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This review is for the Intercontinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace. A luxury hotel in the centre of Rome.
I struggled a little while to find the right adjective to describe to describe this hotel. After all, there’s no swimming pool, no hotel lounge and the hotel is rather expensive.
However, I settled on the word magnificent, to describe the hotel It’s truly magnificent. Everything about the hotel radiates luxury. From the high ceilings in the rooms, to the lovely rooftop bar, to the downstairs lobby. The hotel has a beautiful classical décor and is in a great location. A truly Roman experience.
I had two night at the hotel with my family and really enjoyed our time here. As well as being a slice of old European luxury, it also has a fabulous location. Within walking distance of the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps and the Colosseum. It’s a great base for a sightseeing trip. While being just far enough away to get a bit of quiet.
This is a detailed review, so you’ll know exactly what to expect when you visit. I made sure to take loads of photos. Each photo can be clicked to open out the full slideshow.
A quick word before we get into the detail. If you've been hunting through intercontinental rome reviews trying to work out whether the price is justified, here's the number that stopped me short. The cheapest refundable room was €1,370 for two nights, and the premium room I ended up in would have cost €1,700.
If you're piecing together a Rome trip like mine, a couple of things saved me real hassle. Welcome Picks handled the airport run at a fair fixed price while Uber wanted €60 to €80, and Viator is where I book the 5-star local tours that made the sightseeing days sing. Both sit alongside the rest of the deals I actually use over on my Recommended Resources page — have a browse before you go.
I stayed for two nights at the Intercontinental Rome. The cash price for the cheapest refundable room was €1,370 for two nights. This is clearly a lot of money for two nights at a hotel. Before writing these intercontinental rome reviews, I wanted to test the value as honestly as possible.
I had an Intercontinental Ambassador weekend night voucher. So I got two nights for the price of one — I paid €685 to stay for two nights. As an Intercontinental Ambassador, I also got a €20 voucher, an upgrade to a premium room, a free drinks voucher to use at the bar and a free bottle of wine.
The cost of the premium room (which I stayed in) was €1,700 for two nights. For the drinks voucher, I used €50 worth of drinks. The benefits I got as an Intercontinental Ambassador were pretty insane. I got over €1,100 of extra value for my two-night stay.
Intercontinental Ambassador is a paid membership scheme. It costs $225 per year (roughly €225). It provides the following benefits:
Sign up to the Intercontinental Ambassador here.
Given that I saved €1,100 ($1,100) on this one stay at the Intercontinental Rome. Clearly my $225 subscription was worth it!
On a different note. I could never have afforded to spend €1,700 for two nights at this hotel. Being an Intercontinental Ambassador gave me an experience to remember with my family.
I was staying as a family of four. We booked two rooms. My wife is also an Intercontinental Ambassador. She booked her room using the same trick.
If the InterContinental Ambassador maths has you eyeing up other properties in the chain, my InterContinental Miami Doral review is another luxury pick worth pointing your free night or points at.
Most Intercontinental Rome reviews will tell you the hotel sits right on Via Veneto, one of Rome's most famous and elegant streets. It found fame in the 1960s as the heart of the La Dolce Vita era, thanks to Fellini's film.
Checking Intercontinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace reviews before booking? You're 10 minutes' walk from the Trevi Fountain, 10 minutes from the Spanish Steps, and 30 minutes from the Colosseum. The Vatican is further out — about 35 minutes on foot, or 15 minutes by taxi. Getting to and from Rome Fiumicino Airport, about 50 minutes away, is the bit worth planning properly.
I always pre-book a taxi for hotel arrivals — less faff, especially with luggage. I use Welcome Pickups, which covers cities worldwide and gets you door to door with the price fixed up front. A local taxi from central Rome to Fiumicino has a flat €55 fare, which beats an Uber — I was quoted between €60 and €80 for the same run. Pre-booking means you skip that price uncertainty entirely, and the driver's simply there waiting when you land.
The train is the cheaper way in — fast, direct, no traffic to sit in. The fast train from Fiumicino, the RV train, has one stop and takes 30 minutes, costing €14 per person. That's decent value solo, though for two or more people the taxi works out better once you add it up. I book through Trainline to sort the ticket in advance, and the only real catch is the last stretch — the train stops at Roma Termini, which is a 20 minute walk from the hotel, so factor that in with bags.
Of all the cities I’ve been to, Rome is right up there with so many must see attractions. Similar to Vienna or Paris. I had 3 days and 2 nights in the city. I barely got a minute to breathe, as I was smashing through the best attractions.
The Trevi Fountain is 10 minutes from the Hotel. It’s absolutely stunning and a must see. It’s very busy. If you want to get the best photo, you’ll need to go just after sunrise.
The Spanish Steps are also 10 minutes' walk away from the hotel. They have recently banned tourists from sitting on the steps. This is actually enforced rather strictly. To prevent tourists from lingering too long on the steps.
