Lonely Planet Review

In a city of views, few can match those from the Hotel Forum's roof-garden restaurant, stretching from the Vittoriano on the right down to the Forums and the Colosseum on the left. A former convent, the hotel offers a formal welcome, old-fashioned comfort and efficient service.

If your ambition's greater than your leg power, this is the perfect place. All you've got to do is climb to the rooftop American bar, admire the view and you can tick most of ancient Rome off your to-do list. That said, it's also ideal for those who plan to walk the city (by far the best way to get around) - the Forums, Colosseum, Palatine and Piazza Venezia are all within 15 minutes' walk. A stately old hotel, its appeal is unapologetically old-world with antiques and leather armchairs strewn about the wood-panelled lobby, staff in ties and tails, and chandeliers hanging from every ceiling. The rooms, some with a view (room No 102 for example), are similarly styled with parquet floors, heavy fabrics and velvet bedsteads, and offer charm in place of high-tech wizardry.