Escape in style: G-Rough hotel is a hidden design gem in the heart of Rome

Tucked away just a few minutes’ walk from the Pantheon in Rome, in the cobbled Pizza di Pasquino square, is the wow-factor, five-star G-Rough Hotel.

The narrow five-storey building looks like many others in the tourist hub, yet behind the tinted glass door is an unconventional gem of a hotel packed with iconic Italian interiors and modern-luxe design.

Style

The decor is a mix of original 17^th-century features and sleek contemporary design. Mirrored tiles, leather chairs and a brushed-brass counter are a stylish welcome into a bar area without the slightest trace of a hotel reception feel.

In the rooms, of which there are only 10, highlights include exposed wooden beams and patina, time-worn walls which have been stripped back to their original plaster and pastel colours, giving the hotel a rough-luxe vibe.

Look out for striking pieces of artwork in the suites, created using original materials by contemporary artists at a ‘demolition party’ before the total restoration of the building began.

Hidden design gem

A few streets away is a real design hub that’s well worth a visit, particularly if you’ve spotted anything in the hotel you’d like to replicate in your own home.

Called Under the Influence, it's a treasure trove shop packed with iconic design and contemporary furnishings, with a gallery-style collection of pieces you’ll recognise from the hotel’s walls, floors and ceilings.

Good to know

There isn’t a restaurant, but a chef cooks breakfast to order in the Sito room. Staff are billed as 'lifestyle guides', keen to help you tailor your stay and show you their insider's version of Rome.

Strongly recommended is a quick stop at Sant’Eustachio coffee bar beside the Pantheon, a visit to the roof terrace on top of Hotel Eitch Borromini at the edge of the piazza or a drink at No Name bar in Via del Sedari. The latter was in the middle of its soft launch when we stumbled across it and, yes, it’s still without a definite name. But its wine selections, market-sourced olives and more than 50 types of tiramisu are so popular you would never guess it has only recently opened.

Which room?

There are only 10 rooms in the hotel, two on each floor. Natural light floods all of the bedrooms through full-length windows surrounded by white-washed wooden shutters. Overlooking the bustling piazza, Pasquino Suites have to be the room of choice.

For a quieter room, only slightly smaller but tucked away towards the rear of the building, the Suites are a good choice. The window looks out over a typically Roman, central courtyard.

Both rooms on any floor can be booked together which sees an impressive central door closed off to create a spacious Suite Apartment ideal for families.

For the ultimate treat, book the Penthouse Suite with its two mezzanine rooms over the entire top floor of the hotel. There's even a private terrace from which guests can fully appreciate the landmark views.

How to book

Stays cost from £350 a night, expect to pay around £500 a night during high season. With so few rooms, last-minute availability is limited but it's worth calling ahead.

Open all year round, the hotel is a beautiful design destination. Perfect for a luxurious stop-off or weekend city break.