Domus Carmelitana

The rooms were clean, and the hotel is in an amazing spot, very close to the castle and Vatican City. The shower water was sometimes cold. Breakfast was a real letdown: stale, with very few edible options, which didn’t match the breakfast ratings on hotel websites.

The two dinners I had were laughably bad, probably the worst meals I’ve ever had to pay for. They were simple and uninteresting. Breakfast was at least acceptable, but the hotel staff were rude. The bathrooms are tiny, and the lift is too small and the slowest I’ve ever seen.

Inside DC it’s cool, comfortable, and really relaxing, with food and drink available at all hours, which is nice for the budget too. There’s a large breakfast, and the concierge is precise and responsive. The rooms are great and the place feels refined, a gentle oasis amid Rome’s chaos. We loved it and will come back. The Carmelite friars aren’t there, but the staff are on duty 24 hours. The location is very good. When you arrive, say if you want the AC turned on, since it’s controlled at the main desk. Also, remember to buy bus tickets at a newsstand or tobacconist. We had change, but the driver could only accept tickets.

The breakfast was delicious, and the staff were helpful and comfortable speaking English. My room had very few electrical outlets, though. It felt like the infrastructure hadn’t been updated in a long time, and I had to unplug a lamp to charge my phone.