Hotel Hassler Roma

Hotel Hassler Roma stands directly atop the Spanish Steps, best for an iconic first Rome stay or a celebration built around the view and Michelin dining. The family-run landmark and Imago's starred rooftop restaurant are the draw. Its full spa will not open until late 2026, so current wellness is thin and some Classic rooms feel compact.

"The family-run icon at the very top of the Spanish Steps, home to the Michelin-starred rooftop Imago and one of Rome's most storied addresses."

Aggregate 9.6/10 on our editorial scale (Room & Design, Service, Location). Independently scored; see our methodology. This is our opinion, not an aggregate of user reviews.

Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission from bookings at no cost to you. We never accept payment for placement. Facts verified against official sources and the 2026 Michelin Guide in July 2026.

What makes Hotel Hassler Roma special?

What sets the Hassler apart is its position: the hotel sits directly at the top of the Spanish Steps, one of the most recognisable addresses in Rome. Opened in 1893 and still controlled by the Wirth family, it is a rare survivor among the city's grand hotels, run as an independent, family-held property rather than part of a global chain. That continuity shows in its old-world character and its standing as a classic choice for a first or milestone visit to Rome. The dining reinforces the appeal. Imago, on the sixth floor under chef Andrea Antonini, holds one Michelin star and offers one of Rome's best panoramic rooftop views, with the Salone Eva, the Palm Court garden, Carmen's Bar and a seventh-floor terrace filling out the picture. With 82 rooms and suites, the hotel is intimate in scale. One important caveat frames any decision: a new spa is being carved beneath the Spanish Steps but is not due to open until late 2026, so guests should not expect a full wellness facility on site now. The Hassler's case rests on location, view, dining and heritage.

Which room should you book?

Rooms at the Hassler total 82 across rooms and suites, and the ones to prioritise are the higher categories and suites that make the most of the position at the top of the Spanish Steps. Given the setting, an upper-floor room or a suite with a view is where the hotel's location translates into the experience guests are paying for, especially for a celebration. The style throughout is traditional and in keeping with a property that opened in 1893 and has stayed family-run. The category to approach with care is the entry-level Classic room. Some of these feel traditional and compact for the price, so guests expecting generous proportions at these rates should manage expectations or move up a category. Because the hotel is small, room types and views vary meaningfully from one to the next, which makes it worth confirming aspect and size at the time of booking rather than assuming. For the full effect of the address, a view room or suite is the right call; the cheapest Classic rooms undersell it.

Where should you eat and drink?

Dining is a major strength at the Hassler, led by Imago on the sixth floor. Imago holds one Michelin star under chef Andrea Antonini and pairs its cooking with one of Rome's best panoramic rooftop views, taking in the city from the top of the Spanish Steps. It is the clear centrepiece and a destination restaurant in its own right. Beyond Imago, the hotel spreads its food and drink across several settings: the Salone Eva and the Palm Court garden offer more relaxed rooms, Carmen's Bar handles cocktails and aperitivo, and a seventh-floor terrace adds another vantage point over the city. The range means guests can move from a panoramic tasting dinner at Imago to a garden lunch or a drink on the terrace without leaving the building. Taken together, the offer leans heavily on the view and the elevation, which is fitting given the address. For travellers who came for the Spanish Steps setting and a starred meal above the rooftops, the dining alone can justify the stay.

What is the spa and pool like?

Wellness is the Hassler's clear weak point at present. A new spa is being carved into the space beneath the Spanish Steps, but it is not due to open until late 2026, so guests staying now should not expect a full spa on site. Current on-site wellness is minimal, and anyone choosing the hotel primarily for a spa or pool will be disappointed in the near term. This is a genuine gap relative to rivals on this list: the Bulgari and de Russie both offer substantial spa facilities today, while the Hassler's headline wellness feature is still under construction. The honest framing is that the Hassler is a location, view, dining and heritage hotel first, and that its spa proposition is a future promise rather than a present reality. Guests booking before the late-2026 opening should plan their stay around the restaurants, the terraces and the setting rather than around wellness.

Where is Hotel Hassler Roma, and how do you get there?

The Hassler's location is its defining asset: the hotel stands at Piazza Trinita dei Monti 6, directly at the top of the Spanish Steps. Few hotels in Rome can claim so central and so photographed a position, with the Steps themselves immediately below and the historic centre spreading out from there. Via Condotti, the city's premier shopping street, is about five minutes away on foot, putting the boutiques and much of the centre within an easy walk. The obvious advantage is that you are already at one of Rome's landmarks the moment you step outside, which is a large part of the hotel's appeal for a first or celebratory visit. Fiumicino airport is roughly 28 to 35 minutes away by car, the shortest airport transfer among the hotels on this list. The location does mean the immediate area is busy with visitors to the Spanish Steps, but that footfall is inseparable from the address, and the hotel's upper floors and restaurants sit above it.

What do guests consistently say?

Guests consistently praise the Hassler for its position atop the Spanish Steps and for Imago's starred dining and rooftop views, which repeatedly headline reviews. The family-run character and the sense of staying in a genuine Roman landmark come up often, particularly from guests marking a first visit or a celebration. Two reservations recur. The first is wellness: guests note that the hotel lacks a full spa, and the fact that the new one will not open until late 2026 disappoints those hoping for it now. The second concerns the rooms. Some Classic rooms are described as traditional and compact for the price, so satisfaction tends to rise with room category. The pattern is consistent: guests who came for the location, the view and the dining, and who booked an appropriate room, tend to rate the stay highly, while those expecting a spa or generous entry-level rooms are more measured. Managing expectations on wellness and room type is the key to a happy stay here.

Honest cons: who should skip it?

The most significant con at the Hassler is wellness. There is no full spa on site now, and the new one being built beneath the Spanish Steps is not due to open until late 2026, so guests wanting a spa or pool in the near term should choose the Bulgari or de Russie instead. The second issue is the entry-level rooms: some Classic rooms feel traditional and compact for the price, so booking on price alone can lead to a room that does not match the rates. The location, while iconic, also means the immediate surroundings are busy with visitors to the Spanish Steps, which is not for everyone. And at roughly EUR 1,100 to 1,200 in low season, the Hassler is not cheap for a hotel whose flagship wellness feature is still under construction. Who should skip it: guests who need a full spa now, travellers wanting large entry-level rooms at these rates, and anyone seeking a quiet, low-traffic setting.