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Checking In | Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome Hotel

Vanessa Gordon

I checked in to Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome Hotel, set along the sweeping curve of Piazza della Repubblica and built above the ancient Diocletian Thermal Baths dating back to AD 298–306.

Housed inside a 19th-century neoclassical marble palace, the property balances old-world grandeur with modern comforts, from its rooftop pool and skyline views to its sophisticated moments inside the lobby and spa.

The Stay

During my stay, I was especially struck by how spacious the hotel feels for such a central Roman address. Anantara Palazzo Naiadi has 238 rooms and suites, and even the entry-level rooms are designed with high ceilings, natural light, and gorgeous marble bathrooms with oversized rain showers and Acqua di Parma amenities.

The overall design leans neoclassical, with silk wall coverings, gold accents, gilt details, and the sort of architectural scale that immediately reminds you this is not a generic city hotel. Premium Rooms can offer city views, terrace configurations, or broader panorama views over Rome’s skyline, while the Junior Suites in the Clementino wing overlook the Baths of Diocletian and add more room to spread out.

Duplex Suites (where I stayed in) and Executive Suites step things up even further, with split-level layouts, piazza views, and extras such as terraces, steam baths, or even a Jacuzzi depending on the suite.

What I appreciated most is that the hotel manages to feel stately without feeling stiff. After a day in Rome, that combination matters.

My Favorite 90 Seconds

My favorite 90 seconds happened just after arriving, when I was welcomed with a glass of champagne and chocolate cake topped with strawberies, and then stepped outside to take in the view over Piazza della Repubblica.

It is one thing to know you are staying in central Rome, and another to actually stand there above the piazza and feel the movement of the city around you. The Fountain of the Naiads, the constant flow of traffic, the warm light bouncing off the surrounding facades — it all felt cinematic in a very Roman way.

The Moments That Make It

One of the things that makes Anantara Palazzo Naiadi stand out is how many distinct experiences it packs into one address.

Dining at Anantara Palazzo Naiadi feels especially strong because each venue has its own mood.

INEO is the hotel’s fine-dining restaurant and the choice for a more polished dinner, while SEEN By Olivier Restaurant brings in rooftop views, sushi, and a more energetic atmosphere.

INEO Restaurant. Credit: Anantara Hotels & Resorts

I also liked that the hotel gives you easier options that still feel elevated, including breakfast at La Fontana overlooking the Fountain of the Naiads, or a glass of champagne and small bites at The Champagnerie before heading out for the evening.

The hotel’s spa also adds another layer to the stay. Anantara Spa includes six treatment rooms, a beauty station, a private steam bath, and a Jacuzzi, with treatments that draw on Roman wellness traditions as well as Ayurvedic and Asian influences. It is the kind of amenity that becomes especially welcome after hours of walking through the city.

Who This Hotel Is Actually For

Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome Hotel is especially well suited to travelers who want a grand Roman hotel experience with genuine convenience.

It works well for first-time visitors to Rome because the location makes it easy to get around on foot or via Termini, but it is equally appealing for travelers who appreciate architecture, design, and a more classic sense of luxury.

Couples will likely love the glamour of the piazza-facing rooms, rooftop, and champagne moments, while business or bleisure travelers will appreciate how easy the hotel is to access and how comfortable it is to return to after a long day.

Practical Stay Notes

Presidential Suite Bathroom. Credit: Anantara Hotels & Resorts

Visited: early autumn

Length of stay: 2 nights

Suite: Duplex Suite Piazza View

View: Piazza della Repubblica

Purpose: leisure trip in Rome

Nearby Points of Interest

Baths of Diocletian: Built directly over the remains of these ancient Roman baths, the hotel has one of the most historically layered settings in the city. The archaeological significance of the site adds a real sense of place to the stay.

Roma Termini: Just a short walk away, Rome’s main train station makes the hotel especially convenient for arrivals, departures, and day trips to other Italian cities.

Borghese Gardens: One of Rome’s most beautiful green spaces, the gardens offer a welcome break from the pace of the city with shaded walking paths, fountains, and sweeping views. It is an especially lovely place for a slower afternoon, whether you want to stroll, sit by the water, or pair it with a visit to the nearby Borghese Gallery.

Colosseum: Still one of the most remarkable places to visit in Rome, and easily reached from the hotel thanks to its central position.

Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli: Facing the hotel, this Michelangelo-linked basilica adds even more architectural weight to the surrounding piazza.

Via Nazionale: A major nearby thoroughfare for shopping, strolling, and connecting further into the city.

