Heaven may be governed by the pleasure principle. If so, you can find out what the afterlife will feel like with a stay at the Radisson SAS es Hotel. The name, es, refers both to the hotel’s unusual location, on Rome’s Esquiline Hill, and to the German word for Freud’s id, that eternally desirous part of our unconscious.
It doesn’t take a psychoanalyst to discover why this hotel, a product of Rome’s King Roselli architects, has been a hit. The sleek lobby seems a summary of Rome’s history, ancient past to high-style present. It showcases an archaeological site discovered while the hotel was in construction, and is furnished with glowing desk pods from which the stylish staff meet and greet hotel guests.
The more-than-comfortable rooms, white and wood in their tones, comfort both the conscious and the unconscious mind. Beds are showcased at the center of the room—a reminder that your body may need a break—and your efforts to relax are aided by plasma screen TVs, DVD players, and high speed internet connections. Despite its simple beauty, your room may not be your favorite part of the es.
On the seventh floor of the hotel, you can take your id for a dip in the rooftop pool or otherwise drench your ego with spirits from the bar, Zest, which offers an unbelievably chic view across the mass of train tracks that enter Rome’s main train station. Don’t forego a dinner at the hotel restaurant, Sette, which has become one of the hippest eateries in town. They offer creative versions of Italian standards, and in fine weather, you can eat at tables artfully placed around the drop-dead gorgeous pool.
Radisson SAS es hotel, Via Turati 71. Tel. +39 06 444 841 or Fax + 39 06 44 341 396
