Casa Monti hotel review – The Points Guy

If the “Golden Girls” were an Italian nonna, they would feel right at home at Casa Monti, a boutique hotel in the heart of Rome’s old quarter. Thanks to its endless combinations of patterns, textures, prints and tchotchkes, the new hotel feels like an old friend, a “confidential friend,” if you will.

Instantly welcoming and stunningly beautiful, Casa Monti, located on the picture-perfect Via Panisperna, is a feast for the senses and a wonderful boutique addition to Rome’s hotel scene.

Here’s everything you need to know about staying at Casa Monti.

What is Casa Monti?

Casa Monti is a small boutique hotel with 26 rooms and 10 suites from Leitmotiv, a family-owned French hospitality company with other boutique properties in Paris and Megeve, France. The hotel’s forward-looking interior was designed by Laura Gonzales and was inspired by the Italian concept of “sprezzatura,” a kind of intangible style where everything works together even though each part tells you something different; it is something that cannot be learned, say many Italians.

Casa Monti is a small player in Rome’s thriving hotel scene, which has recently seen the opening of Edition, Bulgari Hotel and Six Senses, among others. But what makes this hotel so special is its size – and its location in Monti, an area that dates back to the days of ancient Rome (the Colosseum is a few minutes’ walk away).

Today, Monti is a relaxed neighborhood full of artists, vintage and boutique shops, cafes, and nightlife.

How much does Casa Monti cost and how to book

Casa Monti is a boutique hotel that is not currently part of a loyalty or points program.

That said, you can book directly with the hotel, with rates starting at around $375 per night (although rates tend to be over $600 during the busy summer months).

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Rooms at Casa Monti

Casa Monti has 10 different types of rooms and suites, from the Entry-level Cozy Room, perfect for a solo traveler, to multiroom suites with plenty of space to spread out.

During my stay at the end of August, I checked into a charming Upper Room with windows overlooking Via Panisperna. Measuring about 269 square feet, my room had a luxurious king-sized bed sitting next to a wall of brightly colored wallpaper with a matching headboard and a matching tissue box on the nightstand.

In the bedrooms there was also a Bluetooth speaker, an iPad with hotel information, and coffee table books. Above the stands I found the international electrical outlets, including the USB outlets, properly placed.

Beyond the bed was a striped couch, a TV (with Chromecast!), more of that fun yellow pattern as seen on the headboard, a small lounge chair and a small coffee table.

I had informed the hotel in advance that the day of our arrival was my husband’s birthday, and they pulled out all the stops and had this beautiful chocolate birthday message and dessert waiting in the room.

With the photo above, you can get a feel for all the patterns and patterns throughout the room… sprezzatura.

In the small hallway of the room, the bar had a tea kettle with a variety of teas, a Nespresso machine, lots of glassware, and a mini fridge stocked with local beers, spirits and other standard bar fare. Another nice surprise was the Italian snacks, like nuts mixed with sun-dried peppers.

There was also a large closet in the entryway, as well as a safe.

In the bathroom, deep red tile work contrasts with neutral earth tones and beautiful marble in the shower and vanity. The room also had a toilet, bidet and towel rack with soft towels.

The water pressure in the rain shower was perfect. And after combining that with the fragrance of Susanne Kaufmann’s soaps and specially designed Casa Monti shampoos, it was a real feat to force myself out of a relaxing shower.

And although my room did not have a balcony or a terrace, the view from my long, narrow windows on Via Panisperna was truly beautiful.

We had lunch and drinks at Casa Monti

Casa Monti has two bars, one outside the lobby (pictured above) and a small rooftop bar with indoor and outdoor seating, as well as a large restaurant.

Upon arrival, we enjoyed refreshing cocktails in the colorful lobby, aptly named Casa Monti Bar. It was full of patterns and textures, such as dark wood accents, zebra-inspired print upholstery on the walls, artistic lighting and a cheeky mirror ceiling.

Casa Monti Rooftop is another unique experience with a menu of cocktails, wine, beer and snacks (think: mixed cheeses and fried zucchini flowers). Once again, the interior design is a hodgepodge of this, that and everything in between. If anything, the rooftop bar shows that the hotel’s designer, Laura Gonzales, is truly a master of her craft. What could have been gaudy or easily overwhelmed has become something extravagant and unexpected – sprezzatura.

Although I didn’t have a reservation, I was able to get a table outside after only a few minutes of waiting, although I would recommend making a reservation in advance just to be safe. From my bright blue table, I couldn’t see Rome while I sat, but the views of the city were magical when I stood up. They were even better with my La Fioraia cocktail (18 euros/$19) made with Tanqueray gin infused with flower, raspberry and lemon.

For my husband’s birthday dinner, we sat outside at Casa Monti Ristorante, a restaurant serving seasonal Roman cuisine with a slight regional twist from Sicilian chef Umberto Tuccio.

Highlights of our dinner included a fabulous caprese salad with burrata atop a tower of fresh summer tomatoes and basil (16 euros/$17), a simple but delicious pepe tonnarelli (21 euros/$22), and zucchini risotto with gambero rosso shrimp. (30 euros/$32). The food was delicious, the service was great and we had a great time enjoying the cool air of Rome, even if it was warm in late August.

Resources and things to do

Casa Monti may be grand in architecture at first glance, but its list of things to do on the property focuses on eating, drinking and sleeping. The hotel does not have a gym, but it has the only Susanne Kaufmann spa in Rome. Sadly, I didn’t have time to visit the spa during my whirlwind trip to the Eternal City, but those who do can opt for treatments like the 50-minute alkaline deep cleansing facial (135 euros/$141) or 80 minutes. Susanne Kaufmann signature body treatment including body scrub and massage (190 euros/$200).

Related: How to avoid the crowds in Rome during the 2025 Jubilee

Insider tips for staying at Casa Monti

• In my experience, Rome is best explored on foot, and Casa Monti is in the heart of the city. You can quickly walk from the hotel to the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain and beyond. Just make sure you pack comfortable walking shoes because Rome can also be steep at times.
• Shopping in Monti is serious business. I found some of my favorite things at neighborhood stores. But my favorite shop in Rome is SuperOdra, a department store on Via Leonina, just a few minutes from the hotel.
• If you are traveling with family or children, the Family Suite has a master bedroom with a sofa bed and a bathtub, and a second bedroom that can accommodate up to six people.

Accessibility

Casa Monti has two accessible rooms, as well as wheelchair-friendly elevators (although not necessarily the biggest ones I’ve seen). Public areas are also wheelchair accessible and accessible to those with reduced mobility.

That said, I always recommend that guests who may need accessible rooms contact the hotel directly to confirm availability.

Bottom line

Casa Monti is one of the best boutique hotels I’ve stayed at in recent years. It’s a little kitschy, totally cool and in one of my favorite places in the whole world.

If you’re looking for a charming place to stay in the middle of nowhere, look no further than this boutique shop, magazine-worthy bars and friendly staff. And if you find yourself on that rooftop sipping cocktails overlooking the seven hills of Rome, you might just hear the voice of a different golden girl, Lizzie McGuire, entering your head: “This is what dreams are made of.”

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