Rome: 5 Places to Stay

Grace Kelly honeymooned at this turn-of-the-century palace at the top of the Spanish Steps, and it's still the hotel of choice for many of today's celebs and stylish tastemakers in search of old-world elegance (Gwyneth, TomKat, and Victoria Beckham are all regulars). Renowned for its personalized service, the Hassler is a family affair — a place where guest relations are taken very seriously. The 95 stately rooms are a checklist of classic good taste, with elaborate moldings, gilded furniture, French silks, 16th-century antiques, Limoges porcelain, playful frescoes, and marble, marble, marble, plus mod cons like flat-screen TV's. Imàgo, its modern Italian restaurant, has heart-stopping views of St. Peter's Basilica and Rome's terracotta-tiled roofs. And the concierges can accommodate just about any request, including mapping out routes through the Villa Borghese gardens, near the hotel.

Insider Tip: Learn everything there is to know about Barolos, Barbarescos, and Chiantis at the hotel's nearby wine school, founded by the Hassler's owner and general manager, Roberto E. Wirth.

Room to Book: Request one of the quiet Classic double rooms, with vistas of the Villa Borghese Gardens.

• 1. Hotel Hassler
  6 Piazza Trinita Dei Monti, Rome, Italy 00187; 39-06-699-340 41.90608712.483301 hotelhasslerroma.com