Independent Hotel Rome
Well priced, modern, and a two minute walk from the train station, along with a great rooftop area make this one of the best value options in Rome. After staying at several smaller, more old-fashioned hotels, The Independent Hotel was a beautiful breath of fresh air.
Location: A
For what we needed, it was perfect. We only stayed for about 30 hours in Rome, coming in and out of the train station, so the proximity (2 minutes) made this hotel ideal. Plus, it’s a 20 minute walk to the Coliseum, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps and more. The subway station (which by the way, subway in Rome sucks) is a 2 minute walk as well, and is the best way to go to the Vatican.
The rooftop lounge gives guests a great perspective on their whereabouts in this amazing city
Rooms: A
We were kindly given an upgrade to a Junior Suite, and it was beautiful. For Roman standards, the room was quite large, with a separate bedroom and living room and a large bathroom. Lots of modern touches, including a provided smartphone to use, which was impressive despite the frustration of trying to use it.
Service: A-
The people at the check-in were very kind, giving us all the information we needed. But generally speaking, we didn't really encounter many staff of the hotel. They were very attentive and responsive over email leading up to our stay at the hotel though, which I appreciated very much.
A much appreciated welcome gift compliments of the great staff on property
Dining: B
Breakfast was included but frankly, it was not very good. The views from the rooftop terrace are fantastic though, just make sure you don’t get attacked by the seagulls. There is a restaurant a couple doors down that is a part of the hotel, called Diana's Place, that is so nice it kind of looks out of place in the context of the neighborhood. A beautiful wine display at the front of the restaurant welcomes you, and kind staff made our experience very enjoyable. Some nice wine and simple pastas finished our one night in Rome in perfect fashion. Pricing here is slightly higher than I would expect, but the wine was complimentary for us, so I was not complaining.
Amenities: B
A modern vibe in this historic city
It's a straight up hotel basically. There's Diana's Place and the rooftop terrace for breakfast or afternoon snacks, but other than that, the hotel doesn't have much. And that's probably because it doesn’t need much. Go walk to Trastevere or something.
Scene: An odd mix here. Families, businessmen, couples from Latin and Asian countries, etc. I actually somewhat enjoyed the diversity at this hotel, and in a sense added to the modern, forward feel of it all.