A Designer’s Guide to Rome
Getting lost, being surprised, and seeing beauty everywhere
We recently stayed in the Ponti- Piazza Navona area, tucked into a neighborhood full of crumbling textures, echoing piazzas, and late-night surprises. It’s hard to describe Rome as a destination - it feels more like a living backdrop, a place that reveals itself in small, strange, and beautiful ways as you move through it.
What follows isn’t a checklist or itinerary - just a few moments that stayed with us, plus some design-focused stops if you're planning your own Roman wandering.
Where to Stay: Postmodern Dreams and Design Icons
We opted for a chic, postmodern Airbnb tucked into a quiet Roman courtyard - geometric furniture, bold color blocking, and terrazzo details that felt like a nod to Sottsass. It was the perfect way to feel embedded in the rhythm of the city. Still, walking past Rome’s boutique hotels felt like wandering through an open-air catalog of Italian design heritage.
If you're in the mood to splurge or just want to drop in for a drink and some inspiration, G-Rough near Piazza Navona is an aesthetic marvel. Housed in a 17th-century building, its rooms are layered with modernist Italian furniture, crumbling patina, and saturated tones. Each suite pays homage to a different Italian design icon - more atelier than hotel room.
Another standout: Hotel Vilòn, a serene hideaway tucked behind Palazzo Borghese (one day I dream of staying here). Think Art Deco meets contemporary gallery, with velvet banquettes, sculptural lighting, and one of the most peaceful breakfast terraces in the city.
Even if you don’t stay overnight, these spaces are worth visiting - Rome’s hotels often blur the line between private escape and cultural destination.
Get lost (intentionally)
There’s something about walking in Rome - especially at night - that turns every corner into a scene. Without even trying, we wandered into local gallery openings, quiet aperitivo spots tucked into alleyways, and street-level activations that felt more like a film set than real life.
Everyone we met was warm, generous, and welcoming. There’s an ease to the city, even in its scale - and we felt safe and open to wherever the next turn would take us.
Surprise! Delicious food is everywhere.
For something more refined and romantic, book ahead at Pipero near the Pantheon. It holds a Michelin star but still manages to feel like a well-kept local secret. Their signature carbonara is served with a level of finesse that somehow elevates the dish without stripping it of soul.
Another favorite is Marzapane, where contemporary Italian cuisine meets warm, unfussy elegance. Seasonal ingredients, thoughtful plating, and a menu that surprises without trying too hard.
These are places where dinner lingers, wine flows slowly, and every plate feels like it was made with intention.
Lunch at Da Enzo al 29 and Osteria da Fortunata
Yes, there’s a line. No, don’t skip it.
Tucked in Trastevere, Da Enzo delivered everything we hoped it would - simple, rich, comforting dishes in a space that feels like you’ve been invited into someone’s home. The line moved fast, and the food made time feel irrelevant.
Pro tip: If the weather’s nice, get a drink from a nearby enoteca while you wait - the anticipation only makes the experience more vivid.
Or, if you're near Campo de' Fiori another day, try Osteria da Fortunata, where we watched fresh pasta being made in the window. It felt authentic and charming, and the cacio e pepe was some of the best I had in Rome.
Vatican City - absolutely go
We didn’t expect to be so moved. Even if it doesn’t feel like your “thing”, the scale, stillness, and aesthetic intensity of the Vatican grounds are hard to describe. You can study it from afar or see a thousand photos, but it doesn't compare to walking the grounds in person. It was truly breathtaking!
The Vatican isn’t just a religious site - it’s a living archive of human striving across centuries. The Vatican Museums house one of the largest and most significant art collections in the world - both in size and cultural importance What moved me wasn’t only the faith behind it, but the sheer magnitude of what that faith - and power, and vision - produced. The gardens, the colors, the proportions… it all holds a weight, a clarity, and a sense of purpose that stays with you.
It’s less about religion in a traditional sense, and more about the spiritual force of artistic excellence: how space, light, and symbolism can move you, ground you, and expand you.
Take your time looking around. Look up. Bring water.
A Design-Lover’s Detour: Beyond Ruins and Renaissance
Rome isn't just a living museum - it’s a design dialogue between centuries. If you’ve already explored the Colosseum and Vatican, carve out time for the MAXXI (National Museum of 21st Century Arts), designed by Zaha Hadid. The building itself is a sculptural masterpiece - an elegant, fluid rebellion against the classical that surrounds it. Inside, rotating exhibitions explore architecture, photography, and modern Italian art in a space that feels like the future breathing inside the past.
Equally magnetic is a visit to Galleria Lorcan O’Neill in Trastevere - a white cube nestled in a cobblestone maze, representing international heavyweights like Tracey Emin and Kiki Smith. It’s a reminder that Rome is not frozen in amber; it’s still producing, still evolving.
For a tactile experience of Italian craftsmanship, stop by Caspita or PoliDesign, where design objects blend function with poetry. From sculptural lighting to sinuous furniture, the work speaks to Italy’s enduring belief that beauty belongs in daily life.
Other Design Stops We’d Recommend
If you’re a designer, creative, or someone who loves tapping into the artistic pulse of the cities you visit, here are a few other spots to consider:
Galleria Lorcan O’Neill – A contemporary art gallery in a former stable with impeccable curation.
MAXXI Museum – Rome’s national museum of 21st-century art, designed by Zaha Hadid. Futuristic architecture set against a very old city. Great spatial contrast.
Villa Farnesina – A Renaissance villa in Trastevere filled with mythological frescoes and insane architectural details. Quiet, often less crowded than the big hitters.
Civico Zero Factory – A design-forward social project working with young refugees to create thoughtful art and fashion objects. Worth supporting.
Coppede District – An architectural fever dream. Not touristy. The buildings feel like Wes Anderson meets Italian Gothic.
Rome is best when you let it surprise you
You don’t need a schedule. Rome teaches you that the in-between is the real destination: a worn step, an open window, a moment of light on travertine stone.
So go with a plan, but hold it loosely. Talk to people. Look sideways. Walk until your feet ache, then stop for a spritz and start again.
This wasn’t just a trip - it was a reminder of just how much beauty is waiting when you look up.
