Opened in May 2014, Fragrance Hotel St. Peter is housed in a four-floor yellow building in a quiet residential area of Rome. An ivy-lines walkway is a fitting welcome to this tranquil and sharp value property. Guests enter to a small lobby with a contemporary and minimalist look that features sleek furniture and modern art. Guests can relax on sofas or armchairs or watch TV and nibble on a free pastry washed down with free espresso. The hotel sits within a garden -- including plants, shrubs, vines, and a stone terrace -- that makes a nice retreat after a long day touring Rome's sights. Orange trees bear fruit that guests can pick in season, and the cute and playful hotel kitten can be seen walking around. One of the nicest spots is the rooftop terrace with sofas, potted flowers, and tables and chairs -- views of the St. Peter's and the neighborhood are great. The hotel tends to draw couples, who appreciate its intimate feel. 

Fragrance Hotel St. Peter is located on the Via di Monte del Gallo in a quiet and elegant residential section of Rome. One of the biggest perks to staying here is the hotel's proximity to the Vatican. It's a 10-minute walk to Vatican City, which is home to the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Square, St. Peter's Basilica, and the Raphael Rooms. The Ottaviano Metro station is about 15 minutes from the Vatican, though it's a 25-minute walk directly from the hotel and will be a bit of a hike for most guests. Other transport options in the area include the N5, N15, N20, and 916 buses to the city center, and Roma San Pietro train station is a five-minute walk from the hotel. It's a 20-minute walk or 12-minute bus ride to Castel Sant'Angelo and a 15-minute bus ride to Piazza Navona and the Pantheon. It will take 10 to 15 minutes to reach sights like the Roman Forum and the Colosseum by taxi. The Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain are both about 20 minutes away by a combination of bus and walking. Termini Station is a 15-minute taxi ride from the hotel or about 25 minutes by train from Roma San Pietro. Expect a 30-minute drive to Leonardo da Vinci International Airport, which can be reached in an hour by train.

Fragrance Hotel St. Peter has 28 contemporary rooms that feature on-trend light wood laminate floors and colorful abstract art. Overall, neutral tones create soothing spaces, with dark tans and grays throughout, and off-white walls have quarter-paneled wallpaper toward the bottom in sober, modern patterns. Taupe statement headboards add an additional classy touch over beds made with white linens, and dark wood veneer furniture has clean lines. Some rooms are a little small, like the Standard Room that we visited, and others have limited storage space. All rooms have desks, safes, minibars, 32-inch flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and electric kettles for tea and instant coffee. A few lucky rooms have views of the St. Peter's Basilica dome, though the nicest views from any of the rooms are from the balcony in the Penthouse. Bathrooms are clean and well lighted, with tile floors and walls, and contemporary fixtures and hardware like raised square sinks. There's limited counter space in most rooms, though, and walk-in showers can be a tight fit. Some rooms may experience minor noise issues from pipes, voices from adjacent rooms, and neighboring doors shutting.

The hotel's top feature is its excellent free breakfast buffet. The generous spread features cold cuts, cheeses, fresh produce, hard-boiled eggs, cereal, breads, cakes, pastries, yogurt, juice, and espresso. Guests can take their breakfast on the rooftop terrace with views of St. Peter's, and early risers can request a breakfast bag to go. The lobby also has free coffee and pastries all day, and guests can buy snacks, soft drinks, and beer from a refrigerator in the lobby. The hotel has no restaurant for lunch and dinner, but numerous restaurants are within a short walk of the hotel. The hotel also has a 24-hour front desk, tour assistance, and bicycle parking. Car parking is available (for a fee) at a public lot about 300 meters from the hotel. Small pets are allowed in rooms upon request for a fee, and the hotel provides bowls and pillow beds. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.