The Colosseum. The Vatican. The Sistine Chapel. The Pantheon. Trevi Fountain. Rome is home to some of the world’s most recognizable landmarks. As a first-time visitor, it was tempting to see them all, but I came armed with my own idea of an ambitious to-do list: Relax. Eat. Repeat. And here’s how I did it:
13:30 Sleep in Beauty
The best views of Rome can be had from the Monte Mario hilltop, so staying at the Rome Cavalieri guarantees #breathtakingvacation photos for Instagram. The five-star property is Italy’s only Waldorf Astoria, but that’s not why it was near impossible to leave my room: When a six-hour time difference, made-to-order aromatherapy pillows, double soundproofed doors and a king-size bed are involved, a disco nap has to happen.
Happy 50th: Currently, the property is celebrating its silver anniversary with themed guest packages, including Click & Go: It’s the Dolce Vita! and Roman Shopping Holiday.
16:00 Pamper Palace
Much like the hotel itself, the Cavalieri Grand Spa Club is a frequent playground for boldface names and well-polished locals. The amethyst Turkish bath and fitness center draws cliques in the early evening. La Prairie products (cell-energizing masks, platinum-infused creams) are the basis for anti-aging facials. The 80-minute Pepper Treatment, designed to combat cellulite, sounded like a smart ounce of prevention against the pounds of food I planned to gorge on later.
Life’s a Beach: Try the newest addition to the Grand Spa Club treatment menu, the St. Barth “Chill Out,” an intensely relaxing 80-minute body indulgence that uses clam shells with self-heating properties to de-stress and rejuvenate.
20:00 Star Power
A kitchen tour ended with an impromptu cooking demonstration by Heinz Beck, who helms the hotel’s triple-Michelin-starred La Pergola. This award-winning chef engineers dishes that are as delicious as they are deceptively light; he conducts controlled experiments on diners to make sure what tastes great going down doesn’t cause fatigue or crazy spikes in sugar levels. Menus change frequently, but lucky repeat diners never pass up Beck’s signature Fagottelli “La Pergola,” fluffy pasta pillows filled with a creamy cheese center.
12:30 Park Place
Locals retreat to the lush public park known as Villa Borghese for relaxing strolls around the fountains, and power trips through the bike trails and running paths. It’s also home to several museums. Just outside the National Museum of Contemporary Art is Caffè delle Arti, a popular weekend spot for lunch al fresco. The waiter suggested a three-ingredient Roman classic—spaghetti con cacio e pepe (spaghetti with cheese and pepper)—which demands consumption while warm so that the noodles twirl effortlessly around the fork tines.
More La Vita Local: The bar at Hotel de Russie is popular for drinking and eating under the stars.
21:05 Downtown Saturday Night
Hanging in a large party, I dropped into a packed legend known amongst pizza devotees as Da Francesco. After being seated, we wasted no time ordering every bruschetta on the menu. Everyone in our slightly carb-conscious group claimed to want “just a little bite,” but it quickly became clear it was more of a “no crumb left behind” mission. Classic Roman food makes magic with just a few basic, stellar ingredients. In a “more is more” moment, I ordered a disappointing onion, mushroom and cheese pizza. I should have listened: Margherita style is best. It only took one bite of my neighbor’s pie to confirm that cheese and tomato sauce are all one ever needs.
10:15 Street Walker
With no pictures of ancient Roman things on my iPhone, I decided upon one final mission: souvenir shopping and one photo of a landmark. The first stop, Trevi Fountain, was a five-minute affair, and the area bustled with so much distraction I completely forgot to make a wish. Then it was on to shopping. Many stores are closed on Sundays, but with some determination, there are great finds on the smaller, less-traveled streets. Campomarzio70 celebrates Italy’s perfume-making history, offering a sleek gallery of rare scents and only found- in-Italy luxury brands like XerJoff’s XJ Casamorati 1888 collection. Wandering along the winding streets, I stumbled upon Piazza di San Lorenzo in Lucina (also Piazza San Lorenzo), a triangular piazza lined with a handful of luxury shops (the usual suspects: Gucci, Bottega Veneta, Louis Vuitton) plus pharmacies and outdoor cafes.
Drive By: From here, the Pantheon is only a few minutes by cab, so hail a taxi and tell the driver to swing by.
15:25 Coffee Culture
Certain lessons about cultural differences were put to great use at the recharging station known as Gran Caffè La Caffettiera. Starbucks habits are poo-poo’ed here; it’s best to order an afternoon pick-me-up the Italian way. Forget lattes—those are for children. And cappuccino is for breakfast only; never the P.M. Either order un caffè (a basic espresso) or un caffè corretto (espresso corrected with a shot of liquor.)
Native Gluttony: Roman eating according to Expat Katie Parla
Tonda – It’s worth a trip outside the city center for stellar starters, including supplì (assorted fried rice balls), trapizzini (fluffy pockets of triangular dough filled with sauces of the Roman tradition) and thick-rimmed Neapolitan style pizzas with creative toppings.
Pipero al Rex – Owner Alessandro Pipero and chef Luciano Monosilio earned a Michelin star for their elegant modern dishes, but it is a pasta dish inspired by tradition—spaghetti alla carbonara— that draws crowds.
Vice Gelateria – This growing gelato chain serves creamy, intense flavors made with all-natural ingredients. The vanilla made with Madagascar beans is particularly addictive.
Birra + – Located on Pigneto’s main drag, this is my favorite place for super hoppy craft beers.
Katie Parla is a Rome-based food and beverage expert. She is the creator of two dining apps and the blog Parla Food.
