series into a signature dish: the tortello di carbonara — a contemporary reinterpretation of Roman tradition, enriched with pecorino foam and prized truffle, reimagined with elegance and precision. A dish that, not by chance, also speaks to the contemporary imagination — evoking the world of Emily in Paris, where aesthetics and storytelling intertwine.
Equally deliberate is the creation of the Trevi Royal, a cocktail made with raspberry, cassis, and Champagne, finished with a small chocolate coin to “toss” into the glass — an evocative gesture echoing the Trevi Fountain and that quintessentially Roman promise of returning once more.
And as the day slips into evening, the rooftop transforms into one of the city’s most evocative settings. Aperitivo becomes a slow ritual, immersed in a Rome that seems to recede into the distance — while everything invites you to stay.
Images: Sofitel Roma