The Colosseum is an ancient Roman amphitheatre. Built 2,000 years ago, it could hold over 50,000 people in its prime. It would host gladiator battles in Roman times, where they would fight to the death! Also a must see!
The Pantheon is 20 minutes' walk from the hotel. A stunning cathedral. That only costs €5 to enter.
The final item on my list has to be The Vatican City. The smallest country in the world. The headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church and the home of the Pope. St Stephens Basilica, The Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Square are places that every visitor to Rome must visit.
Ultimate Rome: Colosseum, Vatican Museums & Walking Tour
This is the big one. The day that covers the Colosseum, the Vatican Museums, and the historic centre in one go. Book your all-in-one ticket here from $265. It's rated 4.6* from over 2,600 reviews. You smash through the city's two biggest sights with a guide who actually knows what they're talking about. It's a long day — you'll be knackered — but you'll have seen the lot.
Rome Night Walking Tour: Ghosts, Legends & Haunted Rome
Fancy something a bit different? I do love a good ghost story. Book the night tour here for $34. Rated 4.9* from over 640 reviews. A guide takes you through the darker side of the Eternal City. The cobblestone streets hit different after dark.
Rome: Photo Shoot in Rome with Professional Photographer
I wish I'd done this. You can book a professional photo shoot here from $41. It's rated 4.9* from over 460 reviews. A local photographer takes you round the city and snaps you in front of the landmarks. You get a bunch of photos that aren't just selfies in front of the Trevi Fountain.
Browse all activities in Rome on Viator — hundreds of options beyond what I've covered here.
The InterContinental Rome is a beautifully luxurious city hotel. But the best intercontinental rome reviews will tell you it's more than just a pretty face — this is a genuine contender for best five-star in the city. Located over 5 floors, it blends old-world charm with modern luxury. I read plenty of intercontinental rome reviews before my stay, and I'm about to add my own honest verdict. It has the following facilities:
The first thing I would say is that there’s no swimming pool. Given that the hotel charges a super premium price, this is a little disappointing.
That being said, a stay at the hotel is definitely worth the money (even more so if you use an Intercontinental Ambassador). The hotel design is beautiful and luxurious wherever you are. The lobby is small, but it leads on to the lounge bar and restaurants. Which are super classy.
The hotel reminds me a lot of the Intercontinental Paris Le Grand. Review here. That hotel charges a similar amount to the Intercontinental Rome and also has a beautiful decoration. Sadly, the room was pretty bland. And they didn’t even have an in-room coffee machine. Just instant coffee!
The Fitness Centre is located on the First Floor. It’s small, but it has everything you need for a great workout.
There’s also a rooftop bar on the 5th floor. I do love a rooftop bar and this one is pretty nice.
A special note to staff, who were lovely. The doormen were always very friendly and let us in. The bar staff were also very nice. I didn't get a chance to try the intercontinental rome club lounge on this visit, but several reviews mention it's worth the upgrade.
One fact worth knowing before you book: this is one of the newest luxury addresses in Rome, not some centuries-old institution trading on its name. The building is the historic Ambasciatori Palace, an early-20th-century palace building on Via Veneto, but it only reopened under the InterContinental flag in 2023. So the classical décor is genuine old Rome, while the plumbing, the Byredo bathrooms and the Illy machine are all brand new.
That combination is really the pitch. A grand old Via Veneto palace, given a top-to-bottom modern refit, and slotted in as IHG's flagship luxury property in the city. Old bones, new everything.
The Intercontinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace occupies a grand early-20th-century palazzo on Via Veneto. IHG operates it as their flagship luxury property in the city, and it reopened under the InterContinental flag in 2023 after a full renovation.
It spans five floors. The hotel has 171 guest rooms and suites. That's smaller than many luxury competitors — intimate enough that the lobby and lounge feel personal rather than anonymous.
The hotel has restaurants leading off the lobby, and from what I saw they looked genuinely classy. But I didn't sit down and eat in them properly, so I'm not going to pretend I did. My meals here were drinks and a sandwich up on the rooftop bar, and cocktails down in the lounge bar — both of which I've covered in their own sections.
The restaurants are there, they're smart, and they fit the classical luxury of the place. If you want the food verdict I can actually stand behind from these intercontinental rome reviews, it's the rooftop and the downstairs lounge — and both are worth your time.
There are two proper restaurants in the Intercontinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace, plus the lounge bar and rooftop bar I've already covered.
The main restaurant is Scarpetta, which sits off the lobby and serves Italian cuisine in a classically elegant space. I didn't eat here properly, so I can't give you a dish-by-dish verdict, but the setting looked every bit as refined as the rest of the hotel.
The second option is the lobby café, which handles lighter fare and breakfast. It's a more casual spot — fine for a quick coffee or pastry if you're heading out to sightsee — but the Italian restaurant is the one to book if you want the full dining experience.