A Night Out | Young Fellows Ball—Travel Through Time at The Frick Collection

Vanessa Gordon

Updated: 6 days ago

On March 12, New York’s next generation of patrons and tastemakers gathered at The Frick Collection for the 2026 Young Fellows Ball, an evening themed “Travel Through Time” that transformed the museum’s storied Gilded Age residence into an immersive society affair layered with fashion, music, art, and a remarkably thoughtful food and beverage program.

Emira D’Spain and Ava Dash; photo: Matt Borkowski/BFA.com

Presented in partnership with Bloomingdale’s and Rimowa, the annual spring benefit invited guests into a world where old-world glamour met modern cultural cachet.

Set against the grandeur of one of New York’s last great Gilded Age homes, the evening unfolded with a sense of cultivated theatricality. Guests arrived in silk, lace, and black tie, moving through the museum’s intimate galleries while celebrating Gainsborough: The Fashion of Portraiture, the Frick’s acclaimed special exhibition exploring the relationship between Thomas Gainsborough and eighteenth-century fashion.

Alexa Griffith and Rohita Land; photo: Matt Borkowski/BFA.com

Music by Angel + Dren; photo: George Koelle

Music by Angel + Dren, a Juilliard string quartet, and special gallery talks added just the right amount of rhythm and refinement, allowing the night to feel immersive without losing its social ease.

The Cocktails Were as Dressed as the Guests

If the attire set the tone, the bar program carried it beautifully.

The signature cocktail menu read like a guest list of its own, with drinks including the Gilded Getaway, Mayfair Margarita, Westmoreland Whiskey, and Raspberry Sidecar, plus a zero-proof Cucumber Fizz for those seeking something lighter but still elegant.

VIP lounge bar, featuring Bloomingdale’s bags; photo: Matt Borkowski/BFA.com

The spirits behind the menu gave the evening its distinctly luxe finish, with support from Amázzoni Gin, Dobel Tequila, Overholt, Hennessy, Belvedere Vodka, Minuty, Desolas Mezcal, Ruinart, and Pearl Street Caviar.

A Mayfair Margarita with jalapeño and cucumber, a rye-based whiskey cocktail sharpened with ginger and lime, a sidecar touched with raspberry and lemon—these were not generic gala pours. They were crowd-pleasing, yes, but also tailored to the mood of the evening: glamorous, spirited, and a touch of indulgence. Even the nonalcoholic option, built around cucumber, elderflower, lemon, and mint, felt polished enough to belong in the room.

Anita Saggurti; photo: Matteo Prandoni/BFA.com

A Menu That Balanced Decadence with Playfulness

The food followed the same logic: luxurious, but never stiff.

Passed hors d’oeuvres included crispy potato tots with crème fraîche and caviar, spicy tuna on crispy rice cake with furikake, crispy duck confit with sweet and sour apricot, and seared rare wagyu “lollipops” finished with fleur de sel.

Vegetarian bites held their own with artichoke panisse layered with black truffle carpaccio and thyme and truffled grilled cheese with celery relish.

Benefit Chair Lilah Ramzi; photo: Matteo Prandoni/BFA.com

Ambiance in The Frick Collection’s Garden Court at the Young Fellows Ball; photo: George Koelle

What made the menu land so well was that it understood its audience. Caviar and wagyu gave the menu its obvious society credentials, but the truffled grilled cheese and crispy rice added warmth and familiarity.

Late-Night Bites Kept the Ballroom Energy Alive

As the evening deepened, the menu took on a more relaxed, knowing tone.

Late-night passed bites included New England lobster rolls, chicken and waffles with pomegranate syrup, classic cheeseburgers with “Shack” sauce and pickle, and tiny margherita pizza wedges.

Around the bars, guests could also graze on Italian spiced olives, cheese straws, and spiced almonds, while passed sweets such as lemon ice box cake, funfetti cake, and maple bourbon pecan pie delivered a playful final bow.

Sponsors Became Part of the Fantasy

Personalized luggage tags provided by Rimowa; photo: Matteo Prandoni/BFA.com

Perhaps most impressive was how naturally the sponsors were integrated into the experience itself.

Rimowa leaned beautifully into the “Travel Through Time” concept with custom displays of vintage luggage and hand-painted luggage tags in the VIP lounge, while Bloomingdale’s brought a dose of spirited polish through roving Polaroid photographers, macarons emblazoned with its iconic “b,” and bespoke photo moments.

