HOTEL LOCARNO ROME

When in Rome, join the fashionable crowd at the fabulous Hotel Locarno, sitting between the river and Villa Borghese park, and just a pace or two from the Spanish Steps. Founded in 1925, this art deco gem was frequented by the Twenties movie and literary elite, including Mimmo Palladino and Enzo Cucchi, and is still a cultural magnet today. Two early-19th-century houses are linked by an enchanting garden restaurant, and there’s one of the buzziest cocktail bars in the city. Downstairs, you’ll find antique furniture, rich velvet sofas and gorgeous murals, while the contemporary comforts of the sunny, high-ceilinged bedrooms are unparalleled. jn Hotel Locarno, from about £215 a room a night (www.hotellocarno.com).