I didn't book the intercontinental rome breakfast package. In hindsight, I should have. Walking past the breakfast room each morning, the spread looked generous. Pastries, fresh fruit, hot options. A proper Italian start to the day. Next time I'll add it to the rate.
I was upgraded from a Classic Room to a Premium Room. Because I am an Intercontinental Ambassador. Intercontinental Ambassador guarantees a one level room upgrade. However, this was a three level room upgrade. So this was probably a result. However, a one level room upgrade was to a classic room with city view. Sadly, my Premium Room had a pretty average review over the interior of the hotel. As I booked two rooms, I think these were the only two rooms that were next to each other. The rooms were on the 1st floor. 114 and 115.
Other than that — and this is a key point in fair Intercontinental Rome reviews — the room was fabulous:
I received a gift when I entered the room. A bottle of Merlot and a couple of chocolates. The wine was a lovely gift, branded with the Intercontinental Rome. I considered drinking it myself, but then I remembered that I’m not much of a drinker! It will make a lovely gift for one of my wife’s friends!
The room was really big. 38 square metres with high ceilings. It was really luxurious, with lovely design features and a hardwood floor. Exactly the kind of space that makes Intercontinental Rome reviews worth reading.
The TV was rather small, which felt weird. These days, nearly all hotel rooms have a large TV. I guess they want to create a classy ambience!
There was an Illy espresso maker. It was pretty good and authentically Italian. It couldn’t make a filter coffee.
There was also a Smeg kettle and luxury tea selection. A Smeg kettle costs at least €150. My wife now wants one at home. Yikes!
On the top floor is a rooftop bar. I visited one day with my family. It was pretty nice, however the view wasn’t up to much. With the lookout being blocked by the surrounding building.
We ordered four drinks and a sandwich. One beer, two mocktails and an apple juice. The bill came to €81. Which is obviously a lot of money. But you’re not just paying for the drinks. You’re paying to be on the rooftop of 5* hotel on the Via Veneto.
If you want to see a great rooftop bar, then check out my view of the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills. The views were stunning and there’s also a swimming pool on the roof.
As an Intercontinental Ambassador, I received drinks vouchers for my family of four. This was valid only at the downstairs bar, and not the rooftop bar. A detail you won't always catch in other intercontinental rome reviews.
This was fine as the lounge is gorgeous and the drinks were fabulous. I had an Old Fashioned and my wife had a bellini. My kids had mocktails. There were also some snacks. Potato Chips, olives and some sort of savoury pastry.
The bartender took some time to make our drinks and she made them really well.
One thing this hotel doesn't have is a proper club lounge — the drinks happen at the bar instead. If that matters to you, my InterContinental Madrid Club Lounge review shows what the brand lays on when it does include one.
There’s a 24 hour fitness centre on the 1st floor. It was small but looked good. It had dumbbells, cardio machines and resistance machines.
I’m a bit of a gym rat, but didn’t use the gym this time. There wasn’t enough time. In between sightseeing with my kids and creating content for my blog, it wasn’t going to happen. I also woke up at 2.45am on Saturday morning to get my flight from Gatwick. So I got a little sleep on the 2nd morning. I deserved it!
The intercontinental rome gym is compact but well-equipped. Cardio machines, free weights, clean towels. If keeping up your routine matters, this one does the job. Honest intercontinental rome reviews should tell you it's not a destination spa gym — but it works.
If you've waded through a stack of intercontinental rome reviews to reach a straight answer, here's mine: this is a magnificent hotel, and I'd happily stay again. The classical décor, the high ceilings, the 38 square metre room, the lovely downstairs lounge — it all lands. Old bones, new everything, right on the Via Veneto. That's the story these intercontinental rome reviews rarely tell you.
It isn't flawless, and I won't pretend it is. There's no swimming pool at a hotel charging top-of-Europe prices. My premium room looked out over the interior rather than the street. And the rooftop view is blocked by the buildings around it. None of that ruined the stay, but at this money you're allowed to notice. Honest intercontinental rome reviews tell you both sides, and here it is.
Here's the honest bottom line. At €1,700 for two nights I couldn't recommend it with a clear conscience — but I didn't pay that. I paid €685, because I'm an Intercontinental Ambassador, and that changes the whole equation. So if you're happy to book the smart way, this is a magnificent Roman base a ten-minute walk from the Trevi Fountain. Book it right, and it's an easy yes.
This is the kind of hotel you book when you want to feel like you've stepped into a different century, just with better plumbing. The kind where the doorman greets you like an old friend and the downstairs bar makes you want to linger over an Old Fashioned you didn't plan on ordering.
Who is this for? The couple who'd rather have a superb cocktail in a gorgeous lounge than a dip in a pool. The family who'll trade a rooftop view for being ten minutes from the Trevi Fountain. The traveller who's willing to pay for a membership that turns a €1,700 room into a €685 memory. That's who this hotel is built for — and if that's you, it's magnificent.