The Westin Excelsior, Rome
Ablaze with lights at night, this seven-layer-cake hotel—topped off by its famous cupola—is popular with visiting diplomats (who might be headed to the U.S. Embassy across the street), celebrities, and American conference groups. The interior is classically lavish, with mirrors, elegant moldings, Asian rugs, crystal chandeliers, and huge floral arrangements. Although guest rooms have elegant drapery, marble baths, top-quality linens, and big, firm beds, some could use a face-lift to better match the grandeur of the lobby and the other public areas. The hotel is home to Orvm Bar and Doney's—once the epicenter of Fellini's paparazzi, which features a pâtisserie, a cocktail bar, an opera-themed brunch on Sunday, and fine dining.
