Hotel Santa Maria

Eating

The great buffet breakfast is served in what was once an artisan’s workshop, with huge stone fireplace and arched ceilings. The spread includes scrambled eggs, cheeses, cold meats, breads, yoghurts, cereals, pastries, cakes and fresh fruit. There’s a choice of teas and coffees, including freshly made cappuccino.

Complimentary pre-dinner snacks or aperitivi - a Milanese fashion that’s caught on in Rome - are served from 5pm to 8pm every evening. To accompany your glass of wine, cheeses, cold meats, rice dishes and crostini (savouries on toast) are laid out in the bar-cum-breakfast room.

Trastevere is also one of the best areas of Rome for beguiling eateries to suit all budgets. Try rough-and-ready Da Augusto (Piazza de Renzi 15), dig into some of Rome’s best pizza at Dar Poeta (Vicolo del Bologna 45) or indulge in Sicilian dishes at more refined La Gensola (Piazza della Gensola 15).