Babuino 181 opened last year

Babuino 181 opened last year, the third addition to the boutique hotel collection that also claims Mario de' Fiori 37 and Margutta 54. It's the latest show of the collection's prowess in repurposing historical buildings for modern luxury.

In this 19th-century palazzo, all the amenities of contemporary living are at your fingertips, from iPod dock to flat-screen television, Nespresso machine to touchpad-controlled lighting. Decor is contemporary and clean-lined, but with elegant Italian details, from fresh flowers to marble-and-mosaic bathrooms.

Then there's the space: rooms start at 26 square metres, beds are king-sized, and wardrobes are walk-in. But there's also old-school romance on the hotel's rooftop terrace, where you can look past boxes of flowers to the view of the Spanish Steps neighbourhood.