The brand famous for its luxurious rail adventures is launching into the hotel business with Orient Express La Minerva. Art Deco, references to the past, and contemporary installations are the elements that distinguish the hotel's rooms and common areas, which feature three different dining options.
The hotel
Rome has a new luxury destination. This is the world's first opening of a hotel bearing the signature of Orient Express, the historic brand known for its elegant journeys aboard luxurious carriages, which first departed in 1883 from Paris bound for Constantinople, now Istanbul. The brand in collaboration with Arsenale Group, has gone far beyond the rail experience, as demonstrated by the Orient Express La Minerva, which opened in Rome last April in Piazza della Minerva, known in the city for hosting Bernini's iconic elephant.
“The opening of Orient Express La Minerva represents a significant moment in our journey. Rome, a city of layered beauty and bold character, is the ideal canvas on which to redesign the Orient Express legacy with a new vision, a place where Romans gather and international travelers meet,” says Gilda Perez-Alvarado, CEO of Orient Express. In collaboration with Arsenale Group and thanks to the creative genius of architect and artist Hugo Toro, we have the privilege of breathing new life into a historic asset deeply rooted in the fabric of this immortal city."
The historic building referred to by Perez-Alvarado is an ancient 17th-century palace that has retained its distinctive features and decorative details thanks to the vision of Hugo Toro, who has skilfully and prodigiously combined Art Deco works, vintage references, and neoclassical furnishings. In each of the 93 rooms (including 36 suites), ranging in size from 25 to 235 square meters, the theme of travel and the interiors of the Orient Express trains can be seen in every detail: from the bathrooms to the custom-made trunks, from the wood finishes to the fine fabrics that pay homage to the sleeping cars and carriages of yesteryear. Ahead of the opening of the Orient Express Palazzo Donà Giovannelli in Venice and the launch of the Orient Express Corinthian, the brand's first sailing yacht (both scheduled for 2026), the hotel in the capital is the first step for a brand that wants to make its mark in the world of hospitality.
The dining outlets
There are currently three different dining areas, but in the coming months there will be five with the opening of a speakeasy-style cocktail bar and the inauguration of Mimi Kakushi, a Japanese restaurant that opened in Dubai in 2021 and is inspired by the signs of 1920s Osaka. In the hotel's elegant lobby, the Minerva Bar is open all day long, illuminated by a beautiful skylight from the early hours of the morning. Breakfast (also open to non-guests) is one of the hotel's strong points, thanks to an excellent à la carte selection—try the eggs in all their variations and the berry porridge—and a delicious buffet of pastries and breads in various shapes and types.
For other times of the day, the menu ranges from lobster salad, cheeseburgers, pan-fried pizza, grilled fish and meat, including lamb chops and pistachio-crusted salmon tataki – also available via room service. The pride of the Minerva Orient Express is its terrace, where the Pantheon is within arm's reach, but other monuments such as the Altare della Patria and the dome of St. Peter's Basilica are also clearly visible. The Bellini Bar is the ideal place to sit for an aperitif or a drink at sunset, before continuing the evening at one of the tables of Gigi Rigolatto, an international brand curated by Rikas Hospitality Group and Paris Society, born in Dubai and now with other locations in Bodrum, Saint Tropez, and Paris. A format with an international soul, whose philosophy is to connect with the customs and habits of the host city.
In this case, the reference to the “dolce vita romana” (the sweet life of Rome) is obvious. After all, with such a fascinating view that offers a real postcard of Rome's beauty, it was difficult to imagine anything else. The menu is a good compromise between what tourists want and what locals like. An example? The Tagliolini cacio e pepe with black truffle from Norcia or the more intriguing Tagliatella di calamari with bottarga and lime. The raw fish dishes are excellent; we recommend a large carpaccio of red prawns, while if you want to taste a classic Milanese dish, the Cotoletta alla milanese is a must. There is also an extensive selection of desserts, including profiteroles, hazelnut waffles, ice cream, and sorbets.
Orient Express La Minerva
Piazza della Minerva, 69, 00186 Roma
Phone: 06 844290
