Review of Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel

During a recent trip to Italy, we decided to spend a few nights in Rome before heading back to Toronto. Having previously explored the city's main tourist attractions, we were looking forward to visiting a few places we hadn't yet experienced, particularly the Forum at the Colosseum, as well as sampling some local cuisine one last time. Our only reason for going downtown was to visit the Forum, which led us to choose the Rome Cavalieri Waldorf Astoria for our stay. While I typically recommend accommodations closer to the city center for easier access to attractions, I had fond memories of the Rome Cavalieri from our last visit.

On that previous trip, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Rome Cavalieri, but this experience was markedly different. I found it perplexing to have two such contrasting experiences at the same hotel.

Rome Cavalieri Location - Google Maps

The Rome Cavalieri is situated slightly outside the city center, with the nearest major attraction being Vatican City. However, the hotel is located on a hill, making it a challenging walk so you will need to drive almost everywhere. The hotel offers a shuttle service to downtown, with a schedule available at the reception. We utilized the shuttle once and were impressed by the quality of the bus; it was not crowded during our later afternoon trip, although I understand that morning routes can be quite busy, so advance reservations are advisable.

View of Rome From Patio on Top Floor

The hotel itself is elegantly decorated, featuring a vast collection of artwork that lends it an old-world charm. Some rooms offer stunning views of Rome, while others face away from the city and overlook a large communications tower—an unappealing sight. Unfortunately, we were assigned a room with a view of the tower this time; during our last stay, we had a magnificent view of Rome, particularly enchanting at night. The hotel is also home to La Pergola, a three-star Michelin restaurant, as well as an event room on the top floor with incredible views of the city.

Room with a View of Tower

As Hilton Diamond members, we enjoyed complimentary breakfast during our stay. The breakfast at this hotel is a true highlight, featuring an extensive selection of hot and cold items, including an impressive array of cheeses. It is served in the lower-level Uliveto Restaurant, and we opted to dine outdoors by the pool.

Breakfast Patio - View of Pool

The swimming pool is of decent size but was extremely busy during our visit, likely due to the hotel being fully booked.

Pool at WA Rome

As with all Waldorf properties, the dining options can be expensive, and value is subjective. On our last visit, we dined at the hotel out of convenience; this time, we decided to explore some local restaurants instead. We discovered a highly-rated eatery called Foodoo, which had a steady stream of patrons from the Rome Cavalieri. It is a small, casual spot, but the food was excellent—definitely worth a visit.

We booked two rooms: one King Deluxe and one with two Twin Beds. I couldn't help but notice how much the hotel had deteriorated since our last visit. This may have been due to the timing of our previous stay, which was at the end of the pandemic when the hotel may not have been at full capacity. This time, the hotel was fully booked, and the rooms we received were in a state of disrepair, featuring stained carpets, worn furniture, and dirty linens. Typically, such issues do not bother me; I have stayed in various accommodations and learned to adapt. However, I believe that a Waldorf property should maintain higher standards. I expected the carpets to be properly cleaned and the furniture to be well-maintained. Additionally, one of our rooms had leaking pipes, and resolving this issue proved to be more challenging than it should have been, suggesting this may be a recurring problem in those rooms.

King Deluxe Room - WA Rome

In conclusion, I would not recommend this hotel for first-time visitors to Rome who wish to explore popular tourist spots, as there are better options available at this price point. However, I would consider staying here again if I needed a place to rest for a night before a flight.