Rome’s New Six Senses Is One of the City’s Most Unique Hotels — Here’s Why

Rome is a city known more for historic charm and a fun, carefree lifestyle than for modern design and wellness, so the arrival of the wellness and sustainability-focused brand Six Senses has made quite a splash in the city’s hospitality scene. Opened in spring 2023 in the historic Palazzo Salviati Cesi Mellini on the bustling Via del Corso, it immediately became the talk of the town. As the first urban Six Senses and the first in Italy, it’s also a big deal for the brand — part of IHG Hotels & Resorts.

On a recent afternoon spent soaking and sweating in the hotel’s peaceful Roman Baths, I was struck by how unique the Six Senses Rome is in the city. As a travel writer based in Rome, I’m intimately familiar with the city’s five-star hotels — and no other hotel in the historic center has a spa like this.

But even before you get to the spa, the first thing that makes an impression is the hotel’s sleek modern design. While the city’s other hotels may feel more traditionally Roman, the Six Senses is full of subtle touches that root it in the Eternal City. Patricia Urquiola, the acclaimed architect behind the design, drew inspiration from the ancient Villa of Livia to create a digital mural behind the reception desk, embedded mosaics in the floors of BIVIUM restaurant and the spa, and liberally used travertine, the ubiquitous local stone. The abundance of potted plants sprinkled throughout the lobby lounge, the floor-to-ceiling glass, and the low seating arrangements may make the hotel feel like it belongs in Los Angeles, but make no mistake: Rome has evolved countless times for more than 2,700 years, and it’s evolving again.

“After almost three decades away from my hometown, it is a pleasure and an honor to return to lead such an incredible project that represents both my personal philosophy and a wonderful opportunity for the city of Rome,” Francesca Tozzi, the hotel’s general manager, told Travel + Leisure. “Rome, the city of eternal beauty, has been for far too long a ‘layover destination’ in Italy, when it comes to high-end tourism. But now, with our opening and many more to come, the future of the city is looking bright. Rome, just like Paris or London, is about to become an essential destination for experiential travel at the highest level.”

I couldn’t agree more. That’s why I checked in as one of the hotel’s first guests when it opened last year and returned subsequently to soak in the Roman baths and sip a creative take on an Aperol Spritz at the rooftop bar. Read on for everything you need to know about the Six Senses Rome.

The Rooms

The 96 rooms and suites are modern and minimalist. Featuring a neutral palette of sandy beige and muted gray with natural materials like wood, cotton textiles, and travertine, they feel soothing—a welcome haven from the busy street outside. They range in size from about 300 square feet for a Classic room to 1,356 square feet plus an outdoor terrace that’s more than 1,000 square feet in the Lata Suite, which has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a spacious living room.

Food and Drink

The Roman influence on the hotel continues in the restaurant, and fans of the Six Senses brand will find familiar healthy options. The breakfast buffet at BIVIUM includes detox juices and indulgent tiramisu croissants. (One thing you won’t find is smoked salmon, which isn’t sustainable.) In the evening, you can eat delicious pizzas and pasta, sustainably sourced fish, and meat. At NOTOS rooftop, fantastic city center views come with cocktails and light bites.

Activities and Amenities

Six Senses Rome has a robust schedule of activities that are offered on a daily or weekly basis. During my stay, I did a healing sound bath meditation. Guests can also do yoga, sustainability tours, olive oil tastings, fermentation, recycled paper card workshops, natural color drawing workshops, and stretching sessions. 

The Spa

In keeping with the brand’s emphasis on wellness, the Six Senses Rome boasts a massive spa spread over two floors. There are treatment rooms for massages and a proper Moroccan-style hammam; a nail salon; a studio for yoga, meditation, and sound baths; biohacking equipment like compression boots and a collagen-boosting face mask; an alchemy bar, where guests can learn to make salves and scrubs; and the Roman Baths, a circuit of pools, saunas, and a steam room at various temperatures, inspired by ancient Roman baths with a tepidarium, caldarium, and frigidarium.

Family-friendly Offerings

Kids are welcomed with various amenities, including drawing books and pencils, backpacks, cookies, and one free scoop of gelato daily. They can participate in activities like yoga for kids and mocktail-making classes. The hotel’s Guest Experience Makers can also organize family-friendly tours of the city’s attractions.

Accessibility and Sustainability

Six Senses is on a mission to eliminate plastic from all its hotels, so you won’t find any single-use plastic here. At the Earth Lab, interactive talks and workshops educate guests about the hotel’s sustainability efforts. As part of the brand’s mission to give back to the local community, it’s also restored the façade of the adjacent Church of San Marcello al Corso.

Location

The hotel is centrally located on the bustling Via del Corso, the main thoroughfare from Piazza del Popolo to Piazza Venezia. From here, getting around Rome on foot or by taking taxis, the metro, or buses is easy. The Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon are each about a five-minute walk away. The Colosseum is about a 20-minute walk or 15-minute taxi ride away. The area tends to get crowded with foot traffic, but the Six Senses is a serene retreat where you can forget about the crowds outside.

How to Get the Most Value Out of Your Stay

IHG One Rewards members can earn or redeem points during a stay at Six Senses Rome by booking through IHG.com. The hotel is also a member of Fine Hotels and Resorts, Virtuoso, Internova, and Signature, among others, and has related benefits.