Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1542301
European references, the spirit of early- 20th-century grand hotels — their rituals, elegance, and quiet eccentricity — is unmistakable here. In the 1970s, as international hotel chains began flattening personality in favor of uniformity, Locarno took a different path. Under the ownership of interior designer Maria Teresa Celli, the hotel was reimagined through a contemporary interpretation of Belle Époque style. Her approach prioritized atmosphere over polish, allowing the hotel to remain deeply personal and slightly unruly. Jean-Michel Basquiat passed through. Jorge Luis Borges walked its corridors. The nights could run late. The hotel expanded in the 1990s with the acquisition of the neighboring east palazzo, a former Venetian family residence built in 1905. Between the two buildings lies a secret garden that is now the hotel's emotional center and one of the most atmospheric outdoor spaces in central Rome. Today, Hotel Locarno (which was awarded the prestigious Michelin Key in 2024 and 2025) remains refreshingly unchanged in spirit. Rooms are elegant but unique, with high ceilings, curated art, and a sense of lived-in ease. While the hotel's history and setting make for great prose, what sets Locarno apart is its staff. Unfailingly polite and enthusiastic, they provide a masterclass in five- star service. They are there to serve their guests and seem to know exactly when you need something — and, importantly, when you'd rather be left to yourself. The bar, a source of great pride, is still one of Rome's most reliable gathering spots, drawing a mix of locals, artists, and travelers. And the location — between the Spanish Steps, Villa Borghese, and the Tiber — makes wandering inevitable. hotellocarno.com. What We Loved in Rome: Casa TripleF Set between Trastevere and the Botanical Gardens, Casa TripleF is a hybrid space where contemporary art, fashion, and design converge. Founded by Federica Formilli Fendi, TripleF grew out of her lifelong immersion in fashion, interiors, and design culture. Raised within the creative realm of the Fendi family, Federica honed her aesthetic sensibility both inside the maison and through independent projects that marked a fresh chapter in Italian fashion, including the launch of Fendissime. TripleF continues this trajectory as a curated archive and concept space led by Federica alongside her daughter, Ginevra Piersanti Fendi. The space itself carries deep cultural weight. Long a studio and home for artists such as Mario Schifano, Cy Twombly, and Gino De Dominicis, the house retains a layered, lived-in atmosphere that resists polish. The inner courtyard, anchored by a decades-old avocado tree, adds to the house's understated charm. Set on a side street, slightly hidden from the main roads, it is almost impossible to accidentally find. A nondescript door opens to a long hall- way, where you push a buzzer. Once the door is opened, a hidden yet incredible world of fashion and design seemingly springs from nowhere. triplef.it. Chez Dede Consider this a m o d e r n R o m a n w a r d r o b e distilled. Founded in 2011 by Daria Reina and Andrea Ferolla it's defined by Italian craftsmanship, exquisite materials, and nonchalance. Since opening its flagship store in Rome in 2015, Chez Dede has occupied a refined cabinet of curiosities in Palazzo Antonelli Capponi in the aristocratic Rione Regola. One of the first to make the neighborhood its home, the small shop has had a transformative effect, ushering in a host of unique furniture, lighting, design, and craft boutiques to the area. Conceived as a warm, lived-in home rather than a conventional boutique, the space blends fashion, accessories, jewelry, furniture, design objects, books, and vintage gems into a singular retail experience. Exclusive in-house collections sit alongside small éditions de charme and select collaborations with international luxury brands, all chosen for personality rather than trend. It's the kind of place you leave with something unexpected, and a sharper sense of how Rome does style now. chezdede.com. Ruma Bottega & Cucina Agricola Just off Piazza Navona, Ruma is a refined farm-to-table bottega founded by Matidia Pallini, offering a direct link to her family's Tuscan buffalo farm, La Maremmana. Expect pristine buffalo mozzarella, burrata, and ricotta made daily, seasonal vegetable-forward dishes, natural wines from small Italian producers, and house-made buffalo-milk gelato — all in a simple but welcoming space that's popular with locals and tourists alike. rumabottegaecucina.com. Pizzeria La Boccaccia A Trastevere staple since 2000, Pizzeria La Boccaccia is the original address behind a much-loved Roman pizza name. The approach is straightforward and traditional: dough leavened for 48 hours, ingredients sourced from top Lazio farms, and no shortcuts in the kitchen. This is pizza made the way locals expect it — honest, well-crafted, and delicious. @pizzeria_la_boccaccia. Clockwise from top: Casa TripleF. Federica Formili Fendi and Ginevra Piersanti Fendi. Chez Dede. Ruma. Ruma. Casa TripleF. ©ANTONIA MARMO 66