Beneath Roman Skies
From the sunlit lobby bar to the icon-studded rooftop panorama, the in-house gastronomy at Orient Express La Minerva hotel is a love letter to the very soul of Rome
Life in Rome follows a particular kind of rhythm. Unhurried, yet never idle, studded with conversations that linger across tables, full of warmth and grace. As a Roman institution with 215 years of near-continuous operation as a top-shelf hotel, La Minerva's decision to assign its in-house bar pride of place in the lobby makes perfect sense. It’s a tribute to its home city’s way of living, and its own illustrious history.
Under a soaring glass and iron ceiling – an original feature of the property, skilfully embellished by the hotel’s artist-architect, Hugo Toro – a quiet yet constant activity begins in the morning with the quiet clinking of porcelain and silver spoons. Espresso steam mingles with the rustle of newspapers as soft daylight pours in and visitors ease into the day with a classic cappuccino. By midday, voices rise around tables of fresh salads and tempting Italian classics, building to the buzz of the aperitivo hour. Artist-architect Hugo Toro has composed each detail with this carefully choreographed tempo in mind. The interiors – velvet, travertine, bronze and glass – are lush and textured, providing a discreet air of homeliness that hints at the exquisite accommodations upstairs.
The same spirit permeates the rooftop restaurant, Gigi Rigolatto, where long lunches of authentic local flavours and worldly inspirations stretch into bespoke golden-hour cocktails against a skyline that can only be described as wondrous. Wherever you turn, you are faced with a legendary piece of history – the Pantheon’s dome, Janiculum Hill across the river, Saint Peter’s Basilica in the distance. Even the typical terracotta roof tiles provide an extra dusting of uniquely Roman magic. The roof also hosts the Bellini Bar, a simple yet elegant marble counter with fourteen seats. No velvet ropes, no ceremony. Just the right music, the right cocktail, the right kind of evening. A place to taste an authentically Italian lifestyle, unfurling at the measured, intentional pace of the eternal city.
