Palazzo Cardinal Cesi

It was quiet and relaxing after the hustle and bustle of sightseeing. Being a small hotel it was never too busy. The seating area by the courtyard was very pleasant. The staff were all very friendly and helpful. We had fresh towels and our bed made every day which I didn’t expect but appreciated. The breakfast was as you would expect, a mixture of hot and cold, something to suit everyone. Security was good, a code was required at certain times to gain entry.

The only downside was that the shower cubicle was very small. The lady on reception did mention it but it was much smaller than we liked. I don’t know if all rooms have cubicles that small but if you are on the larger side it would be too small. My husband and I are average size and found it awkward.

There were many advantages of booking at Palazzo Cardinal Cesi but if you’re Catholic on a pilgrimage like me, the proximity of this hotel to St. Peter’s Basilica is the one thing that sets it apart from the rest. Truly, just a few yards away to the square. Their garden is a meditative oasis and makes one realize the history connected to this building. It really brings up the feeling you live in a cloistered community with a Renaissance flair to it. I look outside my window and you see the Dome of Saint Peter’s and parts of Bernini’s colonnade. The Church of Sancto Spirito ( A Divine Mercy sanctuary) is a stone’s throw away. The breakfast spread is lovely and unlimited - a boon when you like a heavy meal and have several places to visit. I am thankful they have fruits, yogurt, jams and Nutella spreads for their rolls and pastries. Going to breakfast was a treat in itself first thing in the morning, again a meditative experience as this was the same hall monks communed in centuries ago. I love the cappuccino prepared for me by the accommodating kitchen staff. Rooms were immaculate, always made and the air conditioning was wonderfully cool. Not a whiff of smell anywhere. The shower area was indeed small but it is not an impossibility to move around. True, there may be some noise issue coming from the street but it is not as intrusive as most reviews here make it out to be. Food options for later in the day are not an issue. Trattorias, ristorantes, cafe/ gelaterias are numerous around the immediate Borgo area. Carrefour Grocery and Foreign Exchange are nearby. Special mention to Pastaciutta - if you want your to-go Cacio e Pepe. Even fast food restaurants are not far: McDonalds and Jollibee are in the neighborhood. Two small touches which I thought deserved special mention: this hotel slips a “Psalm / Gospel of The Day” printed in their stationary inside your room every morning! I truly appreciate that.

There is nothing wrong with the hotel itself: it is truly an oasis and elegant. However, it is an almost 12-15minute walk to the Ottaviano Metro station which may be difficult for some people. However, the bus stops are a nice stroll away and Freeway (their Uber) services the area. I would also possibly recommend either increasing the Dining Hall time up until 11 am.

A real treat stay in this 16th century Palace just by Saint Peters Square. A beautiful courtyard where you can sit and enjoy a cup of tea in the morning. The rooms are small but in Tiley adequate and I think the room rate is very reasonable for properties of this sort of quality

It would be nice if they serve snacks and small meals so that you could sit in the lovely courtyard and enjoy a bottle of Prosecco and olives and bread et cetera commented the rooms are small, but frankly, how much time do you spend in a room when you're in Rome and the rooms are very well laid out and furnished beautifully ap

Breakfast is good. Not spectacular but enough to feel a good and healthy breakfast. The most obvious fact about this hotel is that it is very peaceful; you feel close to the Lord. And it is extremely clean all over. And last but not least, the people at the reception and in general, are very interested to help you and to make sure that all your requests are satisfied.

I think that the prices have gone too high, in comparison to what I used to pay to stay in this hotel in the past. I feel that the hotel should provide service to have a drink around 6 to 7pm with some small hors d'oeuvres or nuts, etc. it would be very relaxing and enjoyful to be able to sit in the garden and have a champagne or else. I missed that. Otherwise, there is nothing else I can complain about.

The personal touch by the staff was amazing and unbelievably helpful. We had quite a bit of contact with Claudia on our first visit and Giuseppe in the second visit, and I cannot thank them enough for their superlative service and caring attitude. Indeed, all of the staff were very kind and helpful. In a particular way, I also loved staying in a hotel so close to St. Peter's Basilica, in a building once owned by the Cardinal Cesi family, as well as Blessed Francis Mary of the Cross Jordan. Thank you for your great work, and may God bless you all!

This is a lovely hotel with an incredible location. I enjoyed being so close to St. Peter's Square and being able to see that impressive sight every morning and night. It was also fun and convenient to have a snack truck parked right outside the front door.

The bed and pillows weren't very comfortable and the bathroom is c r a z y small. Like I would imagine in a fancy RV. But, it worked well enough to get clean and have in-room facilities, so it's not a deal breaker. But I could touch the walls with my elbows when I washed my hair!

The property is located just outside St. Peter’s Square. we couldn’t have asked for a better location. In addition it was very secure with entry by security code only from the Main Street. the architecture of this old building is also stunning with a monastic quadrant on entry to the building.

If I had to be completely honest, there was not very much to dislike about this property but if I was pushed for an answer I would just mention that there was a very busy roadway directly outside of our bedroom window 101 which was a little noisy. That said it didn’t have much of an impact on our stay as it was relatively quiet at night during sleeping hours. It got busy during rush hour but at that stage we were already up and getting ready for the day and we were out and about during the busy times in the evening.

The location is great, right on Via della Conciliazone, the road that leads right up to Sr. Peter’s Square. The decor inside includes a great dining room for breakfast and a beautiful peaceful garden courtyard inside the building. The breakfast was quite tasty, including scrambled eggs and cold cuts and fruits and juices and the usual bread and croissants. They had a door ward who’d open the front doors after hours, and offered to arrange taxi pickups to/from the airport.

I had no problems. There is nothing I’d want to change.

Perfect location, lovely staff and beautiful gardens to sit in. The room was nice but the bathroom was tiny and in need for a new showerhead. Free water in the room every day was very nice. Very friendly and helpful staff and the hotel is in a nice area, we spent most of our time in Prati, because it was a very nice area, and not so much in the center. Most things are still within walking distance. All in all a very nice stay :-)

The free bathroom products were not so nice (almost like free sample envelopes) would expect a bit more for such a pricey hotel. There was no bar and no facilities for getting a drink on the premises. But it was no problem to buy a drink somewhere else and enjoy it in the garden. Breakfast was just average so we ended up buying breakfast instead.

We loved the entrance into the property and how quite it was once within. It was like a little oasis amid the noise and bustle of the Vatican and Rome. We did not realise the proximity this hotel was to the Vatican as it is right on its doorstep. Room was simple but lovely. Staff were superb. Breakfast was quite enjoyable.

Shower power was not very strong and temperature seemed to fluctuate in it a bit. Very small thing. Prices for drinks seemed expensive.