If you are looking for a luxury hotel in the heart of Rome with a fabulous garden and an al fresco restaurant and cocktail bar this might be the right option. This is a hotel where not only tourists but also the local upper-class, film- and fashion people love to have their drinks in the warm Italian evenings. The Hotel de Russie managed by the Rocco Forte group is located between the Piazza del Popolo and the Spanish steps, a quarter of Rome where also designer shops like Gucci, Fendi, Prada & Co and lots of restaurants flourish. How are the rooms? Well, one might call the 122 room property (among them 34 suites) Rome´s first design hotel. In fact rooms are superbly furnished and decorated by Rocco Forte-Co-owner Olga Polizzi and designer Tomasso Ziffer. Is it expensive? Yes. It is pricey but excellent. This also applies to the food. Great italian dishes at the Jardin de Russie gourmet restaurant, fine cocktails at the Stravinskij bar. There is also a spa and an inside pool. All in all a beautiful luxury property in prime location with a magic garden and a classy courtyard and it is a good place to watch well dressed locals.