Hotels + Resorts The Best Hotel in Rome Just Debuted New Suites Overlooking Its Stunning Gardens With these new suites, you won’t have to choose between city and nature. By Kristen Shirley Kristen Shirley Instagram Twitter Website Kristen Shirley is a New York-based luxury expert, writer, and editor who covers travel, fashion, fine watches, jewelry, wine, and spirits. She is currently a contributing editor to Forbes.com and Nobleman, and a freelance writer for luxury publications including Bloomberg Businessweek, Travel + Leisure, and Robb Report. Passionate about craftsmanship, rare gemstones, and supporting independent designers, Kristen began her career at Elle in the fashion department, where she trained under former style director Kate Lanphear before becoming the associate market editor. She later went on to become the luxury editorial director at Elite Traveler, where she led the print and digital teams and spearheaded a redesign of the print edition and the website. An avid traveler and foodie, Kristen is drawn to tropical destinations where she can scuba dive, sip rosé on the beach, saber Champagne, shuck oysters, and learn about all things caviar. * 10+ years of experience covering fashion, style, fine watches, and jewelry * Received an applied jewelry professional certificate from the Gemological Institute of America * Received the level 3 award in wine from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, which she passed with distinction * Received a bachelor's degree in French at Georgetown University * Studied abroad at Université Sorbonne Nouvelle and attended international high schools in Frankfurt and London * Speaks French * Founder of La Patiala, a luxury encyclopedia that covers travel, food, wine, spirits, style, beauty, watches, jewelry, and lifestyle Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on December 23, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email Hotel de Russie, a Rocco Forte property named the No. 1 stay in Rome according to Travel + Leisure's most recent World's Best Awards, just unveiled new suites overlooking its iconic gardens. The hotel has long been known for its stunning secret jardin with redolent pine trees, orange trees, rose bushes, and other flourishing greenery. The tiered garden was recently revamped by architect Giuseppe Valadier, and its restoration inspired even more verdant changes inside the hotel, namely, the seven new Garden Suites and renovated lobby, both featuring lush, nature-inspired designs. Courtesy of Rocco Forte Hotels The hotel is built around the garden, making this hotel one of the few places where guests pine for a suite facing away from the city. The blue Roman sky and the green garden provide a soothing, peaceful atmosphere in the midst of a somewhat hectic city. Olga Polizzi, Rocco Forte Hotels' director of design, brought these serene colors inside the hotel during the recent renovation. "Hotel de Russie's garden — the true heart of the hotel — is where much of the inspiration for the color comes from with lots of greens in varying tones, lighter yellows, and teals to bring the outdoor tranquility of the garden into the interiors of the suites," Polizzi exclusively tells Travel + Leisure. Courtesy of Rocco Forte Hotels The garden's first designs, which Polizzi calls "extraordinary," also inspire the suites' decor. "My inspiration came from the original design by the extraordinary Tomasso Ziffer, the suites' location overlooking Hotel de Russie's peaceful garden, and the city of Rome itself," she says. "Combining these elements was key in order to achieve a balance of traditional classicism and more modern, accented features." Courtesy of Rocco Forte Hotels The balance comes from comfortable, plush seating with charming, original cushions by Fornasetti, Toscana armchairs, and eye-catching lamps from Fontana Arte, alongside modern furniture and luxurious fabrics. Of course, these suites have tranquil views of the garden below. Courtesy of Rocco Forte Hotels Courtesy of Rocco Forte Hotels The garden theme continues in the lobby and Le Jardin de Russie restaurant. Italian artist Gio Bressana transformed the restaurant into a winter garden by painting the walls with green and white landscapes with a dreamy, soft feel. Intricate vines climb up from the windows and painted trellises onto the arched ceiling, and whimsical design details, including parrots, butterflies, and strawberry trees, are interspersed throughout the artistic masterpiece. Visitors will be entranced by the detailed scenes while enjoying a delightful Italian meal. Naturally, there's a fantastic outdoor space, too. Finally, the lobby gets a facelift with earthy tones and splashes of green. It has a modern-meets-classic design, high-tech fixtures perfect for business travelers, and memorable furnishings and sculpture alongside rare objets d'art. Book one of the brand-new suites and learn more about the property here. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit