Orient Express has opened its first hotel, Orient Express La Minerva, inside a refurbished iconic 17th century palazzo, a stone’s throw from the Pantheon, in the beating heart of historic Rome.
The 93-room hotel, featuring 36 suites, is located at 69 Piazza della Minerva, and is part of the long history that links Orient Express to the Eternal City and embodies a certain idea of travel, when luxury is measured by the intensity of the experiences lived, the brand said.
“Opening the doors of Orient Express La Minerva marks a powerful moment in our journey,” CEO Orient Express Gilda Perez-Alvarado said. “A city of layered beauty and bold character, Rome offers the perfect canvas to reimagine the legacy of Orient Express through new purpose and experience – where Romans gather, and international aesthetes unite. In partnership with Arsenale Group and through the visionary work of artist-architect Hugo Toro, we have the privilege to breathe new life into a heritage property deeply rooted in the fabric of this timeless city.”
A must-stop of the Grand Tour, Rome has long been a destination for cultural connoisseurs drawn to its art, history and timeless grandeur. Since 1883, the Città Eterna has been an essential destination for Orient Express travellers. The hotel follows the recent launch of La Dolce Vita Orient Express and anticipates the opening of Orient Express Palazzo Donà Giovannelli in Venice later this year – in partnership with Arsenale Group.
“With Orient Express La Minerva, we are inaugurating the very first Orient Express hotel in the world, giving shape to a new concept of ultra-luxury hospitality,” Arsenale Group CEO Paolo Barletta said. “This project combines the identity of a legendary brand with the entrepreneurial vision of Arsenale: transforming iconic places into world-class destinations. We chose Rome because it represents the crossroads between history, culture, and Italian hospitality. This debut, alongside the one of La Dolce Vita Orient Express trains — with Rome as the centerpiece — confirms Italy’s ability to attract strategic investments and strengthens Arsenale’s role as a key player in international luxury development.”
Rooms & suites
Meticulously restored by award-winning artist-architect Hugo Toro, known for reawakening historical gems with contemporary finesse, the hotel blends Rome’s heritage with new sophistication, offering guests an authentically Roman experience, refined and profoundly memorable.
Each room is an homage to the golden age of travel, featuring bespoke bedside trunks, rich wooden detailing reminiscent of the legendary carriages, and luxurious bedding crafted by Rivolta Carmignani, the same linens once gracing Orient Express sleeper cars. Each room features a hand-painted evocation of Rome’s sky above the bed. The hotel’s corridors recall the polished elegance of the luxury train, while its lounges and public spaces invite guests to indulge in a Voyage of textures and perspectives.
Suites at Orient Express La Minerva have been crafted as escapes, including that of the Stendhal Suite – named after the French realist writer, one of La Minerva’s more notable former guests and a testament to the fascinating voyagers who have walked the hotel’s historic halls.
Dining venues
Orient Express La Minerva hosts three dining venues – a testament to the connecting spirit and culinary curation of Orient Express, promising unforgettable gastronomy journeys aligned with Rome’s leisurely pace.
La Minerva Bar, situated in the heart of the hotel’s lobby, provides a serene haven amid the vibrant pulse of Roman life. Beneath its grand glass roof and adorned by the preserved statue of Minerva – is complete by original marble columns which glow softly throughout the day, creating an ambiance that shifts from natural Roman light to intimate sophistication.
Opening to the public in May 2025, Gigi Rigolatto will bring the spirit of la dolce vita to life from dawn to dusk at every table on the iconic Roman rooftop. A standout concept by Rikas Hospitality Group and Paris Society, it promises a vibrant energy above the Eternal City – paired with mesmerizing 360-degree panoramic views of the city’s rooftops and monuments, including the Pantheon, the Vittoriano and the majestic dome of St Peter’s Basilica.
With its Riviera-inspired elegance and vibrant atmosphere, Gigi Rigolatto offers an elevated dining experience that seamlessly marries timeless allure with contemporary energy – welcome to an immersion in glamour. Gigi is developed in collaboration with Rikas Hospitality Group. Gigi’s design concept has been developed by Hugo Toro, drawing on historical references that have shaped Italy as we know it today.
The award-winning Mimi Kakushi restaurant will open at Orient Express La Minerva later this year and transport guests to the Osaka of the 1920s.
Mimi Kakushi captures this transformative moment complete with the boundary breaking jazz age, offering a fusion of Far Eastern flavors tempered with Western influences. Since its debut in Dubai in 2021, Mimi Kakushi has garnered numerous awards, including The World’s 50 Best Bars recognition for Best Bar in the Middle East & Africa in 2024. The Mimi Kakushi concept is curated by Rikas Hospitality Group.
Five event venues
Orient Express La Minerva offers five event venues:
- Olimpo Ballroom (165 sqm), adorned with eleven exquisite marble sculptures by Rinaldo Rinaldi, symbolising the seasons, elements and continents.
- Rinaldi Meeting Room (54 sqm), designed in homage to the interiors of vintage Orient Express carriages.
- Alfieri Meeting Room (28 sqm), an intimate enclave perfect for refined gatherings beneath its atmospheric vaulted ceilings.
- Bernini Meeting Room (26 sqm), discreet and exquisitely appointed.
- The Gallery (75 sqm), adjacent to La Minerva Bar, on the ground floor – touched with ceilings inspired by the Pantheon itself.
Standing in quiet majesty, the statue of goddess Minerva watches over it all, a marble masterpiece sculpted in 1854 by Rinaldo Rinaldi, a disciple of Canova. Goddess of wisdom, arts and craftsmanship, she remains the silent guardian of the stories etched into these walls.
