3 minute read
JK Place Rome
BACKGROUND There are three JK Hotels, in Rome, Paris and Capri, with a new one planned for a 2024 opening in Milan. Members of Leading Hotels of the World, they are the brainchild of Ori Kafri who named the brand with his father’s initials – Jonathan Kafri. The Rome hotel opened at the end of 2013.
WHERE IS IT? On Via di Monte d’Oro o Via della Fontanella di Borghese which becomes Via Condotti as it runs towards the Spanish Steps. It is within walking distance of Piazza di Spagna, Piazza Navona, the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain.
WHAT’S IT LIKE? The hotel doesn’t have a grand entrance, just a discreet doorway on a side street, though taxis are able to stop right outside the door and liveried doormen are on hand to help with luggage. The hotel is in a 19th century building which was most recently part of the University of Rome. Reception is to the left, the library sitting room through glass doors to the right and the atrium to the hotel straight ahead. This is a lovely place to sit and have a tea or co ee, to rest and prepare the next excursion. It is like wandering into someone’s living room, albeit someone with exquisite taste and a lot of money. It has elegant furniture, a dark marble floor, pale grey sofas and chairs, tall plants, modern art and antique sculptures, and lots of natural light from the skylight. The interior design is by Tuscan architect Michele Bonan. There are lifts at either side of the atrium to take you up to the three floors of rooms. ROOMS This is a true boutique hotel, with only 27 rooms and suites over three floors with around eleven room categories and every one being di erent, not just in terms of floor area but also design, whether it has a terrace or balcony or shower or bath. All of the rooms are beautifully designed, with polished wooden floors and good-sized wardrobes (some have walk-in wardrobes)
and a variety of bed styles including some with romantic rosewood canopies and wooden panelled walls. All have tea and co ee-making facilities, a complimentary minibar of soft drinks and snacks replenished every three days, high-speed wifi, and a small desk. The bathrooms are decorated in Carrara marble with Alma K Dead Sea amenities (produced by Ori’s sister, Amy Kafri) and have rain and power showers, with three having baths. There is one entry level JK Classic room, then five Superior rooms; two Superior Balcony rooms, six Deluxe, two JK Deluxe, one JK Deluxe Balcony, three Grand Deluxe, one Junior Suite Balcony, four Master suites, one JK Master suite and one JK Master Balcony.
FOOD AND DRINK The hotel’s restaurant, JK Café, has coral-coloured sofa banquette seating, tan leather chairs and green walls. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and has a distinctive ‘Sputnik’ chandelier at its centre with large mirrors to give a sense of space and windows looking out on to Via dell’Arancio. The JK Café bar is a small area with wood-panelled walls, black and white architectural images by Massimo Listri, and a backlit bar of onyx and ceramic tiles by Marcello Fantoni with a painting by Marco Croce to one side.
LEISURE There are no leisure facilities, though the hotel has an arrangement with a nearby fitness centre and spa. The hotel provides several bikes which can be used to tour the city. The hotel is excellent at organising private tours, and though expensive, o ers value in terms of flexibility, for instance serving the inclusive à la carte breakfast for those who want it long after that meal has ‘closed’ (people do have jet lag, after all) and not charging for extras such as a cappuccino when requested.
The hotel can also organise personalised tours of Rome, including access to normally inaccessible sites through Imago Artis Travel (iatravel.com).
VERDICT This is the perfect bolthole for a visit to Rome – it’s central but hidden away and providing superb service with a residential feel. Tom Otley
BEST FOR An unashamedly luxury boutique hotel
DON’T MISS An early evening stroll followed by a drink in the Library bar
PRICE Internet rates for a midweek stay in June started from €700 for a JK Deluxe room
CONTACT Via di Monte d’Oro 30, 00186 Rome, Italy: +39 06 982634; jkroma.com
