Orient Express, the legendary name that still conjures images of opulent sleeper cars winding through Europe, has officially opened its very first hotel: Orient Express La Minerva. Nestled in the historic Piazza della Minerva – just a short stroll from the Pantheon – this is truly a defining moment in luxury hospitality.
Housed in the meticulously restored 17th-century Palazzo Fonseca, La Minerva is no ordinary Roman stay. Once a haunt for cultural heavyweights like Stendhal and Herman Melville, the building now plays host to 93 rooms and 36 suites, each uniquely designed to channel the romance and craftsmanship of Orient Express’s heritage. Think: rich wood panelling, bespoke leather bedside trunks, hand-painted ceilings that evoke Rome’s skies and linens by Rivolta Carmignani, the same brand that once graced the sleeper cars themselves.
Behind the magic is Hugo Toro, the Paris-based architect-artist whose design blends the timeworn grandeur of Rome with the sensual edge of contemporary travel. Every hallway nods to the glamour of the original train interiors, while lounges and public spaces whisper stories from centuries past. Toro’s work transforms the hotel into a living gallery of textures, tones and timeless charm.
But it’s not just a feast for the eyes, but for every sense. The La Minerva Bar, beneath a soaring glass roof and original Minerva statue, offers everything from refined aperitivos to a Roman-inspired afternoon tea. A rooftop restaurant, Gigi Rigolatto, opens this month with Riviera-inspired cuisine and 360-degree panoramas that sweep from the Vatican to the Victor Emmanuel monument.
Mimi Kakushi, which launches at Orient Express La Minerva later this year, will transport guests to the Osaka of the 1920s, an era which witnessed the creative clash between Western modernism and traditional Japanese values. The restaurant captures this transformative moment, offering a fusion of Far Eastern flavours tempered with Western influences. Since its debut in Dubai in 2021, Mimi Kakushi has garnered numerous awards, including The World’s 50 Best Bars recognition for Best Bar in the Middle.
Finally, for those in search of celebration, serious business or perhaps a combination of both, five elegant event spaces await, including the Olimpo Ballroom, adorned with Murano chandeliers and sculptures by 19th century artist, Rinaldo Rinaldi.