Luggage tags provided by Rimowa; photo: Matt Borkowski/BFA.com

Clutches provided by Rimowa; photo: Matteo Prandoni/BFA.com

Among the most charming activations was a faux train cabin with a view of a Gainsborough landscape detail, a clever set piece that made the theme feel even more vivid.

That is often where luxury sponsorships either soar or fall flat. At the Frick, they soared. Nothing felt bolted on. The brands extended the world of the event.

A Society Night with Cultural Weight

Ambiance in The James S. and Barbara N. Reibel Reception Hall. Photo: George Koelle

For all its polish, the evening never lost sight of its purpose. Proceeds from the Young Fellows Ball support the Frick’s broader institutional work, including the Frick Art Research Library and the Education Department, which serves New York City public school students across all five boroughs as well as wider public audiences.

Checking In | The Westin London City

Vanessa Gordon

I checked in to The Westin London City hotel, tucked between St Paul’s Cathedral and the River Thames. With stunning views of Tower Bridge, Tate Modern, and Shakespeare’s Globe, this property feels both centrally located and pleasantly removed from the day-to-day rush of London. The hotel offers a calm, contemporary business or leisure retreat in the heart of the city.

Presidential Suite Terrace. Credit: The Westin London City

I visited just ahead of Chinese New Year, during the Year of the Horse. The hotel had a lively energy, with a small conference unfolding on the ground floor alongside a mix of younger guests and families passing through the property. I greatly appreciated the staff being so attentive and courteous upon my arrival from Heathrow. I was able to swiftly check in to my room and rest for a couple of hours before I went to my first meeting in Mayfair.

The Stay

During my stay, I checked into a Superior Room on the fourth floor. The room was spacious and inviting, providing a nice balance with a desk workspace and the opportunity to relax about after meetings across London. I loved the lavender pillow spray and the chocolate covered strawberries that were delivered to me on my first evening at the Westin.

I also appreciated access to the Westin Club lounge, which is a valuable perk for eligible Marriott Bonvoy members and a welcome extension of the stay experience. Inside, guests may find ample space for work and quiet meetings as well as a full coffee bar and tea station, fresh fruit, dried fruit, and a variety of other snacks.

My Favorite 90 Seconds

My favorite 90 seconds came while touring the Presidential Suite.

Seeing the Presidential Suite gave a broader sense of the property’s design perspective and its more aspirational side. My favorite aspect was the terrace and the telescope. I could only imagine stargazing during an evening gathering there with close friends, colleagues, and neighbors with champagne and a full dinner spread waiting to be enjoyed. That alone sounds like an incredible London summer evening experience.

The Moments That Make It

Arriving from New York, I appreciated that the property still felt lively later into the evening, even while enjoying my dinner at 10pm, making it easy to settle in without the sense that the city had already gone to sleep.

Breakfast was another moment that made the experience feel especially complete. There were fresh pastries and baked goods, a full omelet station, pancakes, fruit, yogurt, cereals, juices, and coffee service, alongside a full hot breakfast offering.

The spa at The Westin London City brought an added sense of balance to the stay, offering a wellness experience that felt both restorative and accessible. With a sauna, steam room, relaxation room, and a family-friendly pool, the space caters to a variety of travel styles and needs.

Romeo and Juliet Foyer. Credit: The Westin London City

I also loved touring The Westin London City's ample meeting and event spaces, particularly the rooms named after Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet, which I thought was a really unique touch.

Who This Hotel Is Actually For

Family Suite. Credit: The Westin London City

The Westin London City is especially well suited to travelers who want a centrally located London base that still feels calm, polished, and highly functional. It works well for business travelers thanks to its meeting spaces and efficient layout, but it is equally appealing for leisure guests who want easy access to the city’s cultural landmarks without sacrificing comfort.

Practical Stay Notes

Visited: February for business at the start of the Chinese New Year

Length of stay: 2 nights

Room: Superior

View: Upper Thames Street

Purpose: Business trip

Nearby Points of Interest

St Paul’s Cathedral: One of London’s most iconic landmarks, known for its grand dome, historic interiors, and sweeping views from the top. This is where Princess Diana and Prince Charles got married in July of 1981.

Tate Modern: A world-renowned contemporary art museum set along the Thames, featuring major international exhibitions and a striking industrial setting.

Shakespeare’s Globe: A reconstruction of the original Elizabethan playhouse, offering performances, tours, and a rich connection to London’s literary history.

Tower Bridge: One of the city’s most recognizable structures, combining Victorian engineering, river views, and a dramatic London backdrop.

Borough Market: A beloved food destination known for its mix of artisanal vendors, prepared foods, and some of the city’s most vibrant culinary offerings.