Experimental Roma, a Rodolphe Parente-designed hotel on Rome's Via Veneto

Experimental has opened a Roman address on the Via Veneto, in a building that used to be a bank, and has handed the interiors to the French designer Rodolphe Parente. His brief to himself was not to rebuild a nostalgic Rome but to make what he calls a "living tribute", a city of sacred and profane, splendour and decadence, read through French eyes.

The lobby nods to Gio Ponti, Carlo Scarpa and Luigi Caccia Dominioni by way of the 1970s: chrome tubing, lurex carpets, a sculptural staircase and a hint of disco. The restaurant and public rooms lean on Italian cinema, with enveloping banquettes, quilted drapery and exposed beams. Up top there's a large bar looking over the city, a terrace and a suspended swimming pool.

The 82 rooms come in two moods. One is theatrical, with light through interior shutters, big blocks of colour, drapery-inspired headboards and colourful basins. The other is cooler and almost futuristic, with mineral patinas, two-tone lacquered ceilings and ribbed stainless-steel headboards. Artworks recall Cy Twombly and Christo, and bathrooms pair warm wood with cool stone.

This comes from the hotel's announcement, so details on rates and the restaurant are thin. Worth a look for anyone who likes their Dolce Vita with a glint of polished metal.

Our summary of a story from Sleeper, published 22 October 2026. Read the original