Orient Express opens its first hotel, La Minerva, in Rome’s historic center, blending timeless elegance, Roman heritage, and luxury design in a restored 17th-century palazzo.

April 8, 2025

Orient Express Opens La Minerva in Rome, Its First Luxury Hotel Worldwide

Orient Express opens its first hotel, La Minerva, in Rome’s historic center, blending timeless elegance, Roman heritage, and luxury design in a restored 17th-century palazzo.

Orient Express has officially opened its first hotel, Orient Express La Minerva, in the heart of Rome. Housed in a restored 17th-century palazzo at 69 Piazza della Minerva—just steps from the Pantheon—the hotel marks a new chapter in the brand’s storied legacy with the Eternal City. Featuring 93 individually designed rooms, including 36 suites, the hotel blends history, art, and high-end hospitality.

The palazzo’s transformation was led by architect and designer Hugo Toro, who reimagined the building with a refined, contemporary lens, while preserving its heritage.

His design pays tribute to the golden age of travel and the Orient Express trains, incorporating custom lighting, rich textures, and vintage-inspired touches like bedside trunks and corridor styling reminiscent of elegant train carriages.

Many elements reference Roman tradition, including local marble columns and bespoke headboards painted to reflect the city’s ever-changing skies.

Guests can enjoy three dining destinations that capture the essence of Roman life. The Minerva Bar, centered beneath a striking glass roof, offers a tranquil setting in the hotel’s lobby.

Gigi Rigolatto, set to open on the rooftop in May 2025, delivers Riviera-inspired fine dining with 360° views of iconic Roman landmarks. Later this year, Mimi Kakushi will bring 1920s Osaka to Rome, fusing Japanese flavors with Western flair, in collaboration with Rikas Hospitality Group.

The hotel also features refined event spaces, including the Olimpo Ballroom, adorned with statues by Rinaldo Rinaldi, and several intimate lounges inspired by Orient Express train cars. Presiding over it all is Minerva herself—an original 1854 statue by Rinaldi—symbolizing the hotel’s spirit of art, culture, and timeless elegance.

According to Gilda Perez-Alvarado, CEO of Orient Express, the opening represents a fresh reimagining of the brand’s legacy, while Paolo Barletta, CEO of the Arsenale Group, highlighted it as a milestone in luxury hospitality, reinforcing Rome’s role as a global destination. With more locations, like Venice’s Palazzo Donà Giovannelli, on the horizon, La Minerva marks just the beginning of the Orient Express hotel journey.