Hotel Morgana

Hotel Morgana is housed in an early 20th-century building and nearby annex building, both in the Esquilino neighborhood near Termini Station. Guests enter to an elegant lobby with marble floors, wood paneling, and red-and-blue striped wallpaper. The look is an eclectic blend of modern and classic elements, with gilt-framed artwork, a large urn, sofas, and black leather chairs. Guests gather here and in the sharp breakfast room, done in colors of white, black, brown, and plum, and featuring a shelf of books, huge mirror, and landscape art. Truthfully, though, the hotel is best used as a base for exploring the city rather than hanging out and enjoying on-site amenities -- in fact, those amenities are few and far between. The Morgana attracts mostly tourists, who appreciate the free breakfast and convenient location a short walk from Termini Station.

Hotel Morgana is in Rome's Esquilino neighborhood, a five-minute walk from the front entrance to Termini Station and its trains, metros, and buses. The immediate area is not very scenic, as it's filled with run-down shops and graffiti, though there are plenty of restaurants and bars as well as a good bit of multi-ethnic charm. The neighborhood is home to a large Chinese immigrant community in the area, and it's known as the Chinatown of Rome. Santa Maria Maggiore church is a three-minute walk from the hotel, while the Diocletian Baths take eight minutes to reach on foot. The metro and N2 and N12 buses from Termini Station run to nearly all Rome sights. It takes 10 minutes by the N12 bus to reach Trevi Fountain, 12 minutes to the Spanish Steps, and a little under 20 minutes to the Roman Forum. The Colosseum is 10 minutes away by the N2 bus, and it's 25 minutes by metro to the Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica. Many of the the top Rome attractions are within a five-minute drive of the hotel for those who want to go by taxi, though the city is ideal for walking and most sights can be reached in 20 to 30 minutes on foot. Leonardo da Vinci International Airport is a half-hour drive, or about 40 minutes by train from Termini Station.

The Hotel Morgana's 121 are arrayed in a five-floor main building and an annex building on Piazza Manfredo Fanti just down the street. Elevators to the room floors are small, so they can sometimes get crowded. Rooms come in Classic, Deluxe, Executive, Master Grand, and Family categories and are done in a warm color palette of white, beige, and deep browns. Like the hotel itself, rooms are a blend of classic and contemporary design elements -- expect to see striped wallpaper next to granite baseboards, chunky framed mirrors adjacent funky desks with shiny silver legs -- the vibe is certainly eclectic, but we did spot a bit of wear on some furniture. At under 200 square feet (19 square feet), some rooms are small, but not particularly small by Rome hotel standards. All rooms have air-conditioning, desks, mini-fridges, safes, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs with satellite and English channels. The Executive and Master Grand Rooms feature free mineral water and minibars stocked daily with free soft drinks. Master Grand Rooms have living rooms and tea- and coffee-making facilities. The rest of the rooms can request tea- and coffee-making facilities for a daily fee. Family Rooms have two adjoining rooms, each with its own private bathroom. Some rooms in the annex building have balconies. Bathrooms are clean and modern, but some are a little small, with limited counter space around the sink and tight walk-in showers with rainfall showerheads. One pet per room, up to 33 pounds, is allowed for a nightly fee. The hotel's busy location near Termini Station means some rooms may pick up a little street noise, but in general rooms are quiet. 

The features on offer at the Morgana are thin, but those provided are a step above many hotels in this category. The hotel serves an excellent breakfast buffet that's far more extensive than what's usually on offer in Rome hotels. It's included with all bookings and features omelets, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages, Italian specialties, pastries, breads, cereal, yogurt, fresh fruit, juice, and espresso. Breakfast boxes to go are available upon request. Free coffee, tea, and pastries are available at check-in, with coffee and tea also offered around the clock. There is no on-site restaurant for lunch and dinner, but 24-hour room service is available and there are plenty of restaurants within walking distance of the hotel. A cocktail bar is open upon request. The staff is happy to provide concierge service for sightseeing, tickets, museums, and airport transfer. The hotel has no business center but guests can use the hotel's office computer upon request. Guests are allowed to use the fitness center the Morgana's sister hotel across the street, but check ahead as to whether the facilities are open. The hotel also has a 24-hour front desk, baggage assistance, and parking (for a fee).