Perched at the top of the Spanish steps, this 1893 institution boasts jaw-dropping views of St Peter's Basilica, backed by a sea of terracotta-tiled roofs. No wonder Grace Kelly chose to honeymoon here, and scores of Hollywood luminaries – among them, Woody Allen, Gwyneth Paltrow and Tom Cruise – opt to lay their heads when in Rome. It has 96 bedrooms and suites featuring Limoges porcelain, French silks, 16th-century antiques and Venetian lamps. It also has a Michelin-star restaurant and top-notch spa.

Insider Tip: If you're looking for romance, the hotel can arrange for you to be met at the airport in a vintage Rolls Royce, have champagne waiting for you in your bedroom, and take you on a twilight horse-drawn carriage ride of the city.

As soon as you enter this casa, which occupies the third floor of a stately 19th-century palazzo overlooking Porta del Popolo, you know it has been loved through the years (the great-grandfather of the current owner bought the place directly from the builder in 1916). Today it is an elegant guesthouse, with five individually-designed bedrooms and suites boasting parquet floors, rich Designer’s Guild curtains and modern paintings by Sicilian artist Beppe Buttera. In May, Casa Montani launched a new separate apartment a short walk away. It sleeps up to four and is ideal for families.

Insider Tip: If you're after a view, ask for the Suite. It looks out over Porta del Popolo with the twin bell towers of Trinita dei Monti church beyond.

When a hotel is owned by a famous fashion family like Fendi, you know it's going to have the wow factor. Villa Laetitia has it in spades. Built in 1911 by Armando Brasini, the riverside Art Nouveau mansion was transformed by Anna Fendi Venturini in 2006. Step into the reception, adorned with crystal chandeliers, before making your way to the sleeping quarters. There are 15 bedrooms with unique designer touches that include a rare Picasso scarf and original sketches by Chanel and Dior. Each room also has a kitchenette, but we recommend dining in the hotel's new Enoteca La Torre restaurant instead.

Insider Tip: Villa Laetitia can arrange massage sessions and shopping tours of the city (which include a Fendi boutique, of course).

Just when you thought this opulent 19th-century landmark palace couldn't get any grander, it undergoes a US$35 million restoration taking luxury to a new level. Its 161 rooms and suites are vast, featuring Regency, Louis XV and Neo-Classical decor, with plush velvet armchairs, Italian marble and antiques acquired from state residences. The price tag is just as extravagant. If dining in, request a table in the wine cellar of Vivendo, the hotel’s excellent restaurant.

Insider Tip: For the best rooms and finest service, book a room on the St Regis floor.