ES Hotel Radisson SAS

Entrance
The imposing concrete façade of the 7-floor U-shaped building of the ES Radisson stretches along the tracks of Rome’s Termini station, encapsulating the finer, more dynamic elements of an area which still bears the marks of the impressive Fascist architecture.

The hotel entrance sits slightly back from the street, opposite one of Rome’s main markets. A revolving door sits in the glass façade, taking you into a large lobby in the middle of which the white luminous “buoy” that is the reception desk sits on top of a pebble effect floor.

The offbeat, urban atmosphere of the lobby sets the ambience of the whole hotel; open plan, structured, transparent with a feeling of movement. Roman ruins and the offices of the hotel are visible through a simple glass partition. In the centre of the hotel, overlooking reception, a series of five lifts work flat out, marking the beat of the establishment.

With the exception of the first floor “Es-Libris” bar-library, all the public areas take advantage of the natural light of the seventh and final floor of the building, which houses a well-being centre with massage, gym, Jacuzzi and sauna overlooking the railway so you can relax or work out to the gentle sound of the trains.

On the other side, the Zest bar and terrace stretches the full length of the building, offering a pleasant view over the rooftops of the city and a tempting range of drinks for an evening apéritivo. Next to it you have the magical setting of the Sette restaurant which looks out onto the beautiful swimming pool and a teak terrace surrounded by greenery.

The rooms
What could be more boring than a rectangular hotel room? The ES cleverly manages to avoid falling into this trap thanks to an original layout.

The most common category of room is the standard, where the bed has been placed in the middle of the room facing a picture window, incorporated into a varnished mahogany platform. Around this platform you have all the room facilities: the shower on one wall, the washbasin on another and a clothes rail on the third.

No more bumping into the walls; you can move freely around this central platform. The office area, a long shelf with the TV and mini-bar at one end and a foldaway reclining seat at the other, is to be found in front of the window.

From quilts, headboards and lights to coat hangers, shower curtains and walls, white reigns supreme in this ultra-urban décor with its thick lino, zinc shower tray and the quirky light ball which gradually expands once lit. Filtered lighting sets a sensual mood and bright-coloured neons incorporated into the windows on the courtyard side give a fairytale feel at night.

Although the layout in the other room categories is different, the philosophy remains one of movement and light. All rooms have free high-speed internet access.

Room types
The ES Radisson SAS has four room categories: standard, superior, junior suites and suites.

The standard rooms are available in “Raft” version, as described above, and in an “Elle” version, with twin beds and a bath. The superior rooms are more chic, particularly in terms of the materials used, and are located on the sixth floor. A glass panel separates the shower from the rest of the room.

A notch above, the junior suites and suites are more spacious with a terrace and Bose audio and video equipment. The suites also have a Jacuzzi. The junior suites may offer their own unique experience -business, fitness or sweet home – which is reflected in the décor.

The rooms look out onto the street or the courtyard. Those overlooking the street are not directly overlooked and the ones on the courtyard side are quieter.

Breakfast
Breakfast is served buffet-style in the Zest Bar, taking advantage of its light, space and terrace. The parquet flooring, well-spaced-out round tables and elegant designer furniture, together with the buzz of hotel guests, make for an invigorating atmosphere.

The bar is lined with a wide choice of products to satisfy the needs of the many and varied guests: chopped fruit, fruit salad, fresh fruit, different sorts of milk (soya for instance), dairy products, jams, a wide selection of pastries, fritters, cheeses and salamis. There is also a hot buffet with eggs, bacon, sausages and all the classic accompaniments of an English breakfast.