San Carlo Suite

San Carlo Suite is tucked inside a historic 15th-century building, with a front door right on Via del Corso. Rooms occupy two floors (accessible only to guests) via a central staircase and cage elevator. A small lobby with a tiny reception desk and a cushioned silver bench seat can be found on the second level, and another entrance opens into a narrow hall with wood floors and an antique red- velvet chair. The interiors are attractive and a touch minimalist—some may say drab—with an occasional black-and-white photomural or an electric fireplace to warm things up. Most guests are couples looking for a stay with an intimate atmosphere, who don't mind skipping out on the full services of a conventional hotel.

San Carlo Suite is in the center of Rome on the fashionable Via del Corso, in an area with numerous restaurants and luxury shops, like Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, and Hermes. The L.go Goldoni bus stop is within a minutes' walk down the street. Ponte Cavour and River Tiber are a little less a five-minute walk west of the hotel, while Piazza Spagna, the Spanish Steps, and the Spagna Metro station are about a five-minute walk to the east. The Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, Villa Borghese, and the Pantheon are all around 10-minutes away on foot, while the Colosseum is about a 15-minute bus ride from the hotel. St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican are about 15 minutes away by metro. The hotel is a 10-minute drive from Termini Station. Leonardo da Vinci International Airport is a 30-minute drive from the hotel, or about 40 minutes by train from Termini.    

The eight individually decorated guest rooms and suites are well-soundproofed, and the lack of city traffic (most cars are forbidden) helps keep them relatively quiet. Some have Juliette balconies that overlook the Via del Corso and offer spectacular city views. A mix of wood flooring is paired with contemporary decor in shades of gray, along with accent walls with ornate wallpaper. Double or queen beds have tall padded headboards and reading lights, across from flat-screen TVs. Smaller units contain small desks and funky chairs, while upgraded rooms have proper seating areas with tables and chairs for two, or living areas with sofa beds. All rooms have electric fireplaces, stocked mini-fridges, along with free Wi-Fi. Some have soaking tubs next to the beds (in the absence of one in the bathroom), while suites add whirlpool tubs either in the bedrooms or in a separate "spa" room. Modern bathrooms have bidets and rainfall showers, plus hairdryers and toiletries. There's also an off-site one-bedroom apartment (down the street) with a full kitchen, living room with a sofa bed, and a hot tub.

Facilities at the hotel are slim -- there's no full restaurant or gym on-site. A free breakfast is served in a windowless lounge that serves double duty as a breakfast room and a simple lobby bar, and guests who book directly get a free happy hour. Wi-Fi is free throughout.