The Hotel de Rome, one of several historic properties developed by Rocco Forte Hotels, does not skimp on luxury and is priced accordingly. Housed in a 19th-century bank, the hotel conveys serious luxury, from its palazzo-style stone facade to its elegant and stylish interiors, full of stately touches like the marble columns and grand skylight in the lobby. The front desk, in subdued leather, is set in a discrete niche, mirroring the quiet, private seating in the otherwise busy lobby. The mood is a bit different in the hotel bar, where pink neon signage and under-counter lighting project a rosy glow onto the room and its contemporary furnishings. La Banca, the hotel's Italian restaurant, has mirrored walls, Art Deco club chairs, classical marble sculptures, and a lantern-lit garden. The hotel also has an impressive ballroom with a massive skylight, marble columns, Art Deco chandeliers, and a distinctive mosaic floor. Guests maintain that the hotel manages to project warmth amid all this cool marble, tile, and gilt-edging. It attracts some couples, splurging for a special occasion, but the bulk of the clientele here are leisure and business travelers accustomed to posh surroundings and the bills attached to it.

The hotel is situated in Berlin's Mitte neighborhood, the center and historical heart of the city. Unter den Linden, a tree-lined main boulevard, is just a block away. In three minutes, guests can walk to Gendarmenmarkt, with its concert hall and monument to the poet Friedrich Schiller, and Humboldt University is four minutes away on foot. Museum Island is a nine-minute walk, as is the Berlin Cathedral. Other popular sites like the Brandenburg Gate and Checkpoint Charlie are a 15-minute walk, while the historic Potsdamer Platz and the Reichstag Building are a 20-minute walk, or 10 to 15 minutes by public transit. Several buses stop near the hotel, and there's a subway station two blocks away. Berlin Schonefeld Airport is about a 30- to 45-minute drive or around 45 minutes by public transportation.

Guest rooms are elegant and chic, with high ceilings, expensive fabrics and furnishings, and views of the city. The floors, either parquet with area rugs or wall-to-wall plush in a traditional pattern, contribute to the luxe look. Long windows, sometimes opening to stone balustrade balconies or planted terraces, have black-out drapes in raw silk or heavy linen. The furnishings are a blend of new and antique, such as burled wood Art Nouveau armoires and Art Deco club chairs. Hypoallergenic bed linen and pillow menus are offered, while the mattresses are Hypnos brand. All of the rooms have climate control, air conditioners, minibars, robes, slippers, flat-screen TVs, and safes. Larger, upper-category rooms add walk-in closets, designated seating areas, and Nespresso machines, plus some include free, in-room concierge service, wine, and clothes pressing. The bathrooms, traditional in design with modern fittings, are generously proportioned with good light. There are deep soaking tubs and separate glass-door rainfall showers, as well as heated towel racks, magnifying mirrors, and Malin & Goetz toiletries. The hotel has four historic suites, including one that belonged to the former bank manager as well as a Renaissance Suite with wood panelling, coffered ceilings, and bathrooms and wardrobes fashioned out of former telephone booths. 

Hotel de Rome is packed with amenities and services, albeit pricey ones. The rooftop terrace, with sweeping city views, serves light meals and drinks, weather permitting. La Banca, the hotel's formal restaurant, has a lantern-lit garden and specializes in Italian food, plus it has an extensive wine list. Afternoon tea, with a classic sweet and savory menu, is served in the lobby. The bar serves artisanal cocktails, including one made with Berlin vodka.  

There's a lovely lap lane pool situated in the former jewelry vault, with teak loungers providing poolside seating. The spa has six beautifully tiled rooms offering treatments like detox body wraps and Thai massages, plus it has a sauna and steam room. A fitness center is open 24-hours and has cardio, weight, and resistance training machines and, for a fee, personal trainers. 

The hotel caters to business travelers with five meeting rooms -- audio-visual equipment is available, and there's a separate, street-level entrance. There's also a grand ballroom with a big skylight that can accommodate up to 300 people. The 24-hour front desk includes a concierge who can arrange tours, cars, and limos, and book restaurants and concerts. The hotel offers babysitting services and same-day laundry and dry cleaning, as well as shoeshines, for a fee. Valet parking is also available for a fee. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property, as are the milk and cookies given to children and kids' activities.