ROMEO Napoli makes for a luxurious stay in southern Italy

Arriving at ROMEO Napoli felt less like checking into a prestigious luxury hotel and more like wandering into a contemporary art gallery. A Christian Leperino sculpture was there to greet me, and there were artworks at every turn. It was easy to forget I was visiting the heart of Naples. But only momentarily, since ROMEO Napoli does such a good job of delivering incredible food and a vivid, vibrant atmosphere – two things that are very much associated with the city.

Elegance meets modern comforts at ROMEO Napoli

Each ROMEO property has been designed by a different architect, giving each hotel its own identity. The Naples hotel, designed by Japanese architect Kenzo Tange, strikes a balance between contemporary luxury and elegance.

I stayed in a deluxe harbour room, where rich macassar ebony wood, soft lighting and modern furnishings came together to create a warm, calming space. The hotel offers a range of rooms and suites to suit different stays, from stylish harbour-view rooms like mine to expansive wellness suites with their own steam room and sauna. At the top end is the two-bedroom penthouse suite, spanning 165 square metres.

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Naturally, there are plenty of spaces to relax beside your room, at ROMEO Napoli. I particularly liked the games area in the lobby, where a vintage radio, table football and a carefully laid-out chess board are surrounded by contemporary artwork. There's also an impressive wine cellar with more than 600 bottles, giving guests another reason to stay in for the evening.

Spa experience to remember

However, the spa was the highlight of my stay. The spa experience starts before you have even stepped inside the treatment room. I walked down a softly lit corridor, with warm orange lighting and calming music playing, before misted glass doors slowly opened to reveal the spa area.

I started with the hot and cold stone walkway (a hydrotherapy feature, where guests walk barefoot through shallow channels of water at different temperatures), before moving between two Jacuzzis, each set at a different temperature, followed by the steam room and sauna. The facilities were excellent, but it was the atmosphere that really made it special. Dark stone, soft blue lighting and gentle water features created a space that felt so calming. I could easily have spent the entire afternoon there.

As if the spa weren't enough, the rooftop infinity pool is another highlight.

Looking out across the Bay of Naples towards Mount Vesuvius, it's the kind of view that makes you want to stay in the water a little longer. It was the perfect place to slow down after a day exploring Naples.

Dining chez Alain Ducasse

No trip to Naples would be complete without experiencing the city's food, and dining at the hotel's Il Ristorante Alain Ducasse Napoli didn't disappoint. Breakfast was served each morning here, and it quickly became one of my favourite parts of the day, the breathtaking view being reason enough. There was something so peaceful about eating breakfast while overlooking the water. We also returned one evening for the restaurant's five-course tasting menu. Every dish was beautifully presented, but what really stood out was watching one of the pasta courses being finished right at our table. Seeing it prepared in front of us made the whole experience feel that bit more special.

Seared red mullet with carrot and seafood kimchi, followed by roasted Laticauda lamb (a local breed), served with a pearled jus, are two dishes that feature on the tasting menu (€270 per person). It was also the attention to detail and the interactive nature of the meal that made the dining experience so memorable. For example, when the bread arrived, it came with two small wooden spoons – one topped with butter and the other with sea salt and pepper that we crushed using traditional stone grinders. Such a simple touch, but it turned something as ordinary as seasoning bread into part of the experience.

Exploring Naples and beyond

The location is one of the best things about ROMEO Napoli. Sitting right by the waterfront, it was the perfect base for exploring the city. During our stay, we made the most of the city's famous food scene, trying authentic Neapolitan pizza, hunting down the legendary €1 Aperol spritz, and ending many afternoons with some of the best coffee gelato I've ever had. Naples was the perfect way to begin our trip, offering a taste of Italy's history, culture and energy before we continued on to the Amalfi coast. A visit to Pompeii was also easy to arrange, with the ancient city just a 40-minute bus ride away, and the coaches conveniently located opposite the hotel. From there, we continued to Amalfi, with a stop in Sorrento – a fitting next destination, as the ROMEO Collection is set to open its next hotel there shortly.

Vaishali was a guest of ROMEO Napoli. From €555 per night, visit theromeocollection.com.

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